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Oh dear. None of us want to hear the following life-altering news: Coffee may not the ambrosia of the gods after all… Especially for those who suffer from migraines.

Coffee makes life a little easier for those with busy schedules. Be it a steaming hot cup first thing in the morning (well, lukewarm at best) or a speedy shot as you play taxi-driver, zipping from activity to activity- coffee is not a luxury for most adults. It’s a necessity.

However, this recent discovery might put a spanner in the works for coffee lovers worldwide.

A recent study carried out by the department of epidemiology at Harvard University was published in the American Journal Of Medicine. The research showed a link between the consumption of coffee and the occurrence of migraines.

In the study, 98 adults who suffered from episodic migraines kept electronic diaries for six weeks. They recorded how many caffeinated beverages they had each day as well as the characteristics and timings of their migraines. The study concluded that there was a "statistically significant nonlinear association between the number of caffeinated beverages and the odds of migraine headache occurrence on that day”. In other words, it suggests that migraines can be triggered a high consumption of caffeinated beverages on a given day.

However, Elizabeth Mostofsky who lead the study, reassured readers of Healthline that one or two cups isn’t too bad. Mostofsky stated that she was “pleasantly surprised to see one to two servings was not associated with the odds of having a migraine headache and it was three or more servings that lead to a migraine on that day or on the following day”.

I don’t know about you, but this makes a lot of sense to me. As someone who suffers from migraines and drinks an average of three cups of coffee per day- along with a half-pot of tea- this research resonates. It’s time to rethink our coffee consumption.

One question though… how bad would it be to use wine as a replacement?

 

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A study published in the BMJ Evidence Based Medicine journal, suggests that pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant should avoid caffeine entirely.

Prof Jack James, of Reykjavik University in Iceland, conducted a study on 48 women and their baby’s birth outcomes, which led him to believe that drinking coffee while pregnant or while you’re trying to get pregnant can lead to increased risks.

These include miscarriage, stillbirth, lower birth rate and/or small for gestational age, childhood acute leukaemia and childhood overweight and obesity. 

This is a blatant contradiction to the current medical advice, which encourages women that it is perfectly safe to consume 200mg or two medium-strength cups of coffee a day. “Consequently, current evidence does not support health advice that assumes ‘moderate’ caffeine consumption during pregnancy is safe,” he said.

The study found that the risk of miscarriage increased by between 32% and 36% among caffeine-consuming pregnant women. “Of nine studies reporting results for small for gestational age (SGA) seven reported caffeine-related increased risk and two reported no association,” according to Prof James.

He also found “maternal caffeine consumption is associated with an increased risk of childhood acute leukaemia”. The study concluded that a high maternal caffeine consumption was associated with a 65% increase in the risk of acute lymphocytic leukaemia and a 58% increased risk of acute myeloid leukaemia, the most common cause of cancer death in children.

However, it’s important to take this advice with a pinch of salt, as experts have described this study as alarmist and extreme. Prof Jack James has admitted that this study is purely observational and provides no legitimate evidence to support his claims that caffeine is dangerous to pregnant women.

The study neglects to show cause-and-effect links between the results, or take into consideration other confounding factors, such as cigarette smoking or wider dietary issues.

Dr Luke Grzeskowiak, a pharmacist at the University of Adelaide, Australia, described the paper as “overly alarmist” when he spoke to the BBC.

“There are so many dos and don'ts associated with pregnancy and the last thing we need is to cause unnecessary anxiety,” said Grzeskowiak. “At the end of the day, women should be reassured that caffeine can be consumed in moderation during pregnancy.”

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For many coffee lovers, Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. Our high street chains festive drinks menus are often a hotly anticipated part of the Christmas season. But which of these festive favourites are the highest in sugar content?

Expert dietitians at The Hospital Group have warned consumers to be mindful of the extra calories they could be consuming in their festive beverages this winter.

The Hospital Group studied all the high street festive hot drink offerings from Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, Pret a Manger, McDonalds and Greggs and found that Pret a Manger’s Mint Hot Chocolate and Hazelnut Hot Chocolate contained a WHOPPING 47.9g sugar (that’s the equivalent of 3.2 Mince Pies!) in a regular serving.

