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Health News about Coffee at Work

May 5, 2005 -- Feeling guilty about too much Java on the job Researchers say, "don't." Experts uncover three good reasons why coffee-drinking workers can relax & enjoy the joe



According to 2004 estimates, more than 167 million Americans - 60% of the population - drink coffee each day. That's about 6.3 billion gallons last year alone, many of which were consumed on the job. While decades of prognostication about the possible downside of too much coffee-drinking clearly hasn't deterred Americans from doing it, it has made some workers feel a twinge of guilt each time they refill their cups.



Yet, research suggests that the guilt may be unnecessary. In fact, studies show that drinking coffee while on the job offers at least three key benefits: it increases focused energy, alertness and creativity; it enhances physical strength and endurance; and it can help relieve tension headaches.



According to Judson Kleinman, president of Corporate Essentials - a leading corporate beverage service firm in the New York Metro area - these findings come as no great surprise to the business community. "There are many reasons why coffee-drinking at work has gained in popularity over the years - from the social aspects of it to its impact on performance," he explains. "Clearly, workers have known for years on an anecdotal, 'it-works-for-me' level about the benefits of drinking coffee on the job, but it is encouraging that science is now confirming those beliefs," Kleinman adds.



Three Cheers for Coffee

Among the medical experts confirming coffee's benefits is physiologist Terry Graham, PhD, who has studied the effects of coffee and caffeine for nearly 20 years at the University of Guelph in Canada. In a recent interview with WebMD1, Dr. Graham noted that the caffeine found in coffee "likely...stimulate[s] the brain and nervous system to do things differently." He believes that drinking two mugs of brew can be enough to signal the brain to ignore fatigue or recruit extra muscle power for physical performance. He notes, too, that caffeine may even have a direct effect on muscles themselves, causing them to produce a stronger contraction, and that caffeine has been shown to positively enhance endurance as well. Dr. Graham points out, though, that the most pronounced physical enhancement happens in people who sustain high levels of exertion during the day, like professional athletes.



As for mental stimulation, researchers in the U.K. believe they may have found the reason caffeine gives employees that morning or midafternoon boost to alertness and cognitive function. In a 2003 report in the Journal of Psychopharmacology 2, caffeinated coffee consumption protected study participants from a drop in noradrenaline levels in the brain. Those who drank decaf in the study did experience such a drop, which led to reduced alertness and impaired performance on a number of cognitive tasks.



Finally, workers battling a late-day tension headache at the office might also benefit from a cup of coffee, according to Fred Sheftell, M.D., co-founder and co-director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut. He points out that caffeine is, in fact, an ingredient in many pain relievers, and notes that its ability to constrict blood vessels can help at the onset of a headache. What's more, Dr. Sheftell says studies show that having a cup of coffee can enhance the effects of aspirin and other over-the-counter pain relievers by 30%.



The Business Bottom Line

According to Kleinman, most employers can find good news in the research for their bottom lines. "Productivity is the name of the game," he notes, "And it's clear that, from a productivity standpoint, coffee has its benefits." Kleinman notes, however, that such productivity increases could literally walk out the door each day, as employees leave the office in search of superior brew. "Many businesses are offering upscale, brand-name coffees like Starbucks or Java Cafe in their breakrooms in an effort to keep employees happy, at their desks working," Kleinman notes. Kleinman has seen a change in corporate coffee equipment, too, with more businesses opting for single-serve brewers that offer a fresh brew, one cup at a time, over the single-pot servers of the past.



1. "Coffee: The New Health Food" www.my.webmd.com/content/Article/80/96454.htm



2. "Caffeine and central noradrenaline: effects on mood, cognitive performance, eye movements and cardiovascular function" J Psychopharmacol. 2003 Sep;17(3):283-92



3. www.headachenech.com



Bio:

Judson Kleinman has more than 25 years of experience in positioning and promoting refreshment services to professional services companies including law firms, advertising agencies and accounting companies. Mr. Kleinman has been at the forefront of the recent trend by employers to offer their employees gormet coffees and refreshment services as a perk to improve job satisfaction and productivity. From his position as a reseller, Mr. Kleinman has a broad view of the many makers of coffees, teas, waters and snacks and is on the cutting edge of the beverage brewing technology and trends. As the founder and president at Corporate Essentials, a New Jersey business to business beverages and refreshment services firm, Mr. Kleinman oversees purchasing, sales and servicing. Mr. Kleinman has been quoted on numerous occassions on the subjects of coffees, teas, waters, and on a variety of topics involving running a small business, customer services and sales management. Mr. Kleinman holds a business degree from State University College at Oneonta.

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