I think coffee has had its share of bad press, but it is true that coffee can have chemicals and mycotoxins in it. If you have allergies or unexplained symptoms that doctors haven’t found answers to in test results, it might be worth trying coffees that are tested to be pure and free from toxins and mycotoxins.
Mycotoxins are toxins formed by molds that can grow in many foods but are especially known to grow in coffee beans. There could be more mycotoxins in decaf coffee than in regular coffee because caffeine actually helps kill mold.
What ‘Bad Stuff’ Can Be In Coffee?
There are a few bad substances that can be in coffee. It pays to be particular about products you ingest so you aren’t adding in the toxins you’re trying to eliminate.
I know there are a few mainstream brands of coffee that make me feel like I’ve been poisoned after I’ve been drinking them for a few days. Eventually, I figured out it was the coffee I was drinking. Now I only drink organic and reputable brands’ coffees.
Pesticides
Like foods, coffee beans can be sprayed with pesticides. An easy way to avoid that is to always buy certified organic coffee.
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are formed by tiny fungi that grow on coffee and other crops, like grains, usually due to improper storage. Mycotoxins also cause indoor mold contamination.
There are good molds, like those used to make penicillin, and others that are used to make medications.
But in coffee, the two most prevalent strains are aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A. Aflatoxin B1 is a known carcinogen and has been shown to have harmful effects in humans. Less is known about ochratoxin A but scientists believe it is a weak carcinogen that studies show is harmful to your kidneys.
Sources:
Ochratoxin A and human health risk: A review of the evidence – PMC (nih.gov) and Risk assessment of aflatoxins in food – PMC (nih.gov)
Coffee is generally tested for mycotoxins all over the world. There are various percentages allowed that are not considered hazardous to human health. But I, for one, would prefer not to have any. Buying organic coffee helps reduce pesticides and other chemicals but doesn’t guarantee there aren’t mycotoxins in it.
Now that we’ve talked about the ‘bad stuff’, let’s talk about some coffees that are free of mycotoxins (and pesticides).
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Coffees Free from Mycotoxins
Bulletproof Coffee
Bulletproof actually tests their coffee. They only buy beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms that protect fair wages, workers’ rights, and the environment. The beans are hand-picked then tested and tasted before coming to you.
Bulletproof actually tests their coffee. They only buy beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms that protect fair wages, workers’ rights, and the environment. The beans are hand-picked then tested and tasted before coming to you.
Natural Force Coffee
Natural Force tests their coffee for mold, mycotoxins, acrylamide, heavy metals, gluten, and more. And they say their coffee is low acid and contains more antioxidants than blueberries and dark chocolate. Clean Coffee is Certified USDA Organic, and certified by The Paleo Foundation, Rainforest Alliance, and Vegan Action. Pretty impressive credentials. Check it out!
Lifeboost Coffee
Lifeboost handpicks their beans, then sun dries them before a spring water wash. The result is a great-tasting, natural coffee. Grown in the shade in Central America, their coffee is then tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, and 400 other toxins. And it’s low acid. This is a delicious pick for a mycotoxin-free coffee.
VitaCup Perfect Coffee
VitaCup sources coffee from a single source in Guatemala. It is third-party tested for mycotoxins and pesticides. It’s also low in acid and available in whole bean or ground coffee. And certified organic!
Some K Cup Options:
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Wrapping Up
Thank you for reading today. I hope you will check out these great coffees free from pesticides and mycotoxins. Coffee has some great antioxidants and is good for you when it’s pure coffee without all the ‘bad stuff’.
Buying organic coffee is certainly helpful in reducing toxins, but if you have concerns about the health effects of mycotoxins, then give one or more of these great coffees a try. It could make a huge difference in your health and how you feel.
If you find this coffee information helpful or you have questions, please leave them in the Comments section below. Thank you!
Thank very much for your timely warning. I know that ingesting coffee mold spores or mycotoxins can trigger allergies; Headaches, congestion, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and umpteen more allergy symptoms can all be brought on by a foul cup of moldy coffee.
It can also be responsible for the onset of flu-like symptoms and upper respiratory infections!
Your post is spot on.
Hey Kayamba. Thank you for adding to the conversation and reading my article. I agree, there are many symptoms that a person may not realize is actually from their coffee. Amazing.
Hi Paula
What an excellent recommendation. I love your reasoning to purchase coffee free from pesticides and mycotoxins! It’s crazy what gets sprayed on to various foods before we consume them. My husband is the big coffee drinker in our house lol. I am feeling the love for a bucket load of Bullet Proof Coffee! The company sounds quite extensive during their testing process. 10/10 for me! Thanks for the great read.
Shelley
Bullet Proof is a good choice! Thanks for reading and your comments.
I am a huge coffee drinker, but you definitely put me on to something I never knew! I was never aware that some coffee comes with pesticides on them. And it makes sense once you bring it up since coffee beans are grown out of the earth, and so it would be an increase of the chance of pesticides.
And some people might assume they have an allergy or are sensitive to caffeine but it could easily be pesticides they’re reacting to and they would be totally unaware of it.
It’s also awesome to find out there are specific coffee brands out there with the purpose of providing people with clean, pesticide-free coffee.
Thanks for this eye-opening article!
So true. Unless a brand specifically says it’s free of mycotoxins or pesticides, you can probably assume it has them. Thanks for reading and your comments.