TOP TEN MOST SUGAR FILLED DRINKS:

  • Mint Hot Chocolate – Pret a Manger – 47.9g sugar
  • Hazelnut Hot Chocolate – Pret a Manger – 47.9 sugar
  • Mint Mocha – Greggs – 46g sugar
  • Mint Hot Chocolate – Greggs – 46g sugar
  • Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Caffé Nero – 38.8g sugar
  • Hazelnut Hot Chocolate – Caffé Nero – 38.2g sugar
  • Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate – Starbucks – 36.7g sugar
  • Ginger Hot Chocolate – Caffé Nero – 35.8g sugar
  • Egg Nog Latte – Starbucks – 33.8g sugar
  • Hazelnut Praline & Cream Frostino – Costa Coffee – 33.2g sugar

Of the UK’s three coffee giants: Starbucks, Costa and Caffé Nero – their hot chocolate offerings had the highest sugar content. All three offered a ginger or gingerbread syrup festive drink; Caffe Nero’s Ginger Latte contains 14.7g of sugar (the lowest of all) but Starbucks’ Gingerbread offering contains almost double that at 28.8g.

Nutritionist Holly Gabriel, from Action on Sugar, said the findings were "shocking". "Coffee shops and cafes need to take much greater steps to reduce the levels of sugar and portion sizes, promote lower sugar alternatives and stop pushing indulgent extras at the till."

A spokeswoman for Starbucks said that customers could customise the size of their drink, as well as asking for reduced fat milk and less or no cream."We are committed to reducing sugar in all our beverages and since 2015 we've delivered a 9% reduction in the sugar content of our gingerbread and core syrup range of vanilla, caramel and hazelnut," the spokeswoman added.

Costa offered the lowest calorie drink, their Hot Spiced Apple drink contained only 75 calories, yet still contained a hefty 16.3g of sugar.

Research found that the average mince pie contained around 14-16g of sugar per pie, meaning some of our Christmas cuppas are triple the sugar content of the classic Christmas snack.

George Hamlyn-Williams, Principal Dietitian at The Hospital Group states that for many “drinking our calories is often a ‘blind spot’ that many of us are naïve to, or ignore.”

The NHS recommended daily intake of sugar for adults is 30g a day.  

Whilst Christmas is a time for relaxation and indulgence, he also advises the best ways to keep your sugar intake sensible over the festive season:

“A Grande Toffee Nut latte from Starbucks made with semi-skimmed milk contains a whopping 345kcal (the same as a Pain au Chocolat) and four teaspoons of added sugar! Whilst swapping to skimmed milk may seem an angelic move, it will actually only save you 50kcals.  Similarly, a Medio semi-skimmed latte from Costa will only set you back 146kcal whereas treating yourself to a semi-skimmed Irish Velvet & Cream Latte will mean your calories soar to 360kcal – the same as their Ham & Emmenthal Croissant!  We like to treat ourselves occasionally, but maybe think about asking them to hold the cream or maybe ask for a sugar-free syrup as well as opting for skimmed milk?”

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We are a nation of coffee lovers with 3 in 4 drinking an average of two cups of coffee every day and a third drinking three cups or more daily. That’s according to a new report by Bewley’s, Ireland’s leading coffee and tea company.

The report into Ireland’s coffee habits was carried out to mark International Coffee Day and examines coffee consumption, purchasing habits and consumer attitudes on the environmental impact of coffee culture in Ireland.

Conscious coffee

While as a nation we love our daily cups of coffee and 33 percent say they buy coffee on the go, we’re also conscious of our carbon footprint.  This is more prominent among the younger generation with nearly 50 percent of 18-34- years olds compared to 31 percent of over 55-year.

Three quarters (76 percent) of coffee drinkers also claim they are more likely to purchase coffee from a café that provide compostable cups.

In fact, such is our commitment to sustainability that nearly two thirds (65 percent) of Irish coffee drinkers own a reusable cup and nearly a quarter (23 percent) claim they do not buy a coffee in a single use cup if they have forgotten their reusable cup.

