BEHIND THE HEADLINES
We’re drinking 35 per cent more coffee these days than we did 10 years ago, despite it having repeatedly appeared on the list of things to avoid if you wanted to lead a healthy lifestyle. We were told moderate consumption increased the risk of dehydration, anxiety and sleep disorders. Some media headlines went further, even casting coffee as a potential killer: “A single espresso a day can damage the heart.” So far, so scaremongering.
The most serious claims against coffee have now been debunked by scientific research. But there’s still confusion about whether drinking coffee is healthy, and whether it’s possible to drink too much
HOW DOES COFFEE WORK?
Caffeine is a major active compound in coffee (it’s also in black and green tea). One of caffeine’s main effects on the body is to block the action of adenosine, a chemical that causes tiredness. It also triggers the release of dopamine, which controls the pleasure centres in the brain, and adrenaline, the ‘fight or flight’ hormone that keeps us alert.