Many people turn to decaf coffee for health reasons – to reduce caffeine consumption, prevent sleep disturbances or ease medical conditions like high blood pressure that may worsen with caffeine intake. But is decaf really any healthier than its regular counterpart?

Answering that question is more complex. While decaf processes typically remove around 97% of caffeine from beans, leaving about 3 milligrams per cup compared with 85 milligrams in regular coffee, they still may contain chemicals linked to certain cancers and listed by the FDA as known to cause birth defects; although decaf is likely far below any threshold levels that cause symptoms of any sort.

Some decaf producers are exploring methods that use water instead of methylene chloride to remove caffeine, but this process may alter the flavor of their beverages, so it may not provide a healthier alternative and is also not as effective at extracting caffeine from products.

Other decaf producers use CO2 extraction, which involves using carbon dioxide to strip caffeine from beans without needing chemicals like ethyl acetate and hexane; although this method still leaves trace amounts of these chemicals behind, according to FDA standards they fall below safety levels and can safely be consumed by humans.

No matter your taste in coffee, most experts advise drinking no more than 4 cups daily to limit potential caffeine-induced side effects like jitters, headaches, stomach upset and rapid heartbeat. Decaf may not cause these adverse reactions; nonetheless it remains an ideal option for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers who may be sensitive to its caffeine effects or are expecting.

Decaf coffee offers more than just relief from caffeine crashes; it may have long-term advantages as well. Studies have revealed improvements to cognition, energy levels and risk reduction of type 2 diabetes and rectal cancer; plus caffeinated coffee may reduce nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risks – one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in the US.

No matter which brew is your preference, both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee contains beneficial compounds like antioxidants, polyphenols, and plant compounds which can support digestive health while simultaneously improving mood by strengthening gut bacteria populations.