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So what is the truth about coffee?

 Is coffee good or bad for you? A recent study shows coffee is more addictive than previously thought, while others show a cup can have health benefits.

In our report, we look at the truth about coffee.

THE BAD NEWS

The Heart

It is suspected that too much coffee can trigger an irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia) in those prone to the condition, which affects around 2 per cent of the population. The problem is believed to be caused by the stimulant caffeine. However, the British Heart Foundation says that drinking moderate amounts is unlikely to increase the risk of developing arrhythmia in those not already susceptible to it.

Blood pressure Research into whether caffeine raises blood pressure took a new turn in 2003, when a team at Edinburgh University tested its effect on the arteries around the heart - rather than in the arm as normal. After the caffeine equivalent of four to five cups of coffee, volunteers' blood pressure rose sharply, even though the arteries in the arm showed no change. This hidden rise may explain why previous studies regarding caffeine and high blood pressure have been inconclusive. The long-term effects on the cardiovascular system are still unknown.

The Stomach

Coffee does not cause ulcers but could aggravate existing ones, because it stimulates the stomach's acid secretions.

Diabetes

Two reports this year have shown different views on caffeine and Type 2 diabetes, which is controlled by diet and drugs rather than insulin injections. American research found a link between coffee at mealtimes and increased blood sugar, indicating that caffeine could make this form of diabetes worse by interfering with blood sugar control. Diabetes UK, however, felt the study was too small (14 people) to make any recommendations, other than encouraging diabetics to check their blood sugar regularly so they are aware of fluctuations.

Conversely, research by Helsinki's National Public Health Institute found that coffee appeared to protect people from developing Type 2 diabetes in the first place. This is backed up by a report from the Harvard School of Public Health, which also suggests it is minerals in coffee - rather than the caffeine it contains - that have a protective effect.

Dehydration

There seems little doubt that coffee is a diuretic, encouraging the body to lose fluid, though some studies, including one published by the National Academy of Sciences in America, claim the effects are negligible. Migraine Coffee has long been listed as a possible trigger for migraine.This is thought to be due to compounds called amines in coffee, which stimulate blood platelets in the brain to clump together, releasing the chemical messenger serotonin and so triggering a migraine.

Loss of vitamins and minerals

Caffeine inhibits the body's absorption of iron and other nutrients, and causes calcium to be expelled from the body in urine. There has been concern this could increase the risk of osteoporosis. However, research is inconclusive, according to a UK Government report on nutrition and bone health, and in any case most people drink coffee with milk, increasing their overall calcium intake.

Fertility

Caffeine has been associated with low fertility. One study maintained that three or more cups a day was enough to reduce the chances of conceiving, though the results were partly based on what women could remember about their coffee consumption ten years previously.

But researchers at Sao Paulo University in Brazil discovered that men who regularly drank coffee had stronger sperm than men who did not. It is thought that caffeine has a stimulating effect on sperm, just as it does on the central nervous system.

Pregnancy

The Food Standards Agency issued a warning to pregnant women earlier this year after research suggested caffeine could be harmful to an unborn child. Pregnancy also slows down the elimination of caffeine from the system. The recommended daily limit for pregnant women is 300mg of caffeine, roughly equivalent to four cups of instant coffee, or three cups of freshly brewed.

THE GOOD NEWS

Antioxidants

Like both black and green tea, coffee contains antioxidants, which can help prevent the cell mutation which may lead to cancer.

Headaches

Surprisingly - given that it can be a migraine trigger - the caffeine in coffee can also help cure headaches. It is one of the ingredients in some headache pills because it increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers by as much as 40 per cent.

Brain stimulation

As coffee is a stimulant, it can help concentration. Earlier this year Dr Chiara Trombetti, of the Humanitas Gavazzeni Institute in Italy, went as far as suggesting a morning cup of milky coffee could get sleepy schoolchildren off to a good start. However, that is unlikely to be echoed by nutritionists here, who recommend sufficient sleep and good diet as better ways to cope with the mental demands of the day.

Liver health

Doctors cannot explain the link, but several studies have shown that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop liver disease, including cirrhosis of the liver.

Gallstones

Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones. In one study, women who drank four cups of coffee each day were 25 per cent less likely to need surgery for gallstones than non-drinkers.

Good for the skin?

Caffeine appeared to improve microcirculation when applied to the skin in one study, making cellulite look better.