As a chemist and a coffee addict, it has always been my orientation that decaffeinated coffee is not equal to zero caffeine but low caffeine. I've never switched to decaf though because I primarily need coffee for the caffeine fix, not the healthiest of reasons I know, but that is a different story.

And so a new study by University of Florida researchers documented that almost all decaffeinated coffee contains some measure of caffeine. Therefore coffee addicts who switch to decaf for health reasons will not be free of caffeine like many would think.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world and coffee is its major source in the supply line.

According to study co-author Bruce Goldberger, Ph.D., a professor and director of UF's William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine:

"If someone drinks five to 10 cups of decaffeinated coffee, the dose of caffeine could easily reach the level present in a cup or two of caffeinated coffee. This could be a concern for people who are advised to cut their caffeine intake, such as those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders."

The UF researchers reported the study results in this month's Journal of Analytical Toxicology.

Find more details from the UFL News.

I guess it is pretty simple: once your doctor, due to health reasons, told you to forgo coffee because caffeine isn't good for you anymore, then stop drinking coffee (and other caffeine-containing drinks) altogether. DO NOT evade the issue with decaf.