Coffee and work
oprac. AMI 2007-08-14, ostatnia aktualizacja 2007-08-14 12:07:13.0
Can't function properly before your 17th cappuccino of the day? Maybe it's time to think about cutting down on the caffeine writes Andrew Shanahan in the Guardian.
It's the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world, 80% of UK adults use it on a weekly basis and globally it's estimated that the market for C8H10N402 (or caffeine, if you prefer) is worth around $70bn annually. For most people, it is an integral part of their working lives, providing a much-needed boost at strategic times throughout the day - from the morning wake-up to the mid-afternoon pick-me-up. But are they drinking too much?
Evidence regarding the health effects of caffeine is inconclusive. For every study that seems to link caffeine to issues such as coronary heart disease and high cholesterol, another suggests caffeine could have beneficial properties. But whether or not (a moderate intake of) caffeine is good for
you, it is still a drug - and as such it is possible to become addicted to it and, in very extreme situations, to overdose on it - though you'd need to have drunk the equivalent of around 80 cups of coffee.
But for the tired, worn-out worker, caffeine can help get you through the most boring of meetings: with its short-term stimulant effect on the brain, it increases the capacity for physical and mental labour. The only
problem comes when the stimulant wears off and you're left with the corresponding trough, in which you feel excessively tired - and you reach for another coffee to get you through it.
Going to get a cup of coffee also gives you an opportunity to get away from the desk and be sociable. We also know that people who take regular breaks are more productive, so potentially the efficiency of the workforce is being improved by coffee breaks.
Alternatives of coffee
Want to get the benefits of the coffee break without risking any of the caffeine? Alex Probyn, the world's only tea sommelier, recommends five of the best non-caffeine brews.
Red Bush
This is about the closest thing you can get to tea. It's very high in antioxidants but it's sweeter and a bit smokier than tea, and you can drink it with or without milk.
Peppermint
Mint tea is good because it aids digestion. It's still got the invigoration of flavour which will wake you up but without any of the caffeine.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is such a vibrant flavour and colour that it's great for a bit of a shock. For some people it's a bit too sharp but if you like tart flavours then it's a good kick-start to your day.
Lemongrass
I love the flavour of lemongrass. It's got that zesty freshness that you'd want to wake you up and it's got lots of antioxidants in it as well.
Camomile
When it's getting towards the end of the working day and you just need to calm down a bit, then camomile has a really floral taste and scent to it and is very good for relaxing with.
Słownik
the corresponding trough - następujący po nim spadek formy
tea sommelier - znawca herbat
vibrant flavour and colour - wyrazisty smak i kolor
tart - cierpki
zesty - mocny
oprac. AMI
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