Is a bit of decaf coffee ok?

[Sazzle1969]

I was drinking barley cup/Whole Earth coffee alternative until recently when I discovered it has gluten in it, so have cut it out. I have tried a bit of decaf coffee as trying to avoid caffeine as much as I can. Does anyone know about decaf coffee and is it ok with thyroid conditions? Does it have any effect on iron levels too? many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I drink decaff coffee, usually just one cup a day, with no problems.

Whenever I do an iron panel my levels are good except for Ferritin which is around the 55 mark and it would be better higher.

[Lora7again in reply to SeasideSusie]

I cannot stand decaff coffee so I have one cup of ordinary a day ... my one guilty pleasure anymore and I don't sleep for 24 hours..

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lora7again]

I don't actually notice any difference in the taste between them, but I'm not a coffee connoisseur, I'm a coffee heathen I'm afraid, only like instant.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I drink coffee every day. Not decaf! Nice strong mug at breakfast and another espresso at 10:00 or so.

Seems to be yet another thing that some people find negative effects, others positive.

[Lora7again in reply to helvella]

If I drank that I would be buzzing lol I used to enjoy calling at Costa for my daily fix of an americano but my local one is now shut so I am now making my own. I am the only one in my household who drinks coffee and my husband and son hate hot drinks.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to helvella]

I always take decaf - I’m no connoisseur- although I used to have a cup of ‘normal’ coffee at my art class and I was ok. On the strength of that when my Italian hairdresser offered me a cup and didn’t have decaf I took it - I was still buzzing at bedtime hours later. I decided that it must depend on the coffee so I carried on with coffee at art but I avoid my hairdresser’s coffee.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

There are two types of coffee. Robusta and Arabica.

People often claim that good coffee must be Arabica (and you see the amount shown on many packs - expensive coffees are often 100% Arabica). But Robusta usually has more caffeine. Costa, for example, has more caffeine than many other chain coffees and is largely Robusta, I believe.

(I definitely prefer Costa to, for example, Starbucks. Because it at least has a bit more flavour and body and kick.)

I often wonder if there are other differences of signficance?

[Hidden]

Hi Sazzie information from Bay Area endocrinology 2018 -title

Coffee and Thyroid Medications

indicates that coffee does affect absorption of thyroid medications.

thyroiddoctortampa.com

Other information suggests that even caffeine free coffee can affect absorption.

There are other protein acids in coffee which can affect cortisol levels raising cortisol the stress hormone in the adrenals. It can also affect sugar levels in the blood and creates carbohydrate and sugar cravings. Coffee contains a substance which is similar to gluten and which can cause gluten cross reactive food such as

milk products corn coffee grains . Milk chocolate contains caffeine as well as colas so gluten cross reactions and caffeine may be present in other foods.

Coffee impacts conversion of T4 to T3 thyroid hormones.

Article 11 ways coffee can impact your thyroid | Hypothyroidmom.com

Coffee and tea contain tannins which can cause anaemia as they affect the blood. Tannins come from roasted beans and it is like smoking with carbons.

Article-

nutritionist-resource.org.uk

Is your daily cuppa leaving you lower in iron.

Advice is to not drink coffee for at least an hour before or after your medication.

PS Have had to remove tea from diet and drink small amounts of coffee as it affects iron levels.

[Noelnoel in reply to Hidden]

Looking for that article in the link you sent (thyroid dr) and it seems it’s an advert for dr services. Is it the correct link?

[Hidden in reply to Noelnoel]

I found this came up as a service unless I type in the title of the article, and the name of the website area. They are joined to other area medical services so logging onto the Bay Area endocrinology should bring up the article. Sometimes links don't work at all with my server which is the biggest in the UK. The other link concerning thyroid problems is the first time I could see why thyroid medication may not work with some people drinking coffee with or without caffeine. It can affect the T4 conversion to T3. We think of a few foods which might affect medication but may not realise the cross reaction of other foods such as caffeine in chocolate tea and other foods and gluten chemical similar in structure to gluten which are present in corn grains and coffee . Everyone is different and those who have no trouble with their medication may not understand how each person may have differences in absorption of medication. Hormones are disrupted in women with coffee which may lead to oestrogen dominance.

[Hypopotamus]

I can't drink coffee (any sort) as it gives me awful stomach ache for weeks after. I'm considering a GF diet (at least on a trial basis) and losing my Good Earth coffee alternative will be a huge blow. I wonder if it is even possible to go 100% GF, so I don't think a tiny amount in something like barley used in a drink would be too detrimental. I only have one cup a day anyway.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hypopotamus]

If going to try strictly gluten free diet it does need to be absolutely strictly gluten free to be effective

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

[Hypopotamus in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowSDragon. My previous tests came back negative, and I doubt that I will get another test soon. I am loathe to pay out for a test as I am already spending so much of my (state only) pension on thyroid meds, B12 injections, and CBD oil, to name but a few.

