Instant Coffee: Health Benefits and Contraindications

Instant coffee is one of the most popular drinks. However, there are many myths about this product - both about its harm and about its benefits. Therefore, the properties of the drink should be considered in more detail.

How and what is made instant coffee

Contrary to popular misconception, instant coffee is still made from natural raw materials, that is, from roasted coffee beans. There are various technologies of its production. The raw material is either freeze-dried or the dry spray technology is used. The result is a soluble powder or granules. The taste of the drink is similar to that of natural coffee. But during its production sometimes caffeine content is reduced and sometimes its synthetic substitute is injected. So these drinks are chemically different from each other.

Types of

There are three main varieties of the product:

1. Coffee in powder form. In the production of this type, roasted coffee beans are first ground to a near-powder stage, then they are put into a special machine where it is practically brewed by passing drops of liquid under vacuum conditions. This is followed by instant drying of the coffee particles. The raw material is then turned into a very fine powder. This variety is considered the cheapest.
2. Granulated coffee. It is produced from powdered raw material, which is re-humidified with steam. As a result, the individual small particles stick together into pellets. This production technology helps coffee to dissolve more quickly, but its taste and aroma deteriorate, which does not prevent the granulated variety from being more expensive.
3. Freeze-dried coffee is produced using a different technology (it will be discussed below). As a result, it retains the taste and aroma of the original raw material. This is the most expensive coffee variety.

Thus coffee varieties differ not only in price and taste characteristics, but also in production technology. And the higher price is not always an argument in favor of choosing a particular product.

What is the difference between ground coffee and instant coffee

In fact, they are completely different products, which differ both in production technology and in aroma and flavor characteristics, due to the different content of caffeine and other substances.

The main technologies of instant coffee production were discussed above. With ground coffee everything is completely different. For its production they take the fruits of the coffee tree, roast the beans and grind them in a special machine. And modern equipment allows to get coffee of different grind - from fine to coarse. Raw material is not subjected to any further processing, which helps preserve the original composition of coffee beans, including essential oils.

The taste of ground coffee depends on the raw material from which it is made and how it is roasted. About 70 percent of the total production is arabica. The rest is Robusta, which has a higher caffeine content.

The raw material for ground coffee can have different roast levels. Espresso requires coffee in the darkest roast grade, called Italian roast. Then in descending order of color come French, Viennese and Scandinavian (the lightest). For instant coffee there are not so many degrees of roast of the initial raw material.

What is the difference between freeze-dried coffee and instant coffee

Freeze-dried coffee is a product of high technologies. It preserves the color and shade of natural coffee, but undergoes rather complicated treatment, which allows obtaining from it an instant beverage. But it differs from other types by the production technology. To make it, from the very beginning coffee beans are ground literally to dust, after which the raw material, mixed with water, is subjected to freezing. After the beans are separated from the liquid, a kind of coffee slabs are obtained which are ground again. The coffee retains its flavor and aroma without the addition of caffeine, dyes or flavorings. Of all the aforementioned types of drink, this version is considered the most useful - after ground coffee, of course.

What kind of coffee is better: instant or ground

The only two advantages of instant coffee are quickness of preparation and its longer shelf life. This is due to the fact that in the production process the initial raw material loses its essential oils, which increases the shelf life, but negatively affects the taste and aroma characteristics.

Many people think that the main disadvantage of instant coffee is connected with this - with the fact that it is much inferior to ground coffee in taste. But in fact the main disadvantage is that manufacturers try to eliminate this difference and add artificial flavorings and essential oils to the product. Even the best powdered or pelleted coffee still tastes different from ground coffee, especially if you're talking about the cheaper varieties. At the same time, many chemical components at least can not be called useful. And for people with gastrointestinal pathologies they can even be harmful, because they stimulate the production of gastric juice, and with gastritis this significantly worsens the course of the disease.

Although instant coffee contains less caffeine in percentage, still the drink is often bitter. This is explained by the fact that for the production of this product is deliberately selected lower quality raw materials, as the best beans will be sold in whole. Sometimes manufacturers use literally leftovers from the harvest, which levels out even the benefits received from the most expensive technology - sublimation. Besides caffeine itself, practically all useful components of instant coffee are removed at the initial stages of production.

Ground coffee is considered healthier because it does not contain any chemical additives, and it has less effect on gastric juice secretion than an instant drink. However, it is not that simple.

On the other hand, quality instant coffee contains less caffeine than ground coffee - 60-80 mg in one cup, while traditional coffee contains up to 80-150 mg, depending on the characteristics of the raw material and preparation method. This is important for people who are sensitive to caffeine.

