The 'bean' effect

Shivli Tyagi / TNN / Mar 17, 2006, 21:34 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Drinking coffee helps boost a woman's sex drive.

Drinking coffee helps boost a woman's sex drive.
It also increases the risk of heart disease if you happen to be a man! Oops! Whoever thought that rich dark liquid could be so complicated a drink?
To drink or not to drink...that is the question.
After studies in the US showed the world's most preferred beverage as being responsible for increasing a woman's libido, Canadian researchers have published another study indicating that excess coffee could lead to increased risk of heart disease if you have the wrong gene!

Of course this study comes after a string of previous researches which highlighted the benefits of anti-oxidants present in coffee. But with so many contradictory studies about the drink, would the coffee bean suddenly become untouchable?
College student Aditi Shah laughs it off. "I drink coffee since it helps while chatting with friends. Of course it helps keep me awake when I am studying for my exams," she says.
And what about the research being done? "I don't care much about it...I'm sure these researches are for those who have too much coffee," he says.
Model Tupur Chatterjee feels researches like these won't change matters at all. "Coffee is an addiction. Of course when one reads a report like this one does get a bit worried.
But if you believe all these studies, you would go mad. There are other things which we should be wary of, to prevent heart problems, rather than worry over coffee."
Actress Koena Mitra too couldn't care less. "I think these studies are stupid. If coffee increases a woman's sex drive and then increases the risk of a heart attack in a man... what does one believe?
I have coffee to boost my energy levels and to stay awake for late night shoots. It doesn't do any of these things to me, like the studies suggest."
But what do experts say? Cardiologist Anish Chandarana says results of such studies will always differ, since different people have different genetic patters and so react differently to any stimulant.
"Actually to set the record straight, black coffee and black tea is known to be rich in anti-oxidants. The problem lies in the milk and sugar which we put in it, as they are rich in cholesterol.
Also recent medical research has shown that coffee is good for some but bad for others depending on their genes. If your body has the gene which can break down coffee then you won't have any adverse affects."
Some like Naresh Malhotra, director of a leading cafe chain in India, however, thinks it's best to play safe and stick to the adage 'more of anything is bad'. "Excess tea, coffee or beer can all be bad depending upon an individual's body needs."
Drawing his own conclusions from the study, Malhotra reasons, "Coffee is an anti depressant. It gives you a kick, boosts your energy level and keeps you going for long hours...which is how it might be a sex stimulant."
Talk about 'interpretation' and actor Ashmit Patel has one ready. "If these studies are true, I would say women should have more coffee and men should stop having coffee.
This would make everyone happy. And being happy is itself good for your health," smiles Patel. So what would he do? "I would rather eat apples," he laughs!

Stay updated with breaking news, bank holidays and upcoming public holidays in march.

End of Article