Your Morning Cup of Coffee: Is It Hurting Your Health?
For many, coffee is more than just a drink—it’s a daily ritual. The smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning is comforting and for some, feels essential to start the day. It’s no wonder so many people say they can’t function without it. But what if your morning coffee could be doing more harm than good?
With endless coffee options available, from grocery store brands to coffee shops on every corner, it’s easy to grab whatever’s convenient. But with convenience, there can sometimes be a trade-off when it comes to quality—and that’s something worth thinking about.
From Seed to Cup: What’s in Your Coffee?
Coffee is an agricultural product, and the process from seed to cup involves several steps that impact the quality of the final brew. Coffee beans are seeds that come from the fruit of coffee trees, called cherries. After being handpicked, the cherries are dried, turning into what’s known as green coffee. Some beans are further processed before being roasted and packed, ready for brewing. Learn more about this process here.
But here’s the thing: not all coffee is treated with the same level of care. For coffee to be of high quality, every step of the process needs to be managed carefully. Poor handling or long-term storage can introduce harmful substances into your coffee—one of the main culprits being mycotoxins.
What Are Mycotoxins and Why Should You Care?
Mycotoxins are toxins that can be found in various foods, including coffee, that are stored for long periods of time. They can be harmful to your health when consumed regularly. Once ingested, mycotoxins can enter your bloodstream and travel through your body, causing potential issues along the way.
Research has linked mycotoxins to health problems, including:
Lung Inflammation: Inhaling or ingesting mycotoxins has been shown to contribute to lung inflammation, making it more difficult to breathe. Over time, this can lead to more serious respiratory problems. Learn more from this study available here.
Gut Health Disruption: Mycotoxins can negatively impact the gut microbiome, the community of bacteria that plays a huge role in digestion and overall health. An unhealthy gut can lead to poor digestion, inflammation, and nutrient absorption issues. For more information, refer to this study found here.
Other Health Risks: There are numerous other ways mycotoxins can negatively affect your body, from hormonal imbalances to impairing cognitive function. While the amount of mycotoxins in coffee is often debated, with some studies suggesting that the levels are too low to cause concern, it’s important to consider the cumulative effect. If you’re drinking coffee every day—sometimes multiple times a day—the risk can add up over time.
How to Choose High-Quality Coffee
Not all coffee contains harmful mycotoxins, but it’s often found in lower-quality, mass-produced brands. Luckily, there are coffee companies that go the extra mile to ensure their beans are as clean as they are delicious. These brands prioritize health and safety by testing their beans and taking steps to minimize contamination.
Here are some brands I love and recommend (Note: I am not affiliated with these brands—these are just personal recommendations based on my own research and experience.)
Purity Coffee: Known for its commitment to organic, contaminant-free coffee, Purity Coffee is rigorously tested to meet high-quality standards.
Seven Weeks Coffee: This brand focuses on ethically sourced beans and transparency throughout their process, offering both quality and peace of mind.
Canyon Coffee: For smooth, rich flavors with a focus on cleanliness, Canyon Coffee is another great option for those looking to avoid toxins.
For many, coffee is more than just a beverage—it’s an integral part of daily life. While the health risks of mycotoxins in coffee are still up for debate, I personally believe that any toxins in something that is consumed daily should be of concern and ideally avoided. Choosing high-quality coffee that’s tested for toxins, like the brands mentioned above, is a simple way to enjoy your daily cup of joe without compromising your health.
If you try any of the coffees noted above, let me know what you think! I’d love to hear from you.