Proving that sustainability is very much top of mind 9 in 10 say they value a business and brand on their ethical behaviour and 68 percent of respondents claim they are likely to avoid cafés not selling Fairtrade.

Home Brewing

According to the Bewley’s research, while a third enjoy a coffee on the go, over half (53 percent) prefer to prepare their coffee at home. 52 percent have a coffee machine in their home, with the most popular type being coffee pod machines (50 percent), followed by Espresso machine (19 percent) and a Ground coffee machine (13 percent). With coffee machines in the home proving popular, instant coffee is still up there among coffee drinkers with 44 percent consuming a convenient instant cup of coffee at home and at work on a regularly basis.

Those between 18-34 years (39 percent) are less likely to consume coffee at home compared to those in the 55 years and over age group (67 percent). 

Ireland’s favourite coffee

The Americano leads the way as Ireland’s favourite coffee with 34% preferring it over milkier blends, with cappuccinos and lattes following in popularity, 25% and 23% respectively.

Commenting on the research findings Col Campbell, Managing Director, Bewley’s Grafton Street said, “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we have been loyally serving them for over 175 years. It’s no surprise to see the importance of sustainability to the Irish coffee drinker. This has been a focus for us for a long time and we take it very seriously. Bewley’s coffee is served in 100 percent compostable coffee cups and we recently launched a range of compostable coffee pods for those drinking coffee at home.

We are at the forefront of Irish coffee culture and were the first to import Fairtrade coffee into Ireland, the first to introduce latte art, the first to roast coffee in-store and the first Carbon Neutral coffee roastery in Ireland. Over 175 years on from our beginnings we still love tea and coffee. It’s our passion and producing reports like this ensures we have our finger on the pulse when it comes to providing for our customers”.

 

 

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Air travel can be exhausting.

So, it's no surprise that after long queues, unavoidable delays and tedious stopovers, many of us opt for a quick caffeine hit once we take our seats onboard.

However, according to some insiders, this probably isn't the best idea.

While speaking to Vice, a member of cabin crew for a major American airline urged passengers to opt for bottled water if they are in any way squeamish.

"Don’t drink the coffee on airplanes. It’s the same potable water that goes through the bathroom system," they said.

"We recently had a test for E. coli in our water and it didn’t pass, and then maintenance came on and hit a couple buttons and it passed,” the flight attendant added. “So, avoid any hot water or tea. Bottled and ice is fine, of course."

Echoing this point, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA told Business Insider that regulations within certain airlines could be considered lax.

"Water onboard is regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure safe drinking water on the aircraft,” they explained. “The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA pushed for this regulation over 15 years ago."

"The regulation gives broad discretion to airlines on how often they must test the water and flush the tanks. AFA does not believe this regulation goes far enough or is sufficiently enforced."

However, Alison McAfee, spokesperson for the industry group Airlines for America, is keen to highlight the rigour with which these regulations are imposed.

"The airline industry is subject to the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule which requires rigorous processes to ensure onboard water systems are regularly disinfected and that clean drinking water is available."

We'll opt for a G&T to be on the safe side, we think…

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The issue of disposable/single use plastics has garnered national and international attention in recent years. A recent government funded study estimated that up to 200 million single use coffee cups are used in Ireland every year and these are not recyclable, that is 22,000 cups every hour.

The Co-Cup Scheme aims to reduce this figure by implementing a deposit and return scheme for reusable cups in Dublin. The pilot project which is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and run by 2GoCup Ltd will initially be rolled out in a number of locations including campuses at Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin and in Dublin City Council’s Civic Offices.

Under the pilot scheme when someone purchases a tea/ coffee, there is an additional charge of €1 – a deposit for the cup and when they return their cup they get their €1 back. A lid can also be purchased for €1, which can be kept and re-used.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Fionnghuala Ryan, Executive Environmental Scientific Officer, Dublin City Council said” The City Council is delighted to be involved in this exciting pilot project. With funding from the EPA’s Local Authority Prevention Network, Co-Cup hopes to be the beginning of the deposit and return revolution in Ireland. We want to prove that it can be done and to drive behaviour change.”

