Does coffee really lower heart disease and dementia risk and improve sports performance? And how much caffeine is too much?

Some studies show the antioxidants in coffee may have a beneficial effect on type 2 diabetes. Photo: Getty Images

Peter Van Dyck

‘Makes you sharper, more alert and more energetic’; ‘Anti-inflammatory’; ‘Lower risk of heart disease’; ‘Improves your sports performance.’ These are all claims that circulate about coffee. We’re told that a cup of our favourite brew can give us an energy boost and is good for our hearts. But is that really the case?

The fact that coffee makes you sharper, more alert and more energetic is due to the caffeine it contains. “Caffeine ensures that our nervous system is stimulated, which benefits our concentration and alertness,” explains GP and sports doctor Tom Teulingkx. You will feel this effect after about 40 minutes, when the body has completely absorbed this substance.