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Drink Decaf and Die

jose parinas writes "Decaffeinated -- not caffeinated -- coffee may cause an increase in harmful LDL cholesterol by increasing a specific type of blood fat linked to the metabolic syndrome, hints a new study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2005."

13 of 467 comments (clear)

  1. Robust == Robust flavor? This is incorrect by ReformedExCon · · Score: 5, Informative

    From the article:

    quote:
    "Whether coffee has caffeine is not the only thing that differentiates caffeinated from decaffeinated types," Superko said. "Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees are often made from different species of beans. Caffeinated coffee, by and large, comes from a bean species called coffee Arabica, while many decaffeinated coffees are made from coffee Robusta. The decaffeination process can extract flavonoids and ingredients that give coffee flavor. So decaffeinated brands usually use a bean that has a more robust flavor."
    / end quote

    Robusto is named not because it has a more robust flavor than Arabica, but because it is a hardier species. In fact, the taste of robusto coffee is so heinous that only people without the sense to drink freshly ground coffee are susceptible to this travesty. I suppose that also includes decaf drinkers, but it also includes those who drink freeze dried coffees and mass produced brown powder that comes in cans.

    To be blunt, Starbucks coffee would actually be a step up in quality from robusto beans.

    --
    Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.
  2. Thats it, I quit everything by Snamh+Da+Ean · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is the last straw - I quite drinkng tea and coffee because caffeine is bad for health, quite smoking because nicotine is bad, quite drinking soft drinks because sugar and all that stuff that makes the drink fizzy is bad for you, and now freaking decaff has been sliently killing me. From now on, all bets are off, I'm just going to smoke crack and to hell with the consequences.

  3. Everything bad for you is good for you again by pubjames · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Things that have recently been found to have positive health properties: beer, chocolate, coffee. In moderation of course.

    Personally I follow a very simple rule - eat and drink everything, just don't eat or drink too much of any one thing.

    There was an interesting study recently - the French (yes, we hate them, yawn) apparently eat lots of stuff that is supposed to be bad for you, and yet remain healthy and slim. How do they do it? Basically, eat in moderation and don't snack between meals.

  4. thanks by Use+Psychology · · Score: 5, Funny

    Decaffeinated -- not caffeinated
    thanks for that clarification!

  5. Moderation is Key by kripkenstein · · Score: 5, Funny

    I also try to do everything in moderation. I even moderate in moderation, so I end up doing some stuff to the extreme, just so I won't be an extremist at moderation, also known as an extremist moderationist. Or is that a moderate extremist. I give up, time for another cup of coffee.

  6. Re:I've always known... by RocketRainbow · · Score: 5, Informative
    Grandparent:Can you imagine what chemicals are needed to turn plant fats into something you can put on your bread?

    Parent replied:hydrogen

    Problem is, once you bind the hydrogen it's trans fat and no longer vegetable oil - it's gone from super yummy and healthy to ugly grey goo that happens to be one of the unhealthiest things you can eat.

    Personally, I prefer to make my sandwiches with hommus and dip my bread roll in fresh olive oil.

    --
    *#*#*#*#*#******* I love peanut butter sandwiches!
  7. Starbucks is good coffee by xtermin8 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I beleive Starbucks was one of the first chains to insist on only selling Arabica beans. Its decaf coffees have always been made with Arabica beans. Basically Starbucks was a leading voice in the trade for discouraging the use of Robusta. You may not like Starbucks, but to criticize their large selection of various coffees as being second rate is barking up the wrong tree.

    1. Re:Starbucks is good coffee by Levilprivateer · · Score: 5, Informative

      As a former barista at a Starbucks competitor, I have to disagree. While Starbucks coffee might not be the premium coffee on the planet, it is no worse (and oftentimes, better) that competing specialty shops. Granted, you are right about people adding so much to the coffee that it becomes a dessert rather than coffee. Still, I can get a good Americano or French press at Starbucks too... and they pull the shots properly, unlike a few other places around here.

      The prioes are, alas, competitive too.

  8. Slashdot Headline by krygny · · Score: 5, Funny

    "DRINK DECAF AND DIE!!"



    When the hell did Rupert Murdoch buy Slashdot?!!

    --
    Research shows that 67% of those who use the term "research shows", are just making shit up.
  9. I don't care about these crap articles anymore ... by raulfragoso · · Score: 5, Funny

    Once I read that smoking could kill me, then I stopped smoking

    Then I read that drinking alcohol is bad, so I stopped drinking

    Then I read that too much sex could cause a heart stroke ... so I stop reading !

  10. And yet, the real cause is ignored..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The real cause of death doesn't lie in food or beverage. Here's a recent study that explains everything:

    "We all know that Heart Disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. But think hard about this: In Japan, they've got a diet that is low in fat and they have less heart disease than the US. While in France, the diet is very high in fat, and they also have less heart disease than in the US. In India, almost nobody drinks red wine and the heart disease rate is lower than in the US. But in Spain, everybody drinks too much red wine and sure enough they have less heart disease than the US. Algeria has the lowest sexual activity rate, and they've got less heart disease than in the US. But Brazil has the highest sexual activity rate and sure enough...the heart disease ratio is lower than in the US. His sage wisdom to me? Drink, eat and make merry all you want. It's speaking English that kills you."

  11. Re:It is a matter of equilibrium by indifferent+children · · Score: 5, Funny
    "I read today that too much X will kill you"

    That's just vicious FUD spread by Apple and Microsoft. X is no more likely to kill you than any other GUI technology.

    --
    Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it. --Mark Twain
  12. Re:Drink Water. by naich · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Up to 50 years ago, most people had water most of the time."

    Not really. Ordinary water tended to have nasty bugs in it, so the way to get rid of them was to either boil it (and make tea, as they did in the East) or ferment it (as they did in the West).

    Because people in the East used the boiling method, rather than the fermentation method of purifying water, they didn't develop the same tolerance to alcohol that people in the West have.