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Coffee breaks are good for us
FoodBev Media

FoodBev Media

25 July 2008

Coffee breaks are good for us

Whether we're catching up on the latest office gossip, sitting in a business meeting, chatting with our friends, or taking a quick break while out on some retail therapy, moderate coffee drinking during our coffee breaks may be more beneficial for our health than we think.

New market research however reveals that current perceptions about coffee in the UK are completely off the boil:

A recent ICM poll has revealed that 61% don't know that each of our 4 - 5 cups can count toward daily fluid intake. In addition, a study in Food Additives and Contaminants journal showed that 84% don't know that coffee consumption has been shown to protect against cognitive decline and certain other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The same study also showed that 74% of people don't know that coffee may protect against the development of type 2 diabetes

According to Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP Richford Gate Medical Practice: "we need to be aware that there are many misconceptions about coffee that are simply not true. There is strong scientific evidence to suggest that moderate coffee consumption (4 - 5 cups per day) may confer a variety of health benefits and should be enjoyed when we take our breaks in the day."

As well as being enjoyable, and safe in moderation, caffeine can increase your levels of alertness, helping you to stay on top form when you are at your desk, or in that meeting. What's more, three out of four people (75%) do not realise that scientific research has demonstrated that drinking moderate amounts of coffee may provide health benefits. Going for that well earned coffee break should be part of our daily routine, yet, 63% of us have tried to reduce the number of cups we drink each day because of myths about coffee:

**Top coffee myths, facts and figures **ICM interviewed a random sample of 1002 adults by telephone in May 2008 and these are some of the findings that came out of the survey: * Three out of four coffee drinkers (74%) have tried to reduce the number of cups of coffee consumed each day because they think coffee is addictive. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim when coffee is consumed in moderation * Over 50% of coffee drinkers have tried to reduce their number of daily cups because they think coffee is dehydrating. Scientific evidence shows that a cup of coffee will contribute to your daily fluid intake. * Coffee is most popularly consumed by men to concentrate at work and over business meetings, while women will most regularly drink coffee when out shopping or 'on the go'. * 64% of women drink coffee to socialise with their friends and family. * We are now a nation of coffee drinkers, almost three quarters (72%) of us now regularly drink coffee. In some regions of the UK, such as the North East, coffee has already become the most frequently consumed beverage, consumed almost twice as frequently as tea.

Coffee is one of the most widely researched commodities and the overwhelming scientific evidence shows that coffee, when drunk in moderation is safe for the general population and may confer health benefits. Independent scientific research shows that: * Many large studies looking at the general population have shown that moderate coffee intake is not associated with any increase in the risk of heart disease - a study published in June 2008 showed that women who drank three cups of coffee a day were 25% less likely to die from heart disease (Annals of Internal Medicine). * It has been demonstrated in several journals (Movement Disorders, Neurological Research and Neurology) that coffee has a protective effect against cognitive decline and certain other neurological disorders; researchers have also shown that coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. * Coffee has been shown to have a protective effect in the liver, according to a study published in Annals of Epidemiology; a 71% lower risk of developing liver cirrhosis was found in subjects drinking three or more cups of coffee each day, while an increase in two cups of coffee per day has been associated with a 43% reduced risk of liver cancer. * Scientists Larsson and Wolk have carried out studies that show that coffee may help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, people who drink four or more cups of coffee each day have been found to have a 67% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Gastroenterology).

"Almost 70% of us in the UK drink coffee to provide a break in our day, coffee has become a major part of the nation's daily routine and we need to understand that coffee, in moderation, is perfectly safe for most people. Relax and enjoy your coffee!" Dr Sarah Jarvis encouraged.

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