COFFEE; THE MYTHS AND FACTS DECODED

With endless conflicting news stories around what foods and drinks you should and shouldn’t be consuming, it can be hard to stay on top of what is true and what’s false, especially when it comes to our precious cup of joe.

We at YCB recently attended a press day in London’s Covent Garden with Shark Ninja who spent years developing the Ninja Coffee bar, the first and only home coffee brewer that can deliver rich tasting hot coffee with a choice of single serve or up to a full carafe, iced coffee and coffeehouse style layered drinks.

Now the coffee-loving family at Shark have dispelled the myths about coffee, to ensure you can enjoy your favourite brew with a clear conscience.

Coffee in the afternoon can cause insomnia: MYTH

Whilst caffeine is a stimulant, caffeine consumed during the afternoon is still processed by the body at a high speed, with much of it being flushed out of the body within four to seven hours. Therefore, if your last cup of coffee is at 3pm, the caffeine will be out of your system by bedtime.

Coffee reduces the risk of Type-2 Diabetes: FACT

Not only does coffee contain magnesium and chromium which help the body to manage insulin production, but coffee also contains antioxidants, which help fight tissue damage, all of which could help to reduce the risk of Type-2 Diabetes, when combined with exercise and a healthy diet.

Coffee helps you lose weight: MYTH

Coffee does not have the power to increase metabolism in the body to the extent that it will help to burn off extra fat, therefore if you are looking to lose weight other dietary changes should be made, along with regular exercise.

Coffee is safer than energy drinks: FACT

Coffee is far lower in sugars and chemical additives than most energy drinks and caffeine supplements, especially if it’s brewed fresh from organic beans. With energy drinks often being linked to obesity, coffee is a sensible and delicious alternative.

Coffee dehydrates you: MYTH

Coffee is mostly water, which counts toward your daily fluid intake. Whilst coffee is a diuretic, a substance that makes you need to use the bathroom frequently, it doesn’t mean that your body is losing water. Water should always be consumed in addition to your coffee intake; however drinking a few cups a day won’t dehydrate you.

Coffee can power your workout: FACT

Many studies have proved that caffeine intake before exercise increased athletic performance. A report published in Sports Medicine refers to caffeine as a “powerful ergogenic aid” however; you may have to save the cream and sugar for your post-workout reward.

The Ninja Coffee Bar offers a variety of delectable coffee-based drinks, surpassing the taste of those that can be bought in any coffee shop or chain, and allowing the user to make a wide range of both hot and cold drinks. The Ninja Coffee Bar comes complete with a recipe book detailing 40 irresistible recipes such as those detailed above, and is available from www.ninjacoffee.co.uk for pre-order from 1^st September, to arrive on your doorstep on 1^st October.

Charlotte Giver

Charlotte is the founder and editor-in-chief at Your Coffee Break magazine. She studied English Literature at Fairfield University in Connecticut whilst taking evening classes in journalism at MediaBistro in NYC. She then pursued a BA degree in Public Relations at Bournemouth University in the UK. With a background working in the PR industry in Los Angeles, Barcelona and London, Charlotte then moved on to launching Your Coffee Break from the YCB HQ in London’s Covent Garden and has been running the online magazine for the past 10 years. She is a mother, an avid reader, runner and puts a bit too much effort into perfecting her morning brew.