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Celiac.com 10/31/2013 - I recently made a post on Instagram that gained a significant amount of attention. A before and after photo with a caption that read “dairy and coffee free” had viewers confused. The attention was not due to my physique but instead to the concern of eliminating coffee as part of a wellness regimen. When over 1000 “likes” and 30 comments were made, I realized that little is acknowledged about the matter. There are certainly far worse things for your health than coffee and caffeine yet I’m compelled to share its undesirable effects. I do not claim that drinking coffee ruins your health and take into consideration that every individual has unique dietary needs and intolerances. Years following my celiac diagnosis, eliminating coffee (and dairy) changed my life. I hope it will do the same for you. Concerns: Chronic Fatigue Suppressed Immunity Increased Inflammation Deflated Mood & Cognition Acidic Content IBS Symptoms Weight Retention Fatigue & Immunity There are few things more frustrating than the lack of energy to perform normal tasks. Fatigue is one the most common and difficult symptoms to treat with celiac disease. When speaking to individuals about coffee consumption typical responses are, "I need the energy, I MUST have my coffee. I can’t go without it.” The irony is that caffeine is a major cause of fatigue. Most of us are familiar with the 2pm crash that comes with the workday. “Well no worries, I’ll have another cup of coffee” you might say. – This is where trouble begins. When it comes to caffeine, fatigue is determined by the amount of milligrams consumed. Studies have shown that fatigue heightened in individuals who had three cups of coffee and was the highest in those who had five cups. Continuous coffee and caffeine consumption places the body into a chronic state of stress or emergency. Caffeine signals the adrenal glands to produce stress hormones that are responsible for the “fight or flight” response. While useful for outrunning grizzly bears, it’s not intended for constant and sedentary use. The perked attention after drinking coffee is the body’s response to the unnecessary secretion of stress hormones. The energy felt after drinking coffee is actually your body battling the stimulated fight or flight response. Studies have shown that constant stress impairs the immune system to respond to normal hormonal ques. The excessive amount of stress hormones deters communication within the immune system posing for additional complications with auto-immunity conditions. Once in this state of emergency the body seeks out reserves and depletes vitamins and minerals the immune system rely on. With celiac disease, inadequate absorption of vital nutrients and immune deficiency already pose as threats absent of caffeine consumption. Not to mention, B-vitamins are also depleted which aids in utilizing food for energy, thus exasperating symptoms of fatigue. Deflated Mood and Cognition Coming down from the caffeine high (you’ll have to eventually) may cause exhaustion, hindered cognition, and moodiness. “Wait, moodiness? But caffeine elevates your mood and helps you concentrate.” There are claims that coffee aids in treating depression and moodiness and here’s why; within minutes of drinking coffee, the central nervous system is firing neurons, sending signals to the brain, and pumps out adrenalin. The perked attention for someone exhibiting depressive symptoms would certainly feel beneficial. Unfortunately, this is short lived, fails to treat the underlying cause of depression/moodiness, depletes vitamins that aid in brain functioning, and slows oxygen to the brain. Have you ever heard an athlete use the term adrenalin dump? If adrenalin becomes too high before an event, the athlete will crash too early during their performance. It’s the same idea with coffee; after the alertness dissipates, the individual is left to crash and potentially in a worse mood. Although mild in comparison, caffeine manipulates the same neurochemical activity as amphetamines, cocaine, and morphine. (I’m NOT implying that coffee is equivalent to the previous examples but simply presenting the connection). Although different drug types, each stimulate the central nervous system to a degree causing temporary feelings of elation, pain relief, attentiveness, and suppressed appetite. These sound like great things but most of us understand the potential danger and addictive nature of these stimulants. IBS & Acidic Content “It sounds like caffeine is the culprit not coffee. So I’ll have decaf more often.” That’s a good start, but first: Cutting back is useful in combatting issues associated with caffeine but the acidic make-up of coffee must also be considered. It’s commonly understood that coffee is a trigger for IBS. Even in modest amounts, coffee produces a laxative effect within minutes after drinking. This applies to decaffeinated coffee as well and provides that caffeine is not the only culprit for IBS symptoms. Decaffeinated coffee is found to contain higher amounts of acid than regular coffee and stimulates acid production in the body. Excessive acid damages the intestines, resulting in absorption, immunity, and over-all health issues. There are numerous drinks containing a higher acid content than coffee. Sports drinks for instance, contain nearly double the amount of acid as coffee. Having sports drinks in effort to rehydrate from a cup of coffee enhances potential complications from acid damage. “I don’t have IBS. I like coffee because it keeps me regular” Achieving regularity by means of coffee consumption may indicate the need for dietary changes. Using pro-biotics and eating adequate amounts of fiber achieve regularity and are conducive towards overall health. Even if the constant need for the bathroom is not an issue, consider caffeine’s diuretic effects such as dehydration, impaired digestion, and constipation. Weight Retention “I like coffee because it curves my appetite.” Adrenaline stimulation releases and emits stored blood sugar. Insulin releases and blood sugar drops below normal. You’ll be hungrier than before in no time. Keep in mind that excess insulin is known to: Promote the storage of fat = weight gain Retain sodium = holds water weight and causes high blood pressure Increase amounts of inflammatory compounds in your blood! Inflammation is a killer and especially dangerous in increasing symptoms for those with celiac disease. I believe that individuals suffering from gastrointestinal disorders could greatly improve their life by eliminating coffee. I also understand that making such claims are “fighting words” for those who love their daily brew. Although uncomfortable and challenging to give up, consider the potential hindrance coffee and caffeine poses for healing. It may be your answer and missing ingredient to feeling better. Best of luck. Sources: Active Wellness By Gayle Reichler MS RD CDN, page 12 Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 739 Textbook of Natural Medicine Volumes 1-2 by Joseph E Pizzorno and Michael T Murray, page 433 Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 10 Lane, J.D. 1994. Neuroendrocine Responses to Caffeine in the Work Environment. Psychosomatic Medicine. 546:267-70. Rao, S.S., Welcher, K., Zimmermn, B. and Stumbo 1998. Is coffee a colonic stimulant?

