III. Read the text and check your answers. Are you surprised by

anything?

Caffeine – Fact or Myth?

1. Caffeine wakes you up in the morning. FACT

Caffeine affects the brain and central nervous system and helps you wake up.

2. A glass of cola contains more caffeine than a cup of coffee. MYTH

The order of caffeine content is (high to low): 1 real coffee, 2 instant

coffee, 3 tea, 4 cola, 5 chocolate.

3. Decaffeinated coffee or cola, and white chocolate don’t contain

caffeine at all. MYTH

White chocolate has no caffeine but decaffeinated coffee and cola

contain a small amount of it. It is impossible to remove all caffeine in

drinks.

4. Many painkillers contain caffeine. FACT

Some painkillers contain caffeine. Restricting the flow of blood to the

brain caffeine itself helps to cure a headache.

5. The effects of caffeine last only for about two hours. MYTH

The effects of caffeine in a cup of tea or coffee last for about five

hours. During this time any more caffeine you take won’t have any

extra effect.

6. Drinking coffee, cola, or tea in the evening will always affect your

sleep. MYTH

This depends on each person, as caffeine affects different people

differently. Caffeine keeps some people awake, other people are not

affected at all.

7. Caffeine can improve your performance in sport. FACT

Stimulating the muscles caffeine can help you run faster, jump

higher, etc. Therefore it is considered a ‘drug’ and athletes are

disqualified if they have more than a certain amount of caffeine in their

body.

8. Caffeine is an addictive drug. FACT

Studies indicate that people who drink more than four or five cups of

strong coffee a day become dependent on caffeine. They suffer side

effects, for example, nervousness, and sleep problems.

9. If you give up drinking tea or coffee you will get withdrawal

symptoms. FACT

In a recent study 52% of people who had given up said they had had

headaches, and 10% suffered anxiety. Other symptoms included

feeling tired, irritable, finding it difficult to concentrate. If you want to

give up caffeine you should do it gradually.

10. Caffeine is bad for you. MYTH

A moderate amount of caffeine a day is not harmful and can have

positive effects, improve our energy level and concentration. Caffeine

helps to control our weight, as it makes the body burn calories quickly.

TEXT 2

I. Read an article about a singer. Find out:

1. How much caffeine did she use to have?

2. What made her give it up?

3. Was it difficult for her to live without caffeine?

4. Did she suffer any withdrawal symptoms?

5. How did her life change after giving up caffeine?