Let’s talk about coffee.

Healthy or Harmful?

There is so much conflicting information out there about whether or not coffee is good for you (antioxidant value, improves cognitive function, and balances blood sugar) or bad for you (triggers inflammation, produces jitters, and causes heart palpitations).  As it turns out, how coffee effects each person depends on their DNA and health profile.  A gene called CYP1A2, also known as the “caffeine gene,” determines how quickly (or slowly), you metabolize caffeine, which, in turn, determines how it affects your body.  You can find out about your caffeine gene at 23&Me.

One common complaint from coffee drinkers is that it results in gastrointestinal issues.  Coffee is highly acidic, which for many people, can leave them with stomach upset.  For those with stomach acidity issues, I recommend trying the cold brew method.  Coffee brewed in this way is 5 times less acidic, because the heating of coffee is what extracts the acidity.

Brewing

Cold Brew Coffee.  This is not the same thing as “iced coffee,” which is typically hot-brewed coffee poured over ice.  Cold brewing is a process whereby ground coffee is steeped in room-temperature water for 12-18 hours.

I have been cold brewing since 2003, long before public awareness of plastic toxins rose to the surface.  Since my own health journey has taught me to reconsider my use of plastics, I have ditched my 11-year-old cold brewing system (which I had purchased from a local coffee shop) for one that is BPA free.  If you’d prefer to ditch plastic altogether then a Cold Brewing system made of glass may be for you.

Organic or Not?

Pesticides.  Sadly, conventionally grown coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world, with roughly 42 pesticides used worldwide.  Yikes!  Do I even need to go into why you don’t want to consume pesticides?  You know.

Mold.  What you probably don’t know is that 91.7% of conventionally grown and processed coffee beans are contaminated with mold!  If your coffee is not organic, then mycotoxins are likely hiding in your coffee.  These mycotoxins (invisible to the naked eye) are a result of conventional growing, processing, and storage of coffee beans.  Mycotoxins are extremely dangerous; if consumed on a regular basis these toxins may build up in your body.  Early symptoms may include chronic fatigue or brain fog, but if left to accumulate in the body mycotoxins may lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as kidney damage, cancer, and autoimmune disease (since it will put your immune system in chronic “fight” mode until the toxicity is resolved).

I asked my integrative medicine doctor to order a Mycotox Profile for me, which indicated a “significant amount” of mycotoxin in my body.  I know from personal experience that a Mycotox Profile indicating a high concentration of mycotoxins in the body is frightening and leads to many a sleepless night (fraught with worry about the health of your brain); and then to many months of a complicated and expensive detoxification protocol.  And that’s if you’re lucky and happen to catch it early, before severe damage is done.  Just be aware, and don’t go there!

As a side note, the following conventionally grown food crops are often contaminated with these invisible mycotoxins:  coffee, tea, grains, legumes, nuts, dried vine fruits, meat (fed with grains).  If you consume any of these foods on a regular basis, please make sure you buy organic; and for meats buy grass finished (grass fed meats typically eat from a pasture until the last few months before slaughter, at which time the stock is gorged with grains to fatten up).

Okay, back to coffee

In addition to prioritizing organic coffee, you may refine your coffee search by looking for coffee that has been “mycotoxin tested.”  Two of the coffees listed in this post are such brands.

Decaf.  If decaf is your choice, then make sure it is organic, because conventional decaffeination methods involve the use of a chemical solvent to remove caffeine.  The alternate method is heat and water.  If you choose an organic decaf then you will be dodging the chemical solvent method.

Products to Get You Started.  Here are some organic and some mycotoxin-tested coffees for you to try.  All of these coffee products are Climate Friendly Certified by Amazon.

Wicked Joe Organic Fair Trade Coffee

Clean Coffee. * tested for molds and other toxins

Purity * tested for molds and other toxins

VitaCup Perfect Coffee Pods  * low acidic, and tested for molds and other toxins

Kicking Horse Organic Decaf

**You don’t want to go to the trouble of using mycotoxin-free coffee only to drink water contaminated with mold from your brewing machine!  If you use a K-Cup machine for pods, or any brewing machine for ground coffee, be sure to regularly clean the water reservoir (filled half with white vinegar and half with hot water); let it soak and then run it through the machine. 

Coffee Enhancers

As a way to keep my gut balanced and happy, I have reduced my daily cuppa from 5 cups to 4 ounces, and I refrain from coffee after late morning (my deep sleep has greatly improved, thanks!)

Not your Mama’s Half-Caff.  One way to decrease your coffee intake without decreasing the number of coffee drinks you can enjoy throughout the day is to spread out your coffee ounces by adding coffee enhancers to each cup, slowly converting your high-octane brew into a half caff or a third caff!

Half Caff.  Roasted Chicory Root – New Orleans Style French Coffee.  Have you ever been the French Quarter in New Orleans and had a New Orleans style coffee that was smooth and less acidic in taste?  The secret to this coffee favorite is roasted chicory root.  Chicory root contains the highest amount of inulin of any food; and for all of you gut-health nerds, you know that inulin is the favorite food (prebiotic fiber) of your beneficial digestive flora!   So brew some chicory root and have on hand to add to your coffee cup.  Now, that’s a half-caff.

Worldwide Botanicals French Chicory Root Dark Roast * Climate Friendly Certified

One-third caff.   To give your coffee an even bigger gut healing boost, brew some dandelion root tea and add it to the coffee/chicory blend in your cup!  Dandelion root also contains inulin, and has a smooth, sweet taste.

Traditional Medicinals Organic Roasted Dandelion Root Tea * Climate Friendly Certified

** Drug interaction: dandelion root can interact with antibiotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, statin drugs, and others.  If on a prescription medication, consult with your doctor; it says so right on the box.

Chagaccino is a powdered coffee enhancer that is made with a powerful adaptogenic mushroom called Chaga.  Adaptogens help your body adapt to stress.  This brand is a tasty blend of chaga, cinnamon, and monk fruit.

Enjoy

For goodness sake, please refrain from sugar, artificial sweeteners, and A-1 cow’s milk in your coffee!  Healthy alternatives for sweetness include stevia or monk fruit (I love the Lakanto liquid monk fruit).  For milk alternatives use A-2 cow’s milk, goat milk, or unsweetened nut milk. 

Experiment with cold brew, add enhancers, and enjoy your cuppa!

Appends

Be Free of A-1 Beta Casein, by Dana Hazen

Incidence of Mycotoxins in Coffee Beans, PubMed.gov

Incidence of Mycotoxins in Tea, PubMed.gov

Everything You Need to Know about Caffeine, Coffee, and Cold Brew, by Dr. Will Cole

The 7 Foods Most Likely to Contain Mold, and What to Eat Instead, by Dr. Will Cole

Get into the Nuts and Bolts of Toxin Free Coffee Selection, Storage, and Brewing with Organically Becca