Celiac.com 11/27/2021 - We get a lot of questions from celiac community members wondering if certain products are gluten-free. One question we see a lot is about coffee. Specifically, is coffee gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? The short answer is yes. Coffee is one of those products that is naturally gluten-free. Brewed plain ground coffee is gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. As long as nothing containing gluten is added, then the regular brewed coffee will be gluten-free. Generally speaking, nearly all types of coffee will be gluten-free and safe for celiacs. Just be careful not to add anything with wheat or gluten and you'll be fine with coffee. It's important that people with celiac disease make sure to avoid any gluten ingredients. If you're buying a packaged coffee drink, be sure to read labels, avoid gluten ingredients, and choose carefully. Happy coffee drinking! Check out the Top Brands of Gluten-Free Cold Coffee Drinks

Celiac.com 10/21/2020 - We get more than a few question about McDonald's Coffee and Latte Drinks. Specifically, are McDonald's Coffee and Latte Drinks gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease? Plain coffee is gluten-free. Coffee with milk is gluten-free. Sugar is gluten-free. As with so many foods and beverages that start out gluten-free, the answer lies in the additives. Unless you add wheat or gluten ingredients, most coffee and coffee drinks are gluten-free. However, McDonald's Latte and Coffee Drinks include numerous extra ingredients, so are they gluten-fee and safe for people with celiac disease? McDonald's coffee drinks come in Hot, Iced, and Latte versions. The full menu for McDonald's Latte and Coffee Drinks includes: Cappuccino; Caramel Cappuccino; French Vanilla Cappuccino; Mocha; Iced Mocha; Caramel Mocha; Iced Caramel Mocha; Latte; Iced Latte; Caramel Latte; Iced Caramel Latte; French Vanilla Latte; Iced French Vanilla Latte; Americano; Premium Roast Coffee; Iced Coffee; Iced Caramel Coffee; Iced French Vanilla Coffee; Caramel Frappé; Mocha Frappé; and Hot Chocolate. McDonald's does not label its coffee and latte drinks as "gluten-free." However, a glance at the website shows that the drinks contain no wheat or gluten ingredients. Obviously it's possible in a busy fast food restaurant that a drink you order could be cross-contaminated, so you may want to explain this to the person taking your order, and watch them make your drink to reduce this risk. Here's a breakdown of the various flavors and ingredients in McDonald's Latte and Coffee Drinks: Caramel Macchiato Caramel Macchiato made with our rich, dark-roast espresso served with steamed whole or nonfat milk, mixed with sweet caramel syrup, and topped with ribbons of buttery caramel. Whole Milk Ingredients: Milk, Vitamin D3 Added. Contains: Milk Caramel Syrup Ingredients: Sugar, Sweetened Condensed Skim Milk (Milk, Sugar), Water, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Brown Sugar, Propylene Glycol, Sea Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative). Contains: Milk. Espresso Ingredients: Espresso, Water. Caramel Drizzle Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed Milk (Milk, Sugar), Sugar, Water, Butter (Cream, Salt, Natural Flavor), Salt, Pectin, Disodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative). Contains: Milk. Iced Caramel Macchiato Iced Caramel Macchiato made with our rich, dark-roast espresso served with iced whole or nonfat milk, mixed with sweet caramel syrup, and topped with buttery caramel drizzle. Whole Milk Ingredients: Milk, Vitamin D3 Added. Contains: Milk Ice Ingredients: Ice. Caramel Syrup Ingredients: Sugar, Sweetened Condensed Skim Milk (Milk, Sugar), Water, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Brown Sugar, Propylene Glycol, Sea Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative). Contains: Milk. Espresso Ingredients: Water and Espresso. Caramel Drizzle Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed Milk (Milk, Sugar), Sugar, Water, Butter (Cream, Salt, Natural Flavor), Salt, Pectin, Disodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative). Contains: Milk. According to the McDonald's website, their latte and coffee drinks are likely to be gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. As always, product formulations can change, so read labels, check ingredients, and avoid anything you're not sure about. If you're not sure of any ingredient, please check celiac.com's Gluten-Free SAFE Ingredients List, and the UNSAFE Non-Gluten-Free Ingredient List. Here are links to the McDonald's website: McDonald's Latte Drinks McDonald's Hot Coffee Drinks McDonald's Iced Coffee Drinks

