HOW MUCH COFFEE IS TOO MUCH?

Water Wellpoint offers Managers advice on healthy caffeine levels for employees

According to a recent report*, people who drink more than seven cups of coffee a day are three times more likely to hallucinate than those who drink just one. Leading hydration experts, Water Wellpoint, believes this may have raised fears for businesses and their managers about how much coffee employees are drinking and what advice they should give. 

"The study reported to show a link between the amount of coffee a small group of students drank and their likelihood of being prone to both stress and hallucinations" confirmed Rory Murphy of Water Wellpoint.  "However, the researchers admit that this is just a preliminary study and has its limitations. As a result there is no need for employers to be alarmed about staff drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages.  But what they do need to remember is that water is the key to maintaining concentration and staying healthy.

"Coffee and tea do count as part of a worker's daily fluid requirements and will not make them more dehydrated, as suggested in earlier claims. However caffeine, which is found in tea and coffee, is a stimulant and too much can have negative longer term effects. Moderate caffeine intake isn't likely to cause harm, but too much can noticeably affect health."

Heavy daily caffeine use equates to 500mg to 600mg a day or about four to seven cups of coffee. Too much caffeine can cause a variety of symptoms including restlessness, irritability and headaches. In addition, many sweet, milky coffees contain a large number of calories, so workers who are watching their calorie intake may want to review how many of these they have.

"For those who drink too much caffeinated coffee or tea during the day, managers may want to encourage them to alternate their normal coffee with a glass of water" continued Rory Murphy. "Indeed, without drinking enough water, workers will feel sleepy, be less able to concentrate and may suffer from headaches.

"We advise people not to wait until they feel thirsty to have a drink, as by then they are already dehydrated. Keeping a filled bottle of water on the desk, means staff are more likely to drink regularly and avoid the negative impact of caffeine."

*A Durham University team questioned 200 students about their caffeine intake, the journal Personality and Individual Differences reported, January 2009

** Wellpoint is a registered trademark solely owned by the Wellpoint Group Limited

For an interview with Rory Murphy or further press information please contact the Water Wellpoint Press Office at HSL:
Maddy Roles/Louise Fowler/Wendy Harrison - 020 8977 9132
maddy@harrisonsadler.com