CRAVING CAFFEINE? TRY DECAF

News FROM THE WORLD OF MEDICINE

- Samantha Rideout

If you love your coffee but worry about consuming too much caffeine, you will be reassured to know that research indicates that regular coffee is a low-risk stimulant. It might even offer some protection against type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease. But it can also cause heartburn, jitters or insomnia. So if you are trying to quit or cut back on caffeine, try decaf. An Australian study shows that drinking decaffeinated coffee can alleviate withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and irritability. This surprising result probably tapped into the placebo effect: Even when people knew they were drinking decaf, it looked, smelled and tasted like the real thing, which they associated with feeling alert and well.

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