Celiac.com 07/17/2021 - We get a lot of questions from celiac community members wondering if certain products are gluten-free. One question we see a lot is about coffee. Specifically, which top brands of canned or bottled cold coffee drinks are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? Remember, brewed plain ground coffee is gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. As long as nothing containing gluten is added, then the regular brewed coffee will always be gluten-free. The same is true for canned coffees. Most canned or bottled coffees are made with brewed black coffee, with sugar, and or milk. These will nearly always be gluten-free. Just be sure to read ingredients, and avoid any added gluten. Still for people with celiac disease who want to be sure, many brands are labeled gluten-free. The following brands are either made without gluten ingredients, or labeled gluten-free. They are regarded as gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease: Blue Bottle Blue Bottle Coffee - Bold Blue Bottle Coffee - Bright Blue Bottle Coffee - Cold Brew Blue Bottle Coffee - Organic New Orleans Iced Coffee Chameleon Café Latte Whole Milk Latte Chameleon Cold Brew Cinnamon Dolce Whole Milk Latte Dark Chocolate Oat Milk Latte Espresso Roast Unsweetened Black Cold Brew Coffee Espresso Smooth Black Cold Brew Coffee Maple Oat Milk Latte Medium Roast - Unsweetened Black Cold Brew Coffee Mexican Cold Brew Coffee Mocha Cold Brew Coffee Peppermint Mocha Oat Milk Latte Pumpkin Spice Oat Milk Latte Smooth Black Cold Brew Coffee Tripleshot Black Cold Brew Coffee Tripleshot Vanilla Cold Brew Coffee Vanilla Cold Brew Coffee Vanilla Cold Brew Coffee Chobani Cold Brew Coffee Chobani Dairy Chobani Oat Chobani Pure Black High Brew Coffee High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Black & Bold High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Black Triple Shot High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Bourbon Vanilla Latte High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Creamy Cappucino + Protein High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Double Espresso High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Espresso Triple Shot High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Espresso Triple Shot with Milk & Sugar High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Mexican Vanilla High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Nitro Cold Brew High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Nitro Sweet Cream Cold Brew High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Peppermint Mocha High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Toasted Coconut Latte High Brew Cold Brew Coffee Vanilla Bean Triple Shot Illy Illy Coffee Drink Cold Brew Kitu Super Espresso Kitu Super Espresso Caramel Kitu Super Espresso Hazelnut Kitu Super Espresso Mocha Kitu Super Espresso Original Kitu Super Espresso Vanilla La Colombe La Colombe Caramel Draft Latte La Colombe Cold Brew Brazilian Nitro Nitro Beverage Co.’s Cold Brew Coconut Nitro Beverage Co.’s Cold Brew Espresso Nitro Beverage Co.’s Cold Brew Original Rise Rise - Nitro Cold Brew Original Black Rise - Oat Milk Nitro Cold Brew Latte Rise - Oat Milk Nitro Cold Brew Mocha Rise - Oat Milk Nitro Cold Brew Latte Vanilla Sail Away Sail Away — Nitro, Unsweetened Sail Away — Classic Black Sail Away — Horchata Sail Away — Sea Salt & Caramel Sail Away — Touch Of Sweet Starbucks Starbucks Caramel Starbucks Chocolate Starbucks Coffee Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Coffee Starbucks French Vanilla Starbucks Mocha Starbucks Unflavored Starbucks Unsweetened Starbucks Vanilla Stumptown Stumptown - Cold Brew Suntory Suntory - Boss Japanese Flash Brew UCC UCC Original Blend Coffee UCC Canned and Bottled Coffee Drinks Do you have a favorite brand of cold brewed canned or bottled coffee that we might have missed? Let us know in the comments below.

