Nov 10 2009
Caf or Decaf?
Java drinkers who guzzle three to six cups of coffee daily for three months will find that decaf, not regular, will boost nonesterified fatty acids in the blood, which can raise harmful LDL cholesterol. Because the decaffeination process can strip away flavor, companies often use stronger-tasting beans with high levels of fats. Coffee drinkers need to limit themselves to one cup of decaf or enjoy the real thing.
Also when possible, look for coffee that is triple certified as fair trade, organic, and shade grown at your local coffee shop.
Shade grown coffees are more ecologically and economically conservative, sport greater biodiversity, and are thus more “sustainable” than non-shade coffee farms. In terms of ecological conservation, shade trees serve as a sun screen for the coffee plants, provide nitrogen-rich mulch as their leaves fall and decompose on the ground, and aid soil moisture conservation, suppression of weed growth, and prevention of soil runoff during the rainy season. The result is a lessened if not non-existent need for chemical fertilizers and herbicides.Shaded coffee farms act as a sanctuary for resident and migratory bird and animal life. Since the mid 1970’s, rain forests and orchards have been decimated at an alarming rate in South and Central America. As the forest disappears, the shaded coffee farm becomes a sort of tropical refuge and sanctuary for the forest dwelling fauna, mainly birds. Experts from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center have documented sightings of up to 150 different bird species in a shaded coffee farm; in un-shaded coffee farms, however, only five to twenty species were counted. While this is great news for members of the Audubon Society, it is actually significant for the coffee farmer because a diverse and large bird population can often be an excellent source of insect and pest control. In general, an increase in biodiversity results in a far lower risk of infestation, plague, and disease in the coffee farm. Thus, less need for insecticides - more sustainability for the farmer.
*Green Living Tip: Always try to purchase cage-free eggs, there is a brand called Trader Joe’s that has the best reputation for showing compassion with their chickens that are egg-laying. The way that chickens are treated is animal abuse so the better quality life that chickens have, that are laying eggs, the better the egg for you to eat. Most hens are subjected to battery cages, stacked wire enclosures that typically cram up to eight birds per cage, depriving them of room to spread their wings, the day they are born. Let’s end this cycle and make it a better quality life for these birds. If we bought cage free Trader Joe’s brand it would keep up to 380,000 hens out of battery cages annually, reports the Humane Society of the United States.
