COFFEE - MORE THAN A DRINK / EL CAFÉ - MÁS QUE UNA BEBIDA.

Hi my dear friends, do you like coffee?  Do you usually drink coffee? Do you think coffee is healthy? Just now, we are going to know a bit more about this delicious drink that, either you love it or you hate it! In my case, I love coffee but only at breakfast and sometimes, after lunch and I must confess that coffee is healthy and good to me!

Hola mis queridos amigos, ¿os gusta el café? ¿Soléis tomar café? ¿Pensáis que el café es saludable? Ahora mismo, vamos a saber un poquito más sobre esta deliciosa bebida ¡que o te encanta o la odias! En mi caso, me encanta el café pero solo en el desayuno y a veces después de comer y debo confesar que ¡el café es saludable y  bueno para mí!

Info: Speak Up magazine.
Photos: radiofelicidad.mx  / muyinteresante.es (2)  /  planetadellibro.es  /



ADDICTED TO COFFEE

Coffee is probably the most widely consumed drink in the world. For this reason it has been the subject of many scientific studies that have tried to determine whether it is healthy or harmful.  There are many articles claiming that coffee is bad for our health.  There is a research that links it with an increased risk of heart disease and even diabetes.  But is this really true?

CONFUSING

The general problem with some of these studies is that they can lead to confusing conclusions.  Moderate consumption of coffee by healthy adults reduces the sensation of physical exhaustion and mental fatigue, increases concentration and improves short-term, memory and coordination.

Nevertheless, people who metabolize caffeine slowly may be at increased risk of a heart problem if they drink more than four cups of coffee a day.



MAKING A CHOICE

Moreover, not all kinds of coffee have the same health effects.  Coffee that's roasted at low temperatures (known as natural roasting) and without sugar has a lower concentration of toxins and carcinogens than "torrefacto" -which is quite common in Spain and Italy.

Other factors to take into account when choosing your coffee is that Arabica variety has less caffeine than the Robusta variety.

Finally, we must not forget that from a societal point of view, and if possible,  it is important that the coffee we buy is from fair trade sources.


CHOLESTEROL

According to recent studies, while more than six cups of coffee a day increases overall cholesterol levels, when coffee is filtered, the compounds that cause this increase are removed.  If coffee is consumed regularly, addiction symptons may appear such as headaches and anxiety.

A NICE CUP OF TEA

Decaffeinated coffee is definitely the right choice for pregnant women, nursing mothers and people who have difficulty sleeping.  Normal coffee can increase heartburn and acid reflux, but decaffeinated coffees and teas do not.  If you do opt for decaf, though, choose the one made "with water only" or made "with carbon dioxide".

Anyway, if after reading this article you decide to drink less coffee, tea is a good alternative.  It also contains caffeine but it is healthier.

Tea consumption is linked to the strengthening of bones and the cardiovascular system.  What's more, tea improves blood flow and does not cause acid reflux.


DECISION

Coffee and tea are both healthy drinks but we must always have them in moderation!

Now, you choose, coffee or tea? Or both?

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VOCABULARY

-SHORT-TERM MEMORY: memoria a corto plazo.
-NEVERTHELESS: sin embargo.
-MOREOVER: además.
-TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT:  tener en cuenta.
-SOCIETAL POINT OF VIEW:  desde un punto de vista social.
-NURSING MOTHER: madre lactante.
-FAIR TRADE:  comercio justo.
-HEARTBURN:  ardor de estómago.
-ACID REFLUX: reflujo gástrico.
-IF YOU DO OPT:  si te decantas...
-BLOOD FLOW:  circulación sanguínea.

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EXERCISES

1 Match these adjectives with their antonyms.

a) fair                                      1 harmful
b) right                                    2 unusual
c) common                              3 exaggerated
d) moderate                             4 reduced
e) healthy                                5 unjust
f) increased                             6 wrong


  2 Decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.

a) High consumption of coffee reduces mental fatigue     _______
b) The Robusta variety has more caffeine than the Arabica variety _______
c) Drinking more than two cups of coffee a day increases cholesterol levels ______
d) Drinking caffeine regularly can cause mild physical dependence ______
e) Not only coffee, tea also contains caffeine ______

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SOLUTIONS

1 a) 5   /   b) 6   /  c) 2   /   d) 3  /  e) 1  /  f) 4

2 a) FALSE  /  b) TRUE  c) FALSE  d) TRUE  /  e) TRUE


HAVE A NICE DAY!