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