Drinking coffee is a habit that a large majority of French people could not give up, and that's good because the beverage has many benefits. Consumption ideally limited to 4 cups a day would reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's, diabetes and certain cancers, according to several studies. Second good news:it is packed with antioxidants. Yes, but here it is, everything is never all white or all black, and if coffee is the talk of the town today, it's for an immediately less encouraging reason... According to a study published in the journal Food Science on August 23, caffeine would alter our perception of sweetness, which would have the direct consequence of increasing our sugar cravings. That would explain why we like our little coffee accompanied by a croissant or a slice of jam…
To reach these conclusions, the three researchers behind the study separated participants into two groups:one drank coffee and the other decaffeinated, but all did not know what was in the cup. Each group had to add sugar to their cup and specify exactly how sweet they found the beverage. First observation:those who drank coffee considered it less sweet than decaffeinated drinkers. Caffeine would therefore have an impact on our taste buds by making the drink seem more bland, which would make the dose of added sugar less satisfying and encourage us to eat something even sweeter. Second equally unexpected finding:the two groups of people explained that they felt the same degree of mental stimulation after consuming their cup. This suggests that coffee would have a placebo effect:regardless of its intensity, consumers have the impression of feeling a real energy boost. You now know why you are tempted by this extra Speculoos in the early morning...
