Posted Sun Apr 6, 2008, 11:12am Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Hi buckfush,
Your increase from 103 to 126 equals a 22% increase in LDL.
If you use fine grind and press gently (30 to 60 seconds press time), the amount of coffee needed should be comparable to any other brewing method which achieves the optimum 20% extraction. Here's some detail
eweiss Senior Member Joined: 5 Oct 2007 Posts: 80 Location: North Texas Expertise: I like coffee
Grinder: Starbucks Barista Burr
Posted Thu Apr 17, 2008, 11:53am Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
AlanAdler Said:
Hi Len,
There has been extensive discussion of this on coffeegeek. I'm traveling now and don't have a good connection to find all the prior posts. However the two troublesome diterpenes in coffee are cafestol and kahweol. They increase LDL by about 10% for an average coffee drinker.
You can google them yourself and find a lot of info.
I rinse and reuse the paper filter in my AeroPress several times - usually for about 5-8 cups/pressings - i.e., 3-4 days - before discarding it for a new filter. Does a reused paper filter still filter out the cholesterol-raising diterpenes - or should I use a new filter each time in order to minimize the cholesterol-raising chemicals?
As you can see, an AeroPress filter which had been used for ten pressings, then rinsed passed .08mg more cafestol and 0.10 more Kahweol than a new filter.
This same agency measured the following levels in a five ounce cup of French press coffee (note that the average American mug is about 8 to 10 ounces).
As you can see, an AeroPress filter which had been used for ten pressings, then rinsed passed .08mg more cafestol and 0.10 more Kahweol than a new filter.
This same agency measured the following levels in a five ounce cup of French press coffee (note that the average American mug is about 8 to 10 ounces).
It appears that a new filter each time is best, though rinsing reduces the Cafestol and Kahweol compared to not rinsing (I never reuse without rinsing). I may start using a new filter each time - at the exhorbitant cost of 1 cent per filter!!! :^)
Drinking boiled or French press coffee increases cholesterol levels. Modern paper coffee filters trap the chemicals in coffee that elevate cholesterol levels, keeping them from entering the cup. Therefore, drinking paper-filtered coffee generally does not increase cholesterol levels. However, paper-filtered coffee has been reported to significantly increase homocysteine—another risk factor for heart disease. The effects of decaffeinated coffee on cholesterol levels remain in debate.
"Given the modest homocysteine increases shown in the new study, it shouldn't cause much concern for coffee drinkers, says Stein Emil Vollset of the University of Bergen in Norway."
thefuture37 Senior Member Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Location: usa Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Jul 28, 2008, 9:43pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
There is a lot of evidence that the link between cholesterol and heart disease has been overblown from the get go. Look around a little on youtube if you want to know more. Most "anti-cholesterol hypothesis" scientists/doctors believe the real problem is chronic inflammation due to poor diet and overeating.
One study found that the two diterpines that have been villified in this thread have anticarcinogenic activity! Take that aeropress!
"Cafestol and kahweol, two coffee specific diterpenes with anticarcinogenic activity" Food and Chemical Toxicology 40(2002)115-1163
Posted Thu Jul 31, 2008, 11:52am Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Just thought I'd add that a friend of mine with high cholesterol heard that french press increased cholesterol. So, he decided to quit drinking french press and did so for 6 months. When he went back to the doctor, they tested his cholesterol and it was much much lower. BTW, he drank french press every day for three or four months. I really doubt it would affect your cholesterol if you drank it once or twice a week.
Posted Thu Jul 31, 2008, 12:57pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Did everyone that was worried about the French Press health issues also give up Espresso? Why is this never mentioned when the cholesterol issue comes up? Being unfiltered it must contain the same compounds.
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