Is Instant Coffee Bad For You?
Short answer
Instant coffee has some advantages over non-instant brands, but you should consider in context the acrylamide content, which recent research suggests may be carcinogenic.
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A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Instant coffee is basically concentrated coffee dust. It has a few advantages over non-instant coffee - there’s some evidence that instant coffee has more flavonoids, which can help to protect against cancer, and less cafestol, which can lead to heart disease. Some studies have produced early evidence that instant coffee is better than non-instant at improving long-term heart health and protecting against chronic heart disease.
It’s not clear whether instant coffee is particularly good at protecting the heart - right now, the research we have reinforces the notion that moderate coffee consumption of any kind is good for the heart. Coffee also reduces your chance of developing type II diabetes.
Instant coffee, like regular coffee is a stimulant. It’ll make you more awake and more concentrated. Drink too much, and you might experience an elevated heart rate, sweating, nervousness, or muscle tics.
Instant coffee also contains a chemical called acrylamide. It shows up in foods that have been heated above 120 degrees celsius - that is, foods which have been toasted, baked, or roasted during preparation. Animal studies and direct exposure of cells to acrylamide have shown that it can raise the risk of developing certain cancers. So far, human studies have not conclusively reproduced this data - results are mixed. Still, regulatory agencies and medical associations recommend that you limit your intake of acrylamide.
That’s a problem with instant coffee. The Food and Drug Administration collects data on a regular basis of levels of acrylamide in different foods. The data they’ve collected vary from year to year, but there’s a clear trend - certain brands of instant coffee, particularly decaf and light varieties, have higher levels of acrylamide than non-instant coffee. The FDA’s survey data from 2003 is particularly worrying; instant coffees showed more acrylamide than most of the foods on their survey aside from certain varieties of wheat thins and potato chips. If you’re worried about acrylamide in your food, you should consult with your medical provider about the risks and how to properly structure your diet.
Possible short-term side effects
- nervousness
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sweating
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muscle tremors
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elevated heart rate
Possible long-term side effects
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- reduces risk of heart disease
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reduces risk of type ii diabetes
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may help prevent some forms of cancer
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contains less cholesterol than regular coffee
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cheaper than regular coffee
Healthier alternatives
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Mount Hagen Organic Coffee
- Freeze-dried convenience
- Organic Arabica beans
- Eco-friendly product
- Fair-trade certified
- Medium roast flavor
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