In addition, natural ground coffee contains the substance cafestol. It suppresses those mechanisms that regulate the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood. Consumption of ground coffee containing caffeostol increases cholesterol levels on the average by 8% for middle aged men, by 10% for women, and the figure can even be higher for old people. Cafestol is found in coffee oils. In the production of instant coffee, these oils are removed, and the cafestol in this product is negligible. So from this point of view the instant drink is even healthier.

Composition and Calories

The energy value of the product is not high. If we talk about a drink made without sugar and milk, a cup of instant coffee contains only 1 kcal.

The chemical composition of natural coffee has not been fully studied. It is known that it contains more than two thousand substances, not only carbohydrates, oils, organic acids but also different vitamins, minerals and proteins. But the chemical composition of instant coffee is much more modest. It contains about 2.8% caffeine, about 1.8% carbohydrates and 4.5% trigonellin. The latter substance is also present in natural coffee. This alkaloid is one of the many compounds responsible for the flavor of the drink. Finally, instant coffee has dextrin - about 5%, but its role is limited only to the fact that it helps to better assimilate certain elements.

As for useful substances, instant coffee, although in smaller amounts, contains phosphorus and sodium, which are necessary for normal metabolic processes, vitamin PP, some B vitamins and antioxidants that slow down the aging process. And even the powdered variety of the product can contain up to 4% water.

It is necessary to read the composition of the drink very carefully, because some manufacturers also use carbonic acid, synthetic coffee oil substitutes, coloring agents and stabilizers for the production of instant coffee.

What are the health benefits of instant coffee?

General benefits

Although instant coffee contains less caffeine and other active ingredients, they are still present in this beverage, which affects its properties:

• Improved concentration;
• enhancement of cognitive abilities;
• prevention of the development of clinical depression;
• normalization of intestinal peristalsis.

There have also been studies that caffeine (even artificial caffeine, which is sometimes put in an instant drink) reduces body weight. Scientists believe that it stimulates energy expenditure, metabolic processes and suppresses appetite.

For women

Relatively recently, large-scale studies were conducted in several countries at once, in which more than 500 thousand people were involved. As a result, unexpected results were obtained. It turned out that coffee (including instant coffee) reduced the risk of cancer, but only for the fair sex. If we speak about concrete figures, those ladies who drink up to three cups of instant coffee a day have a significantly lower risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

In addition, this drink, unlike natural coffee, is less likely to leach calcium. This is why women during menopause, when the risk of osteoporosis increases, are advised to drink an instant drink.

For men

The above-mentioned studies also revealed that instant coffee has a positive effect on men's health. However, it is interesting that in the representatives of the stronger sex, caffeine has a greater effect on the process of releasing oxytocin. This is the so-called happiness hormone, which is produced by the hypothalamus. It not only regulates energy metabolism, but also reduces the risk of clinical depression. So not only did men who regularly drank instant coffee have a reduced risk of depression, but there were also fewer cases of cardiovascular disease due to their emotional state overall.

It should also be noted that men who drank up to three cups of coffee a day were less likely to engage in social aggression, suicide and destructive habits. However, the daily rate of caffeine should not exceed 400 mg per day, and given that a person gets it with different drinks and products, get addicted to coffee is not worth it.

Pregnancy

Studies have shown that caffeine during pregnancy easily passes through the blood placental barrier and enters the fetus's blood. All of the life support systems of the embryo are still developing, so this substance simply cannot be properly absorbed by the body. There is a theory that says it can lead to the birth of an underweight baby.

At the same time, many expectant mothers have a need for caffeine, without which they feel weak and low in energy. In this case, you should follow the WHO recommendations, according to which it is better to consume instant coffee, which contains less caffeine than natural coffee. The maximum dose of this substance in such cases is 100 mg per day, that is, two small cups of this drink will be more than enough, but on the condition that the woman refuses other sources of caffeine (Coca-Cola, chocolate, black and green tea).

When breastfeeding

Until the baby is three months old, a breastfeeding mother will have to give up coffee and other sources of caffeine completely. Then you can gradually include your favorite drink in your diet. But at the same time on a regular basis it is better not to use, only occasionally allowing yourself a cup of instant coffee. And in any case you need to carefully monitor how the baby reacts to this drink. If the child is naughty, nervous, there are rashes on the skin, from instant coffee have to give up. It is better then to replace it with chicory.

