Caffeinated vs. Decaffeinated

Coffee is the most widely-consumed beverage in the world, with more than 2 ½ billion cups of the brew enjoyed daily. Whether your choice is a plain cup of java made in your own kitchen or a fancy espresso drink from your favorite barista, chances are you depend on a jolt of caffeine to make you feel alert in the morning or boost your energy during an after-lunch slump. Most adults enjoy two or more cups of coffee every day.

An increasing body of research validates a wide range of health benefits coffee provides. There is evidence that regular coffee consumption may lower risk for type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, liver disease and certain types of cancer, as well as improving blood vessel and large artery function, which could protect against heart disease and stroke.

Early assumptions were that caffeine was the beneficial component of coffee, but as more research findings are published, that theory becomes ambiguous. Some studies point directly to caffeine as the beneficial component of coffee, while other findings indicate it is some other ingredient of coffee beans—as yet unidentified—that is the health hero. These results leave many coffee drinkers confused about whether they should drink caffeinated coffee or the decaf variety.

So should you drink decaf or not?

Here are 6 facts you need to know about decaf coffee: Read on...