Celiac.com 03/04/2022 - We get a lot of questions from celiac community members wondering if certain products are gluten-free. Even after our article about brands of gluten-free coffee drinks, which included Chobani, Starbucks and other top brands, we see a lot of questions about which top brands of canned or bottled cold coffee drinks are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. Lately, we've been getting a lot of questions about Peet's products. Specifically, are Peet's canned and bottled coffee drinks gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? The short answer is yes. Even though Peet's coffee drinks are not labeled gluten-free, they do not contain gluten ingredients, and do not have any wheat or gluten allergy warnings. For this reason, Peet's coffee drinks are considered to be naturally gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. Remember, as long as nothing containing gluten is added, brewed plain ground coffee is gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. The same is true for canned coffees. Most canned or bottled coffees are made with brewed black coffee, with sugar, and or milk. These will nearly always be gluten-free. Just be sure to read ingredients, and avoid any added gluten. Varieties of Peet's canned coffee drinks that are considered gluten-free include: Peet's True Iced Espresso Black and White Caramel Macchiato Mocha Vanilla Latte Peet's Ready to Drink coffees are available nationwide at retailers including: Albertsons, Safeway, Wegmans, Save Mart, Market Basket, Nugget Markets, Lucky and Jewel Osco.

Celiac.com 02/15/2022 - We get a lot of questions from celiac community members wondering if certain products are gluten-free. Even after our article about brands of gluten-free coffee drinks, which included Chobani and other top brands, we see a lot about which top brands of canned or bottled cold coffee drinks are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease Specifically, are Starbucks canned and bottled coffee drinks gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? The answer is yes, even though Starbucks coffee drinks are not labeled gluten-free, they do not contain gluten ingredients, and do not have any wheat or gluten allergy warnings. For this reason, Starbucks canned and bottled coffee drinks are considered naturally gluten-free and are very likely to be safe for people with celiac disease. Remember, as long as nothing containing gluten is added, brewed plain ground coffee is gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. The same is true for canned coffees. Most canned or bottled coffees are made with brewed black coffee, with sugar, and or milk. These will nearly always be gluten-free. Just be sure to read ingredients, and avoid any added gluten. Varieties of Starbucks canned and bottled coffee drinks that are considered naturally gluten-free include: Starbucks Cold & Crafted Coffee, Sweetened Black Starbucks Cold & Crafted Coffee, Coffee + A Splash Of Milk & Vanilla Starbucks Cold & Crafted Coffee, Coffee + A Splash of Milk & Mocha Starbucks Cold & Crafted Coffee Starbucks Doubleshot, Espresso + Cream Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso, Salted Caramel Starbucks Doubleshot, Espresso + Cream Light Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Espresso Coffee, Mocha Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Espresso Coffee, Vanilla Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Drink Coffee Beverage, White Chocolate Starbucks Tripleshot Energy Extra Strength Espresso Coffee Beverage, Caramel Starbucks Tripleshot Energy Extra Strength Espresso Coffee Beverage, French Vanilla Starbucks Tripleshot Energy Extra Strength Espresso Coffee Beverage, Cafe Mocha Starbucks Tripleshot Zero Sugar Energy Extra Strength Espresso Coffee Beverage, Black Starbucks Tripleshot Zero Sugar Energy Extra Strength Espresso Coffee Beverage, Vanilla Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, Black Unsweetened Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, Dark Caramel Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, Vanilla Sweet Cream Starbucks - RTD Coffee Nitro Cold Brew, Dark Cocoa Sweet Cream

Celiac.com 01/27/2022 - We get a lot of questions from celiac community members wondering if certain products are gluten-free. Even after our article about brands of gluten-free coffee drinks, we see a lot about which top brands of canned or bottled cold coffee drinks are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. Specifically, are Chobani coffee drinks gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? The answer is YES, Chobani coffee drinks gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. Remember, as long as nothing containing gluten is added, brewed plain ground coffee is gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. The same is true for canned coffees. Most canned or bottled coffees are made with brewed black coffee, with sugar, and or milk. These will nearly always be gluten-free, but be sure to read the ingredients, and avoid any with added gluten. A glance at the Chobani website shows that their coffees are labeled gluten-free, and contain coffee alone, or coffee and some of the following ingredients: Coffee (water, coffee), milk, oat milk, cane sugar, natural flavors. Gluten-Free Chobani Coffee Drinks The following Chobani coffee drinks are labeled gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease: Chobani Cold Brew Coffee Chobani Dairy Chobani Oatmilk Chobani Pure Black Chobani Sweet Creamer Chobani Vanilla Creamer

