| Caffeine, like chocolate, often receives bad publicity. | | | | effect is not known. Coffee and tea contain a range |
| Whilst in some instances, and in excess, these can | | | | of plant chemicals (phytonutrients) that could be |
| have negative effects on our body, they can also be | | | | responsible for this. A 2005 Norwegian study also |
| quite beneficial. | | | | found similar benefits for coffee with regards liver |
| I am not disputing that some people are more | | | | disease. This study found that drinking 3 cups of |
| sensitive to the negative effects of either caffeine | | | | coffee a day could lower the risk of death from liver |
| or chocolate. For example, excess caffeine can | | | | cirrhosis. |
| create anxiety, nausea (particularly if taken on an | | | | Even if you're not at risk of liver disease, caffeine still |
| empty stomach), an increase in heart rate, and even | | | | has some advantages. Recent research from Austria |
| depression in some people. And chocolate is certainly | | | | showed that caffeine may actually enhance short |
| not something that should form the mainstay of | | | | term memory. Researchers found that there was an |
| one's diet. If struggling with sugar addiction, or | | | | increase in brain activity (as measured by functional |
| wanting to lose weight, there are more nutritionally | | | | magnetic resonance imaging) in the parts of the brain |
| complete foods that are available. | | | | that were associated with memory and attention. |
| But scientists have turned up some interesting facts | | | | These parts of the brain were the frontal lobe and |
| on caffeine. For example, caffeine actually blocks the | | | | the anterior cingulum. This was a placebo controlled |
| effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain (adenosine) | | | | study, meaning that some people were not given |
| that otherwise makes us feel tired. This is why it | | | | any caffeine. Another, earlier study (2004) found that |
| works so well to keep us awake. It also encourages | | | | caffeine did support short term memory, but only |
| the release of another brain chemical, dopamine (as | | | | when it was in relation to a topic that people were |
| well as adrenaline). Dopamine contributes to a feeling | | | | already thinking about. This study found that when |
| of well being. | | | | testing coffee's effects on unrelated subjects, short |
| Two studies, one a population based study (which | | | | term recall was actually inhibited. |
| are not as specific or rigorously defined as other | | | | Everything does have a flip side though. Adenosine, |
| types of studies, but nonetheless valuable indicators) | | | | which is blocked by coffee, is also calming. This could |
| found that drinking caffeine containing drinks like | | | | be why it can also cause anxiety in excess, and in |
| coffee and tea had a protective effect for those at | | | | some individuals. After all, the balance of our brain |
| risk of developing liver disease. Issues that the study | | | | chemistry is unique. And when we are addicted to |
| participants had that increased their risk of liver | | | | stimulants like caffeine, we lose the sensitivity to our |
| disease included alcoholism, hepatitis B or C, obesity, | | | | own natural stimulants (dopamine and adrenaline). |
| or other complications. | | | | References: |
| And the results indicated that people who drank | | | | 1. Australian Healthy Food, February 2006. |
| more than 2 cups of coffee a day had a 44% lower | | | | 2. foodnavigator.com/news |
| chance of showing actual liver damage compared to | | | | ng.asp?n=52281-caffeine-containing-drinks |
| those who drank no caffeine. This was not a clinical | | | | 3.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp? |
| trial, and the reason why coffee and tea had such an | | | | |