If you like to support your gut health but love a cup or two of the brown stuff, this is a question you may have pondered upon. Luckily, I can reassure you that the answer to this question is no, coffee is not bad for your gut bacteria. In fact, you will be pleased to learn that drinking coffee can actually have a beneficial impact! Research shows that regular and decaffeinated roasted coffee can help to grow probiotic strains as it has a prebiotic effect, thought to be due to the polyphenols it contains, and different strains are able to use different parts of the coffee to grow3.
Furthermore, those who consume coffee on a regular basis have been found to have higher levels of anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Roseburia and lower levels of pathogens such as Erysipelatoclostridium compared to non-coffee drinkers4. Fear not though, as even instant coffee drinkers (either green or roasted) are not missing out: drinking three cups of instant coffee a day has been shown to increase Bifidobacterium spp. levels5. Interestingly, the researchers found that results were most significant in those who had lower levels of Bifidobacteria at the start of the trial5.
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What good news about additional benefits of the magical elixir! Coffee is one of the true blessings in life. I consider it to be an essential food group. I have had to cut back on the caffeinated stuff, but have a local coffee roaster who makes wonderful decaf coffees.
If you find your stomach a little sensitive to coffee, try cold brewed coffee! It also has about two thirds the amount of caffeine as regularly brewed coffee and tastes great.
Oh dear Heaven!! You did not just say "No need for the fancy stuff" - horrors!! Good coffee is a delicacy that lifts the state of our existence. Instant is an abomination that defiles the palate. That is like suggesting we should eat tofu bacon rather than the real thing. Noting that bacon is another essential food group. I will be praying for you when I have cup of good coffee and some real bacon for breakfast my friend. 😋
We actually do have real, if basic and low power, Joe. It's actually also a good way to get the kidneys wet, they do get to work for the several hours afterward.
Well actually as regular coffee drinkers we are feeding an addiction. There was a very interesting presentation on this on NPR. The gist was - yes it is an addiction but a relatively harmless one as moderate caffeine consumption actually improves cognitive function without undue adverse effects. Note emphasis on moderate. No one is saying massive doses of caffeine would be a good thing. I certainly think coffee improves my cognitive acumen. And it tastes good!
My hubby and I love good coffee. In fact, we buy it green and roast it at home. Then we grind it just before brewing in a French press. One big cup of that stuff is enough to keep us going all day. It's so delicious that I wouldn't have cared what any study said. It's one of the pleasures of life and I agree with Hunter that it's one of the essential food groups.
That’s great. I will try again as love it. However since started hydroxy I got palpitations after caffeine for some crazy reason. Decaf is ok but nothing as nice as the real thing . Thnx for info. Julia . Devon. uK
Am about to have my first coffee of the day and so looking forward to the taste and aroma. But it is not only about drinking it . It is also about the ritual. I love the preparation of my cup and most of all I love walking into a bar in Italy (where I am atm) and ordering an espresso. A semi-spiritual break for me. Glad to hear the gut population also appreciates!
First and foremost, coffee is the most sprayed (pesticides) plant on the planet, therefore, organic is a must! We know that pesticides burden and can also damage the gut and immune system and much more.
We should not drink more than 4 normal sized cups a day. Some drink really strong coffee. Too much of that is also too much.
Coffee helps keep the large intestine flowing. 😉
Instant coffee causes an acidy stomach, more so than freshly ground. I start getting stomach pain after drinking instant c for a week.
Glad you made above points . Yes organic when possible food and drink….. Better to have less of something . Interesting what happened to you with instant
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