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Is Instant Coffee Healthier Than Brewed Coffee?
Coffee is one of the world’s favorite drinks, and has numerous health advantages. Coffee can help increase metabolism, enhance alertness and cognitive functions, reduce diabetes risks such as Alzheimer’s and some types of cancer risk and even enhance alertness during physical activities such as running. Yet many wonder if instant is healthier than brewed.
What matters is how the beans are grown and processed; generally speaking, organically grown low-sugar instant coffee is considered healthier than conventionally cultivated high-sugar varieties due to not being exposed to synthetic pesticides and chemicals that might splatter their crops during cultivation.
Coffee contains not only soluble fiber but also protein and healthy fats that help keep us feeling full for an extended period. Coffee can also provide caffeine which may help those struggling to sleep get through the night – although excessive consumption could lead to insomnia, heart palpitations and make concentration difficult.
Instant coffee is made from the same beans as regular brewed coffee, yet dehydrated instead of being diluted to retain all its antioxidants and other properties. Studies have demonstrated that instant coffee contains up to twice as much caffeine per cup than its traditional brew counterpart!
Instant coffee differs significantly in taste from freshly brewed coffee due to its production methods; most commonly made from Robusta beans which tend to have less intense flavors compared with freshly ground Arabica beans and more acidic aftertaste from processing methods. Nonetheless, technological innovations and up-and-coming brands are working hard on producing instant coffee with similar characteristics as its brewed counterparts; look out for freeze-dried instead of spray-dried methods as these methods better preserve natural flavors of beans.
Keep an eye out for added sugars and sweeteners in some brands of instant coffee if you are trying to control your weight as these extra ingredients can quickly add up. Checking labels is also crucial, as some instant coffee brands contain sugar substitutes which may be just as unhealthy for you as sugar. Furthermore, certain instant coffee brands contain higher levels of acrylamide which has neurotoxic effects in large doses. As instant coffee roasting involves high temperatures, and can result in the formation of acrylamide. Consume it in moderation to avoid potential harm from high concentrations of acrylamide in your system; though for your own good it might be wiser to opt for brands which use minimal levels or no acrylamide at all.