Type of coffee which produces the least hydrogen peroxide in the body?
July 4, 2017 8:36 AM Subscribe
My daily treat to myself is a mid-afternoon coffee. But, I recently learnt that coffee causes hydrogen peroxide to synthesize in the body. I know this is probably in very small quantities but still I'd like to minimize my exposure to it...
So what type of coffee brewing is likely to produce the least levels of hydrogen peroxide in the body - instant? expresso? americano? filter or something else?
So what type of coffee brewing is likely to produce the least levels of hydrogen peroxide in the body - instant? expresso? americano? filter or something else?
This study found that adding milk to your coffee actually lowered your H2O2 urine content, as did green tea... so if you put dairy in your coffee I'd say you're good.
posted by Huck500 at 8:58 AM on July 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Huck500 at 8:58 AM on July 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
In case it's not clear, nobody has ever found any clear and notable detrimental health effect of one cup of coffee a day, and many health benefits have been documented. See recent recent scholarly review articles. "For adults consuming moderate amounts of coffee (3–4 cups/d providing 300–400 mg/d of caffeine), there is little evidence of health risks and some evidence of health benefits. "
"Contrary to previous beliefs, the various forms of arterial cardiovascular disease, arrhythmia or heart insufficiency seem unaffected by coffee intake. Coffee is associated with a reduction in the incidence of diabetes and liver disease."
H2O2 is also not really dangerous to humans unless you drink a bunch of concentrated solution or get it in your eyes. "Because hydrogen peroxide is rapidly decomposed in the body, it is unlikely to cause chronic toxicity. etc.
The amount of peroxide you get in a daily coffee is tiny (500 micrograms!), and completely insignificant in terms of health impacts.
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:29 AM on July 4, 2017 [58 favorites]
"Contrary to previous beliefs, the various forms of arterial cardiovascular disease, arrhythmia or heart insufficiency seem unaffected by coffee intake. Coffee is associated with a reduction in the incidence of diabetes and liver disease."
H2O2 is also not really dangerous to humans unless you drink a bunch of concentrated solution or get it in your eyes. "Because hydrogen peroxide is rapidly decomposed in the body, it is unlikely to cause chronic toxicity. etc.
The amount of peroxide you get in a daily coffee is tiny (500 micrograms!), and completely insignificant in terms of health impacts.
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:29 AM on July 4, 2017 [58 favorites]
You're attempting to optimize a meaningless number. You can rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide without ill effects, the amount ingested in coffee is trivial.
posted by so fucking future at 9:59 AM on July 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by so fucking future at 9:59 AM on July 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
It's likely the healthy microbes in your body are creating hydrogen peroxide in your intestines and vagina if you have one, regardless of what you are consuming.
In the case of the vagina, there's some evidence hydrogen peroxide producing microbes are protective against infection.
Science on how all of our internal flora works is really thin, but you might start with this article.
Drinking coffee or not, your body will likely still produce hydrogen peroxide and that's probably a good thing.
posted by littlewater at 10:32 AM on July 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
In the case of the vagina, there's some evidence hydrogen peroxide producing microbes are protective against infection.
Science on how all of our internal flora works is really thin, but you might start with this article.
Drinking coffee or not, your body will likely still produce hydrogen peroxide and that's probably a good thing.
posted by littlewater at 10:32 AM on July 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
One more for: It's negligible and not bad for you. Don't sweat it, and enjoy your afternoon cup. Life's small pleasures are not to be agonized about, and this one won't even hurt you a bit. Mmm, coffee. I'm drinking my morning cup now (7:50am GMT+9), and it's proof that G_d loves us and wants us to be happy.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 3:50 PM on July 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 3:50 PM on July 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
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