Coffee Beans And Pesticide Exposure
Today’s Topic Highlights:
Coffee beans are among the most heavily pesticide sprayed crops globally. Most people, unknowingly, are drinking a toxic chemical concoction every time they brew a cup of coffee in the morning.
The US has relatively lax standards for the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) of pesticides and herbicides in coffee beans. These chemicals, particularly glyphosate, are known endocrine disruptors.
Organic coffee, which is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, represents a very small percentage of the entire coffee market.
Choose certified organic coffee as often as possible. This is the only way to ensure that your coffee is not a cup of toxic liquid.
Do not use a Keurig machine. While they may be convenient, K-cups are made of plastic. When you filter hot water through these plastic pods it leaches microplastics directly into your coffee.
Coffee beans are among the most heavily pesticide sprayed crops in the world. They are often treated with a wide variety of pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. This one area of nutrition alone, enjoyed by an estimated 2/3 of the US population, is insidiously contributing to our already out of control health crisis.
The US has relatively lax standards for the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) of pesticides and herbicides in coffee beans. This means that most people, unknowingly, are drinking a toxic chemical concoction every time they brew a cup of coffee in the morning. Organic coffee, which is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, represents a very small percentage of the entire coffee market.
Common pesticides used in coffee production include glyphosate (the notorious ingredient found in Round Up), mancozeb, abamectin, methyl parathion, and endosulfan to name a few. These chemicals, particularly glyphosate, are known endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruption interferes with the body's hormonal balance, leading to potential health problems such as fertility issues, immune disorders, and neural and organ development issues in children.
In Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer and pesticide consumer, chemical pesticide use increased by 190% in a single decade. Estimates show that roughly 38 million kilograms of pesticides are used annually in Brazilian coffee production. And since 2019, 475 new pesticides have been approved in Brazil. More than a third of these are not approved in the EU due to their toxicity.1
According to Dr. Koutouleas of the University of Copenhagen, “…there are more and more reports of pesticide contamination in groundwater and ecosystems, and harmful symptoms and disorders among animals and humans in areas where coffee is grown—from skin disorders, respiratory problems, to high blood pressure, organ damage, cancer and cardiovascular disease. All of this seems to be linked to the use of pesticides in coffee production.”
None of this is to say that coffee itself has no health benefits - it certainly does. Research suggests that coffee lowers blood glucose levels, improves athletic performance, and reduces risk of dementia, liver disease, and metabolic syndrome.2 The key is to drink organic coffee free of heavy chemical dousing.
Below are some simple ways you can avoid these toxic chemicals and still enjoy your daily coffee. A small bit of awareness goes a long way. These strategies will help protect your health without compromising what you love.