It finally became clear whether instant coffee is actually harmful

Is instant coffee, popular in Russia and other countries, harmful? Gastroenterologist and nutritionist Artur Bernatsky decided to answer this question; his comment was published in a message on the social network of the National Medical Research Center of Oncology named after. N.N. Petrova.

He noted that in pursuit of saving time and effort, people buy this type of coffee – it is easier to prepare than a drink made from beans that require pre-grinding. However, coffee made from instant powder is not as harmless as it might seem.

Firstly, it is useless because it contains virtually no caffeine and does not provide a tonic effect. On the contrary, its use can cause drowsiness, the doctor warned.

According to him, this effect of the drink is explained by the technology for making instant coffee. It is brewed, after which this liquid is dried. During the drying process, caffeine and essential oils completely evaporate. “Caffeic acid and theobromine remain, and this drink has no beneficial effect. This is a surrogate, just like decaffeinated coffee, when chemical reactions release substances and thereby distort the product itself, so this coffee does not have any beneficial properties,” the doctor said.

He added that coffee contains theobromine. “There is a stimulant – caffeine, and there is a suppressor – theobromine. Instant coffee has virtually no caffeine, it contains theobromine,” explained Bernatsky. According to him, people who drink three-in-one coffee are often very sleepy afterwards, and this is very dangerous, especially for drivers. “That’s why many gas stations removed instant coffee from sale because truckers fell asleep while driving,” the specialist added.

He also noted that people often add milk and cream to coffee – their proteins react and contribute to fermentation and the development of pathogenic flora in the intestines. “Additives kill the beneficial properties by fifty percent,” the doctor emphasized and advised those who cannot refuse this drink to drink only pure coffee.