I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, and I don’t take odd things, but that said, I can’t start the day without a proper big coffee. Not a little mug, not a tiny cup, not plain coffee: a large mug with this precious elixir that I love (as do most people) and to which I add neither sugar nor any kind of healthy sweetener to mask its original flavour.
And that’s why I thought there was nothing to worry about. And lo and behold, what a surprise I’ve had when I read that the way coffee is prepared is closely related to cholesterol. It seems coffee contains cafestol, a diterpene molecule that can raise cholesterol levels, specifically LDL or low-density lipoprotein, known as “bad cholesterol”.
How to brew coffee to avoid it
In this regard, and as gastroenterologist Karen Alarcón states, from most to least likely to raise cholesterol: espresso, coffee made in a cafetiere or French press, then instant coffee and, finally, filter coffee, since this simple gesture reduces 95% of diterpene carriers. In this regard, the most recommended are ecological unbleached paper filters completely chlorine-free.
When it comes to choosing coffee, which variety you opt for will depend mainly on personal taste, though it is always preferable to choose organic coffee. The Arabica variety, which corresponds to quality coffees, is better than Robusta, and generally contains slightly less caffeine.
Regarding roasting methods, it is preferable to use natural coffee rather than torrefacto, as in the latter case sugar is added to the roasting process to give the flavour and crema that this type of coffee produces in machines.
Alternatives you may be interested in
Obviously, as the doctor herself recommends, if you have already been diagnosed with high cholesterol and are undergoing treatment, the ideal would be not to drink coffee and substitute it with green tea or another antioxidant beverage.
On the other hand, by now we all know, both from studies that have been conducted and personal experience, that coffee helps us get going in the mornings, contributes to improved concentration and has a laxative effect. But it isn’t a panacea and, obviously, there are people who experience nervousness, palpitations and anxiety; likewise, there have been cases of coffee drinkers who suffer headaches when they suddenly stop drinking it for whatever reason.
Therefore, if it doesn’t suit you or you think you drink too much, the ideal is to seek healthy alternatives and caffeine-free drinks that are also stimulating, such as chicory root, peppermint tea or ginseng.
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