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