The President of Dublin City University, Professor Brian MacCraith commented “I’m delighted that two of Dublin’s universities, one young and one not so young, are coming together with Dublin City Council to provide a leadership example for our shared city. The Co-Cup initiative is an innovative and practical measure that will enable every citizen to play a central role in reducing waste and contributing to sustainability. Solutions such as this will also help DCU to achieve its commitment to become the first university in Ireland to phase out single-use plastics.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Michele Hallahan, Sustainability Advisor, for Trinity College Dublin commented “This is truly a collaborative project between Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, and Dublin City Council and very much in keeping with Trinity’s Disposable Plastic Plan and other Circular Economy initiatives which contribute towards a more sustainable campus. The climate crisis needs to be addressed through collaborative rather than competitive forces, and this is a collaboration we're delighted to be involved in.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Kevin Murphy, CEO and Founder, 2GoCup Ltd said “2GoCup is delighted to partner with some of our leading universities and Dublin City Council in rolling out this sustainable initiative together. It’s fantastic to see such progressive steps taken to tackle single use cups and we look forward to it continuing across our city and further afield.”

The project team hopes that the pilot scheme will test the social acceptance and business case for a deposit and return scheme in Ireland and that lessons learned will allow them to learn how to progress this project beyond the pilot stage.

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If you’re giving up or reducing your coffee intake for your New Year’s resolutions – my deepest sympathies go out to you.

If you’re thinking about cutting the caffeine – listen up, I’ve already done the hard work and went cold turkey for one long week and here’s how I got on.

I must confess that on a good day I will have one or two cups of coffee and on a bad one, that number will creep to three, maybe even four.

So kicking the habit, I knew might be a little bit of a challenge, but I didn’t think it would make a massive difference – oh, those famous last words…

Day one was relatively easy. I had three coffees the day before which might explain the ease of which I got through the day.

However, the next day was an entirely different story. My mood was so low and I was experiencing palpitations.

This was only made worse when I dined out as usually I would order an espresso to round up the meal as it helps digestion.

Of course, my little shot of heaven was forbidden, but lucky enough for me, my fellow dinner guests weren’t interested in ordering any teas or coffees, so I didn’t feel like I was completely missing out.

Day three, I watched my mother add cream to the expensive coffee I treated the household too. I did everything to distract my brain whilst she expressed just how delicious her coffee was – it was torture.

Our day was scheduled to stop in a coffee shop, but again, I was given a lifeline as thanks to the festive period, they were closed.

Day four was a challenge. I did a coffee run with my mother and I finally caved and had a decaffeinated coffee.

I was hoping the placebo effect would kick in and I would get some sort of buzz – I have no idea why I thought it would work as obviously without the caffeine, coffee quickly loses its appeal and energy boosting properties.

I knocked down the warm brown liquid with a sulky look on my face.

I really thought the reactions people experienced from giving up caffeine were fake. I have since learnt that they are all too real.

Day five was a day I had been dreading the whole week. I was working and I usually rely on coffee to give me my morning energy to get into the office.

I knew my coffee crutch would be very hard to ignore, so I made myself a deal. I wouldn’t go near the kitchen until my shift was finished.

This way my hunger would outweigh my desire for caffeine. Although it’s a method I wouldn’t recommend, it did work and I survived the day without having a breakdown.

Day six and I was STILL experiencing palpations, particularly at night time when they’d come thick and fast. My tactic to get through the day was to constantly distract myself, knowing the experiment wouldn’t last much longer.

One thing I certainly didn’t expect to experience is how much I thought about coffee – not being allowed to have it, made it so much more tempting.

Day seven and I was back working. I kept my head down and powered through the day. Lucky enough for me, a lot of my symptoms had begun to subside and I didn’t feel like total crap. However, I was very much looking forward to finishing the experiment and going back to my relationship with coffee.

The morning had finally arrived and I am not messing – I actually got up earlier to enjoy my cup of coffee AND even treated the family to a coffee run – (though this was mainly out of guilt for being so moody over the week, sorry mum).

It was divine and there’s no way I am ever going back, life is too short not to enjoy at least one coffee a day.