Celiac.com 06/24/2021 - We get a lot of questions from celiac community members wondering if certain products are gluten-free. One question we see a lot is about coffee. Specifically, is Seattle's Best coffee gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? The short answer is yes, brewed plain ground coffee, including Seattle's Best coffee, is gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. As long as nothing containing gluten is added, then the regular brewed coffee will be gluten-free. Plain ground coffee brewed with water will always be gluten-free. As along as no gluten ingredients are added, then milk, sugar, chocolate powder, or other ingredients won't change that fact. The longer answer is that many coffee drinks, both fresh and canned, can contain added ingredients. It's important that people with celiac disease make sure to avoid any gluten ingredients, so be sure to read labels and double check ingredients, to be safe. Generally speaking, plain coffee will be gluten-free and safe for celiacs. It's likely that fresh and canned coffee drink will also be safe, but double check labels and ingredients to be sure.

Celiac.com 05/28/2019 - Denmark-based start-up Kaffe Bueno recycles used coffee grounds into oils for skin care products, but they are also suitable for use as sweeteners, natural colorings and preservatives in foods and beverages. The company also makes a flour from the coffee grounds, which can be used to fortify baked goods. They source used coffee grounds from cafes and hotels in Copenhagen, and then use a biotechnology process to extract the oils which leaves behind a naturally gluten-free coffee flour. According to the company, the oil extraction process removes most of the coffee flavor, resulting in a flour with a nutty, caramel, chocolatey taste that can complement many products. Kaffe Bueno claims its coffee flour contains three times the protein per gram than almond flour, less calories than buckwheat flour, less fat than coconut flour, more fiber than wholegrain wheat flour, and more potassium than a banana. The resulting flour is both green, and potentially lucrative. In 2018, people worldwide consumed nine billion kilos of coffee, yet just 1% of the beneficial compounds were used. The other 99% gets treated as waste, and usually ends up in landfills where it decomposes and creates methane. Used coffee grounds are packed with bioactive compounds that contain anti-proliferative, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Article Image credit: Coffee Caffeine Info

Celiac.com 12/09/2016 - Can the high fiber waste from coffee production be used to create an environmentally friendly gluten-free flour? Coffee cherries are the fat, pulpy coating around the famous coffee bean. When coffee is harvested, the cherry is removed and discarded before the beans are processed and roasted. Given that more than 17 billion pounds of coffee beans are harvested, fermented and dried each year, that's a great deal of coffee cherry waste. Too much, in fact, for farmers to merely plow back into their fields, as is commonly done. Formulated by former Starbucks executive Dan Belliveau in 2012, coffee flour is transforms that leftover waste into a high quality flour that not only happens to be free of wheat, rye or barley proteins, it happens to have high levels of natural gluten that makes it ideal for baking. Belliveau's patent-pending process collects the cherries and converts them into a nutrient-dense, gluten-free flour. Coffee flour contains five times more fiber than wholewheat flour, three times the protein of fresh kale, and twice potassium of bananas. The final product does not taste anything like coffee, but has a mild flavor of burnt sugar due to its high sugar content. It is also low in caffeine. Founded to commercialize coffee flour, CF Global Holdings contracted Ecom Ago Industrial Inc and Mercon Coffee Group to collect and process coffee cherries from farmers and millers in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Vietnam, El Salvador, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico. The latest yield was about 2 million pounds of dried coffee cherry pulp from the 2015/2016 crop, double the previous harvest yield. The company employs a multistep milling process to grind the cherries into flour of sufficient quality for commercial use. The process can be taken further to produce a flour with the consistency of icing sugar consistency. Carole Widmayer, VP of marketing told Bakeryandsnacks.com that "Coffee flour can [already] be found in muffins, cookies and brownies at Sprouts, brownies and cookies in cafes at Google and HSBC operated by Compass, as well as in Seattle Chocolate chocolate bars and Earnest Eats energize cereals. So, will coffee flour be the next big gluten-free, environmentally friendly big thing? It looks to be well on its way. Read more at bakeryandsnacks.com.