Aluminium has become somewhat indispensable as a material used in everyday life and coffee use due to pods (or capsules) is certainly no exception.
The problem is Aluminium levels in humans are associated (exposure) with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.
What you need to know is once Aluminium is consumed it can be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Once absorbed it binds to plasma proteins and crosses the brain/blood barrier.
Secondly, because of the plasma protein binding properties of Aluminium, there is evidence showing iron homeostasis disruption and growth of certain types of breast cancers.
Circling back to coffee, coffee pods typically use aluminium. Aluminium is known to leak into your coffee and subsequently be consumed.
Irrespective of the quality of the Aluminium used to make the coffee pods - limiting Aluminium exposure is a good thing and one should avoid all Aluminium products, including pods.
Remember you are getting Aluminium from other everyday parts of your diet (e.g. water) so be mindful, be smart and incorporate a sensible Aluminium minimisation strategy.
Dr Sean Hall
REFERENCES:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7331030/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782734/
- https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/165315-overview