For babies

Many kids are drawn to the fragrant beverage. And if a child at the age of 5-6 years old takes a few sips of instant coffee, nothing bad can happen. After all, this drink contains less caffeine than natural coffee, and at the same time brings benefits - for example, improves concentration and memory, increases physical endurance and reaction speed. It is also proved that instant coffee activates the work of gastrointestinal organs and can even relieve allergy attacks.

However, all of these benefits can be offset by the negative effects that regular coffee consumption can have. In particular, it can remove calcium from the body, which is especially important during the growth period. It can also have a negative impact on hormone levels, as a child's endocrine system is still working in an unstable way. Children with hypersensitivity to caffeine become agitated, irritable, and may have tantrums. Coffee also affects the heart rate.

Because of these ambiguous effects on the body, coffee is not recommended for children under the age of 14. Even elementary school children can be allowed no more than a couple of sips of the drink. But since the child wants to behave like adults, he can be offered a chicory drink as an alternative.

When losing weight

In itself, instant coffee is a low-calorie drink. At the same time, nutritionists do not mind including it in the diet, but only without sugar and milk, which significantly worsens its taste.

Science has proved that the consumption of instant coffee activates the work of the pancreas. This means that the body increases the production of insulin. This hormone is important not only for people with diabetes. It is responsible for the accumulation of body fat. The more it is produced and the better it is digested, the less fat will be deposited in problem areas.

Finally, it is worth noting that instant coffee has a pronounced diuretic effect. This helps to remove excess fluid from the body and relieve swelling, and helps to get rid of extra pounds. In addition, as already mentioned above, caffeine suppresses appetite and activates the metabolic processes.

And even the instant drink contains antioxidants, which not only prolongs the youth of the body, but also improves the condition of the blood vessels. However, the basis of the diet coffee can not be. You can drink only 2-3 cups of the drink per day to keep yourself in shape. To reduce weight, you need to drink up to 4 cups, without sugar and milk.

Instant coffee with milk: the benefits and harms

Regarding instant coffee with milk, medics have no unequivocal opinion. On the one hand, milk reduces the amount of digestible caffeine. Therefore, instant coffee with milk can be drunk by people suffering from arterial hypertension - the drink will not raise blood pressure. On the other hand, milk levels out the vasodilator effect of caffeine, so people with hypotension will not get the desired effect. Such coffee can not cheer you up; on the contrary, for some people it will cause sleepiness.

Coffee with milk will not bring special harm. But it should be noted that it will prevent weight loss. In this form, the drink will even somewhat reduce the rate of metabolic processes. And this also applies to those cases where nonfat milk is added to it, because its benefits are rather a common misconception, long ago dispelled by nutritionists.

Instant coffee in medicine

For a long time, official medicine did not complain about instant coffee, because it was believed that it contained more caffeine than natural coffee. Then it was proved that this figure is much lower, and in general caffeine in combination with other substances contained in this drink, brings more benefits than harms.

In Diabetes Mellitus

In recent years, there have been several studies regarding the effects of coffee on type 2 diabetes. At first, scientists thought that an instant drink would not affect insulin production as much as a traditional drink because it contained less caffeine. But further research showed that the production and absorption of insulin is affected by the entire complex of substances contained in coffee. And even an instant drink that has been decaffeinated (that is, caffeine has been artificially removed from it) reduces the risk of diabetes by more than 30%, as long as a person drinks 4 cups daily.

Important: The glycemic index of instant coffee is 50 to 60 units.

Pancreatitis

Since the substances contained in the instant drink increase the activity of the pancreas, this can lead to a worsening of the disease. So with pancreatitis, instant coffee should not be consumed in any form.

With gastritis

With gastritis with reduced acidity, coffee is even useful because it promotes the production of gastric juice. But with another form of the disease accompanied by high acidity, it is contraindicated for the same reason.

For Gout

In theory, coffee does not contain purines, which cause the development of this disease. However, much depends on how the product was produced. Some producers, who use high temperatures rather than freezing the raw material, are forced to reconstitute the destroyed caffeine later on. For this purpose, they use its synthetic analogue made of xanthine and uric acid, which negatively affects metabolic processes and causes exacerbation of gout.

Instant Coffee in Cosmetology

Due to the fact that instant coffee contains fewer nutrients, it is less often used in cosmetology than ground coffee. But it has a more convenient form for preparing masks, so it is sometimes used for home cosmetic products.

