Written by Jenny Catton
We all know that coffee is a great pick-me-up and for many of us, it’s the thing we reach for to get us through the long hours at work. But the health implications of drinking coffee are still unclear. Some studies have found that coffee may offer health benefits such as protection from coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, other research suggests that drinking too much coffee can cause anxiety, high blood pressure and even heart disease. So like many of the things we enjoy in life, the sensible approach seems to be to enjoy coffee in moderation. And the good news is that even the negative effects of coffee have only been found when consuming high doses of caffeine. If you stick to justtwo or three cups a day, you shouldn’t experience any ill effects. However, pregnant women and anyone with particular health conditions should check medical advice.
For some people, drinking coffee during the day at work makes it difficult to get to sleep at night. If you find this is the case, try not to drink any coffee after around 2pm.
If you’re trying to reduce your coffee consumption, it’s a good idea to cut down gradually. If you try to quit completely, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, tiredness and an inability to concentrate.
Remember traditional tea and some soft drinks contain caffeine too so if you want to cut down your caffeine intake, try substituting these drinks with herbal tea or a glass of water.