Since giving the challenge a go, I’ve reduced my intake and have been more aware of how much caffeine I am consuming.

Before embarking on a lifestyle change, please contact your doctor first.

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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland have recalled four Miss Fit Skinny tea and coffee products over 'misleading labelling'.

Miss Fit Skinny Tea 14 Day Skinny Tea, Miss Fit Skinny Tea Max, Miss Fit Slimming Coffee 14 Day Fat Burning Instant Coffee and Miss Fit Skinny Coffee Max are the products which will be recalled.

The FSAI released a statement on the matter, saying; "All batches of the above four Miss Fit products are being recalled due to incorrect, misleading and ambiguous labelling."

"Amongst the labelling breaches are health claims which are not authorised and are therefore misleading to the consumer."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Products from the brand have been asked to be removed from the market. Shops have been ordered to remove the detox products from the shelves and display point-of-sale notices to correctly inform customers.

There has been a huge amount of backlash in recent months to 'quick fix' weight loss brands such as these, with the head doctor of the NHS condemning weight-loss advertisements and Jameela Jamil fronting a campaign against them.

After rapper Cardi B endorsed the teas, which contain ingredients akin to laxatives, Jamil wrote on Twitter: "If you want to “curb your appetite” eat some damn green vegetables or have some nutritious natural vegetable soup."

"Don’t drink these “detox” teas. You need fibre! Not something that honestly just makes you have diarrhoea the day you take it and constipates you in the long run…"

They were recalled due to the misinformed labelling, and it can't be a negative thing for young women and their mental health that action is finally being taken against them.

Hazel Wallace, better known as The Food Medic, claims that;

"Some of these detoxes are really dangerous and not healthy at all, especially some of the skinny teas," said Hazel, who is a junior doctor and a certified personal trainer. and therefore has healthcare and nutrition experience.

"Although they claim they are natural many drugs are actually from nature but it doesn’t make them naturally good for you. Your liver does the detoxing for your body you don’t need a green tea to detox,’ she said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Wallace also commented on senna leaves, a laxative which leads to dehydration;

"Some of these skinny teas have laxatives which we actually use as doctors to prescribe to people who are severely constipated, so clearly you are going to lose weight if you not absorbing any of the nutrients and its just passing through your system."

"This can cause so much damage to your digestive system, you lose water, you lose nutrients and you can damage the gut lining."

A petition from Jamil has been signed 138,000 times already, asking for celebrities to be banned from endorsing weight loss products.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The Kardashians especially have endorsed numerous weight-loss products, gaining huge criticism from Jameela Jamil especially as well as healthcare professionals. Many have even claimed that they encourage body dysmorphia.

Detox teas have previously faced backlash after a string of unplanned pregnancies happened when the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill was reduced due to the laxative effects in the detox teas.

Be extremely wary of what you're consuming in terms of nutrition, weight-loss is about health, exercise and a balanced diet, not running to the loo every ten minutes.

Keep an eye out for valid healthcare professionals' advice on the matter, and make sure your emotional and mental health is also prioritised.

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It feels like there is a Starbucks on the corner of every street in Dublin’s city centre. The popular American coffee chain is taking over the Big Smoke, and overshadows the plethora of independent coffee shops that are available in the city.

Dublin is full of unique and welcoming coffee shops that serve rich coffee, drool-worthy cakes and are just that little bit more warming and special.

There is a cafe on Dawson Street that is without a doubt one of my favourite places in Dublin. It’s my go-to place for coffee dates and the perfect spot to relax after a hectic day at work.

The Bestseller cafe is bound to be your new favourite place to drink gallons of coffee and catch up with your nearest and dearest.

What makes the spot so appealing is the atmosphere. It’s soothing and relaxed and reminds me of some kind of quirky library.

The Bestseller feels like my second home at this stage. The staff are attentive and don’t heckle you to leave once you gulp the final bit of coffee in your mug.

It’s a spot in the heart of Dublin that manages to capture the real joy of the city. The stacks of classic novels remind you of the city’s history. The warm mugs of coffee make you feel as snug as a bug. The constant chatter of your fellow customers creates an electric, but calm atmosphere that you’ll quickly become addicted to, just like the delicious Badger and Dodo coffee on sale there.