For the face

On the basis of instant coffee make a lifting mask, tightening the skin and correcting the oval of the face. You will need 75 g of instant drink, 100 g of sugar, 5 g of cinnamon powder, 50 g of coconut oil (it is sold in pharmacies and perfume stores). The oil is heated over low heat without bringing it to a boil, then add the other ingredients and stir with a wooden spatula. When they are completely dissolved, the composition is cooled to an acceptable temperature and applied to the face and neck with light massaging movements. Leave the mask for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

For hair

To strengthen the hair, 1 tsp. instant coffee take two raw yolks, 2 tbsp. brandy, 1 tsp. castor oil and 1 tbsp. hot water. The coffee is infused with water, then mixed with other ingredients and applied to wet hair for 15-20 minutes, and then washed with shampoo.

Harms and contraindications

1. Instant coffee when consumed regularly can impair the absorption of iron from food. Therefore, this drink is contraindicated in anemia.
2. Its consumption in large quantities leads to depletion of the nervous system. The fact is that in combination with those substances that are present in the soluble form of the drink, caffeine lingers in the body not for 2-3 hours, but for three times longer. This greatly increases the excitability of the nervous system. It can also lead to the development of addiction.
3. Because of the effect of coffee on the production of gastric juice and on pancreatic function, the drink is contraindicated in inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, including pancreatitis, gastritis, colitis, ulcers, etc.
4. Decaffeinated instant coffee contains ethyl acetate and dichloromethane, which are toxic in large quantities.

How to Choose and Store Instant Coffee

Buy only products from well-known manufacturers, having previously studied the composition and made sure that it has no synthetic components. The integrity of the packaging should not be broken.

It is recommended to store instant coffee either in a jar made of dark glass, so that sunlight does not start oxidation processes, or in a tin container. The lid in any case should be tightly closed so that the flavor does not escape. The container should be stored in a cool dry place. And under no circumstances should you take the coffee with a wet spoon - especially the powdered form, as it will be collected in dense lumps.

How to prepare instant coffee

The process of making instant coffee is extremely simple. You take 1 tsp of this drink and pour a glass of boiling water, and then stir it. If you want, you can make the drink more concentrated by using half the amount of liquid.

How to drink instant coffee correctly

Instant coffee should be prepared in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and drunk in the amount recommended by the WHO.

How much you can drink per day

The total norm of caffeine per day for an adult is 400 mg, and for a teenager - 100 mg. But only this amount can be used to make different amounts of coffee. In general terms, we can say that if you follow the manufacturer's instructions, teenagers can drink 1-2 cups of coffee per day, and adults can drink 3-4.

Can I drink it at night and on an empty stomach?

Do not drink instant coffee at night, as it has a stimulating effect and can lead to sleep problems. On an empty stomach this drink is not recommended, because it causes increased production of gastric juice.

Can I Drink Outdated Instant Coffee?

Even the instant drink contains fats, which, after the expiration date, are oxidized. So that it does not represent any special danger for the body, but there may be the corresponding reaction from the digestive system, for example, flatulence or diarrhea. In general, expired instant coffee will be simply unpalatable. Even before the expiration date, if the lid is not tightly closed, it loses flavor and aroma. What to say about those cases where two years have already passed from the moment of manufacture!

The best types of instant coffee

Unlike natural coffee, in this case the consumer does not always know what kind of raw material was used to make the drink. And it is even less known what kind of coffee beans went into its production (or it was a blend, i.e. a mixture of varieties).

One of the best brands in this segment is considered Egoiste Noir, as the brand uses freeze-drying technology to preserve its natural flavor and aroma. And the raw materials are initially selected with high quality. Another beverage produced by freeze drying technology is Carte Noire Classic, and the brand claims that only the best Arabica is chosen for it. Both brands have a rather high price.

Of inexpensive drinks quality instant coffee by freeze drying produces Jacobs under the brand name Millicano.

How to dye eggs with instant coffee

This dye can be used only for eggs with white shells. Boiled eggs should be held for 10-15 minutes in a hot beverage, so that they acquire a pastel brown hue. To make the color more intense, eggs are literally boiled in strong instant coffee for 2-3 minutes.

Interesting facts about coffee

1. The inventor of instant coffee was Japanese chemist Satori Kato. But although he invented the technology back in 1899, it never became mass-produced. So officially the palm is owned by Nestlé, which established mass production in the 1930s.
2. Instant coffee can enhance the effect of certain medications, such as aspirin. This is due to the fact that its use increases the acidity of the stomach, the pills dissolve faster and are fully absorbed.

Photo of instant coffee