I am reasonably happy with my thyroid situation, but want to try and get rid of the arthritis (no idea which type as you cannot get near a doctor these days) . Anyway, in this warmer weather, I can forego the Barley Cup long enough to see if I notice any improvement..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hypopotamus]

If been tested already for coeliac you don’t need another

Arthritis often linked to gluten intolerance too

Read all food labels...gluten hidden in thousands of items....barley, rye or wheat

[Hypopotamus in reply to SlowDragon]

Well that saves me worrying about a test. I'll try a diet though and see what happens. It's one thing that we can try for ourselves.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hypopotamus]

Few articles about gluten and arthritis

arthritis.org/health-wellne...

creakyjoints.org/diet-exerc...

everydayhealth.com/rheumato...

[Hypopotamus in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks for those. I intend to do much more reading, but it would be good to find exactly what is is I've got as well. Hopefully, one day, the doctors will see us again.

[Zephyrbear]

I live on coffee! Have done since my teens... Couldn’t get through the day without it. I got myself one of those Yeti 20oz mugs from 4Ocean (helping to rid the oceans of plastic) that keeps it beautifully hot for hours, and I have at least 3 of those a day! Each mug full is around 2 normal mugs of coffee, so I guess that’s around 6 mugs a day... I have it flowing through my veins! The only problem I would have is if I couldn’t have it...

[NWA6]

I only drink decaf. I can if real cofee a few years ago and now I get the shakes if I drink it and if it’s after 12 noon I can say goodbye to bedtimes 😬 I have mine with full cream, that’s my breakfast (I take thyriod meds at night so no concerns)

[mandyjane]

Be aware that decaff coffee and tea does contain small amounts of caffeine. I am very sensitive to caffeine and unable to take decaf because of this. I think I noticed a reaction to decaff drinks years ago and contacted the companys that made them to ask if they contained any caffeine and they confirmed that they do. I am fond of barley cup as well myself but have found the best drink for me ongoing is probably redbush tea. You need to go for caffeine free, substances that never have contained it if you need to avoid altogether.

[Noelnoel]

Unfortunately for me even decaf makes me sweat. It affects my sleep too

Perhaps unrelated but each morning my liver is tender; had two scans showing normal despite GGT persistently raised,

so my theory is: obviously something’s wrong with my liver, therefore it’s not working optimally, leading to all sorts of toxins hanging around longer than they should

I still drink decaf though but slowly working to cut it out completely. Down to one cup in the morning

[Sazzle1969]

many thanks, all, I think I'm going to try to ditch the decaf as I suspect I am one of those people who are sensitive to any caffeine and need to try to get rid of as much stuff as I can at the mo - back to peppermint tea!

[tattybogle]

I've always thought that the process used to decaffeinate coffee (and possibly tea) must involve some pretty obnoxious chemical wizardry and have no faith that all remnant's of this process are removed in the end product. I'd sooner have some fresh coffee and limit the quantity or adjust the timing of it to avoid Levo etc.

For a similar reason i suspect instant coffee might be not so great either, because real coffee wont just dissolve in water no matter what you do to it in your own kitchen, so i wonder about the manufacturing processes to get 'instant'.

Warning ! this is not an evidence based opinion, in fact it's highly biased, i like real coffee, and i have been known to put 'medicinal' brandy in mine!

[SilverAvocado]

Sazzle1969, I'm one of those who has struggled with coffee. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I do enjoy a quality cup occasionally. The most recent time, which convinced me not to try it again, I had a cup of coffee then went for my usual gentle walk. I noticed on my Fitbit the pulse had gone up to 180! That convinced me it's best not to mess with it. I don't have many hot drinks because I'm still not well enough to make one with ease. At some point I got used to not having them and don't really miss it. I drink a lot of water, and enjoy that a lot.

I do know that some knowledgeable regulars on the forum enjoy their coffee still, and even drink quite a lot of it! I suppose it's one of those many many things that impact different thyroid patients very differently.

I suspect my issue might be adrenal related, and linked to my heart rate being very reactive to stressors or mild exercise at the best of times.

[Yoll]

I use chicory, liquid or instant, it has nothing else added to it and it is good for you digestion and your liver. I buy mine in France when I go there as it is stronger, But you can buy instant Chicory in the UK . I use two teaspoonfuls to make the strength I like. I don't know about the iron.

[JAmanda]

Decaf is a lot better than it used to be, honest I swapped with no probs