There is nowhere I’d rather be on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Dublin than The Bestseller. Curling up in one of the cozy armchairs with a book is one of the greatest ways to unwind in the city that has forgotten how to switch off.

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Sometimes (especially in the morning) we love coffee more than we love our significant others.

It perks us up, warms our bodies and basically gets us ready for the day ahead.

Much like a romantic partner, don’t you think?

So, it makes total sense that scientists have found that drinking coffee can actually play a huge role in our relationships.

Happy Coffee

A study in the Journal of Family Psychology examined 68 newlyweds to find out the secret to relationship satisfaction.

During the research, couples were asked to speak about their interpersonal experiences (conflict, sex), relationship satisfaction and the amount of sleep they get each night.

The scientists discovered that the more sleep people got, the happier they were in their relationships.

And here is where the Convergent Coffee comes in. A lot of our physical and mental strength relies on sleep, and we all know how grumpy we can get if we have a sleepless night.

café, chain, coffee

Therefore, coffee was found to give people “self-regulation” for when they didn’t catch their zzzs.

The experts said: “Caffeine moderates the relationship between sleep deprivation and depletion by replenishing self-regulatory resources (e.g. overcoming a fight with your partner).

Basically, if we have a sleepless night, we don’t make wise decisions, and coffee steps in as a temporary solution to make a balanced judgement.

Before you break your next to Starbucks, consider that it’s now possible to make your own top quality coffee from the comfort of your own home.  All you need is some coffee making equipment and you’re ready.  If you don’t have anything yet, visit https://coffeegeek.tv/ to read up on the best grinders and coffee for your at home coffee experience.

Now, get thee to Starbucks.

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I must admit that I struggle to get through the day without my regular cup of coffee. I need that cup of joy to help wake me up in the morning, especially with a lengthy commute ahead of me.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who turns into an angry little gremlin without my caffeine fix, whether it’s a flat white from my favourite local cafe or a mug of instant coffee at 6 am.

I’m a true coffee addict and pride myself on being just like Lorelai Gilmore. “I need coffee in an IV” has become my new motto since I started working full time.

There are times when I do worry about my daily coffee consumption, but one study has certainly reassured me.

Researchers in Germany have discovered that drinking four cups of coffee a day is actually good for your heart.

The team shared that caffeine helps protect blood vessels.

The study, which was published in PLOS Biology, stated that caffeine boosts the production of the p27 protein that protects and regenerates heart cells.

"Our results indicate a new mode of action for caffeine, one that promotes protection and repair of heart muscle through the action of mitochondrial p27,” said study author, Professor Judith Haendeler.

"These results should lead to better strategies for protecting heart muscle from damage,” he added.

There are numerous other benefits when it comes to drinking a Cup of Joe such as boosting cognitive function and protecting against type 2 diabetes.

Experts recommend drinking two to three cups of coffee each day, or if you’re like me then feel free to channel your inner Lorelai Gilmore and drink all the coffee!

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You might think you're making the healthy choice by choosing a piping hot coffee over a chocolate digestive for you mid-morning pick-me-up, but let's face it, more often than not you'll end up reaching for both anyway.

Well, you're not alone, in fact, a new study claims there's actually a scientific reason why our bodies crave sugar after a few sips of a tall Americano.

It seems that caffeine could alter our perceived sense of sweetness, meaning that our sugar craving are heightened after a cup of coffee.

The study, published in the Journal of Food Science, divided participants into two groups. One set were drank caffeinated coffee while the other set drank decaf, but neither group knew which was which.

Both groups were then asked to add sugar to their drinks and rate the sweetness.

The results showed that the group who drank caffeinated coffee rated their drink as less sweet than those who drank decaf.

What's more, both groups of participants reported a boost in mental alertness, though this is probably down to the placebo effect.

Researchers believe that caffeine works to mask our tastebuds somewhat, leading us to crave more sugar in order to be completely satisfied.

So, if you're thinking about cutting your sugar intake, you may want to consider dropping that coffee habit too.

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