Is French Press Coffee bad for you?

French Press - Bad Press - Addressed

The French Press has been in the news for awhile as an unhealthy way to brew coffee, because it’s filter doesn’t filter out the cafestol. Cafestol is a substance that causes the body’s LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, levels to rise. The YOU docs, Drs. Oz and Roizen, discussed this issue in a recent column. If a paper filter is used with the French press, it filters out the culprit cafestol, and there’s no problem.

However, there isn’t a commercial paper filter for the French press, so press coffee lovers must make them themselves out of other types of paper filters. It can be done, and the doctors state they’ve even used a paper towel. The doctors don’t address the bigger issue of the cafestol and the LDL cholesterol. In fact, many doctors today say the cholesterol “problem” is being misrepresented and overblown. Coffee Kind does not make medical recommendations but there are ways to naturally lower LDL levels.

First, if you can make a paper filter out of other coffee filters, use that with the French press. Paper towels might not be the best idea because of the formaldehyde used in their production. You CAN get formaldehyde-free paper towels, and if so, then try those. If these solutions don’t work, and you love your press - don’t we all? – then there are other ways to control LDL levels.

>> 6 COFFEE BREWING METHODS: HOW TO BREW COFFEE RIGHT!

For lower LDL levels, it’s important to:

• Avoid overcooked eggs, whose cholesterol is rancid;
• Limit excess grains and sugars, especially fructose and high fructose corn syrup;
• Eat a high percentage of your food raw;
• Eat healthy raw fats such as olive oil, coconut and coconut oil, organic raw dairy products, raw nuts and seeds, avocado, soft-cooked eggs with runny yoke;
• Eat grass-fed meats - preferably organic;
• Get enough daily exercise so that circulation is increased;
• Avoid smoking and excess amounts of alcohol; and
• Reduce emotional stress.

Remember, coffee itself is not the problem. If nothing else, you can vary your coffee brewing with other methods besides just the French press, thus cutting down on the cafestol. Also, there is not enough known about cholesterol, other than a certain amount is necessary for life. But we do know that all the things on the above list are healthful and help balance both types of cholesterol. Brew on in good health!