The Benefits of Instant Coffee
Instant coffee accounts for about 50% of coffee consumption in some countries, and 13% worldwide. It’s with us to stay. It has very obvious advantages over traditional ground coffee; it’s much quicker and easier to prepare, and is usually much cheaper than fresh coffee.
Coffee is a proven antioxidant and studies show that there are many health benefits to its consumption. But can the same be said of instant coffee?
A little introduction to instant coffee
Instant coffee is dried coffee extract. Manufacturers brew a concentrate of ground coffee beans. Then the water is removed and a powdery residue remains that easily dissolve when water is added.
There are 2 ways to produce instant coffee:
Spray-drying
The coffee extract is sprayed into hot air in the form of tiny droplets. The heat dries it almost instantaneously and turns them into a fine powder or small pieces.
Freeze-drying
The coffee extract is frozen and cut up into fragments which are then dried at a low temperature in a vacuum.
Both these methods successfully maintain the quality, aroma, and flavor of coffee. Preparation is simplicity itself, one spoon of instant coffee should be equivalent to one spoon of regular coffee. Add hot water and you’re done.
Coffee is by far the beverage with the highest known antioxidant count in our times, and these are believed to be responsible for its health benefits. Though less chemically complex than regular coffee, instant coffee is also full of antioxidants. According to one study, the way instant coffee is processed may result in a wider variety of antioxidants than regular coffee.
A cup of instant coffee contains only four calories while providing some potassium, magnesium, and niacin (vitamin B3). It also contains about half the caffeine of regular coffee. This makes instant coffee the better choice for people who need to cut down on caffeine, but still enjoy their morning cup of coffee.
Though caffeine can be very useful to the human body, overconsumption can have negative effects, such as anxiety, insomnia, tremor, and an increased cardiac frequency.
It can be argued that instant coffee is better for you than fresh coffee in some ways. Since instant coffee also comes in decaffeinated form, it can be an excellent option for consumers who love the taste and health benefits of coffee but have a problem tolerating the effects of caffeine.
Coffee and your body
Your brain
Coffee has been known to increase cognitive function and improve concentration for thousands of years, and scientific studies seem to confirm this. It also affects your mental health – coffee has been linked to decreased risk of depression and suicide.
Your metabolism
If you’re looking for a successful way to lose weight, coffee can be your ally! Caffeine has been proven to increase metabolism and therefor help burn more calories.
Disease prevention
In addition to its positive effect on your brain, caffeine is believed to help ward off some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. A 2006 study correlates the consumption of coffee with a decreased incidence of developing type 2 diabetes.
Your liver
Although there is no replacement for a good diet, regular exercise, and being a healthy weight, coffee is particularly good at protecting your liver. A report from the British Liver Trust reviewed all the literature and concluded, along with the World Health Organization, that coffee greatly reduces your risk of liver cancer. It also lowers the risk of fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver, and slows the progression of liver disease in some patients. These benefits are present however the coffee is prepared – fresh ground or instant.
All these different attributes of coffee have the effect that its consumption (always in moderation) can promote a longer, healthier life. And since instant coffee has as much antioxidants as regular coffee, it’s just as efficient health wise.
How much instant coffee can I drink?
Because instant coffee has about half the caffeine of regular coffee, studies have shown that the optimal amount of instant coffee runs to between 3 and 5 cups a day. This balances the downside of too much caffeine with coffee’s health benefits.
Though instant coffee usually loses out on taste when compared with fresh coffee, it wins out on convenience and price – and whether or not you like the taste simply depends on you. Better quality instant, such as our freeze-dried instant coffee made from 100% Arabica, will taste better than standard instant. With really high-quality instant coffee, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two.
As well as being a low-calorie beverage, instant coffee has the same health benefits as other types of coffee. There are so many benefits to drinking instant coffee; if you’ve been resisting it, it’s time to give it a shot.
~ We currently offer two Organic Instant Coffees ~
Certifications : USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Non-GMO, Kosher
