Caffeine is the "Drug" of Choice in Many
Cultures
From
VOA Learning English, this is Science In
The News in Special English. I’m Avi Arditti.
And I’m Faith Lapidus.
And I’m Faith Lapidus.
Today, we report1 on caffeine2 and two popular drinks: tea3 and coffee.
We tell about a study that found4 black tea is better for your health than coffee.
We also5 tell about a separate finding
that coffee drinkers6 may have a lower risk7 of oral cancer than other people.
And we examine how climate change8 may affect9 one of
the most popular kinds10 of coffee.
For years, caffeine has been the “drug” of choice11 in many cultures. Caffeine has been considered socially acceptable12 because it is found13 in drinks like tea or coffee. People who consume a lot of caffeine-based14 drinks may think they are addicted15 -- depending heavily on16 the substance. But if they stop using such drinks17, they will experience only mild symptoms18 of withdrawal19 for a few days.
The real addiction20 may be21 emotional. Many people claim22 they cannot start their day unless23 they get their “fix,” which is, in many cases, a cup or two of coffee. Some people drink coffee throughout the day24. Even25 young people who may not touch26 tea or coffee are still putting27 caffeine into their bodies when they have energy drinks, which have high amounts28 of caffeine.
Caffeine is a bitter29 substance found in coffee, tea, soft drinks30, chocolate, kola nuts, and some medicines31. It has many effects on the body, including helping to activate the central nervous system. This can make you more awake32 and give you increased33 energy.
America’s National Institutes of Health says drinking two to four cups of coffee a day is not harmful34 for most people. But it warns35 that too much caffeine can make you restless36, irritable and worried37.
For years, caffeine has been the “drug” of choice11 in many cultures. Caffeine has been considered socially acceptable12 because it is found13 in drinks like tea or coffee. People who consume a lot of caffeine-based14 drinks may think they are addicted15 -- depending heavily on16 the substance. But if they stop using such drinks17, they will experience only mild symptoms18 of withdrawal19 for a few days.
The real addiction20 may be21 emotional. Many people claim22 they cannot start their day unless23 they get their “fix,” which is, in many cases, a cup or two of coffee. Some people drink coffee throughout the day24. Even25 young people who may not touch26 tea or coffee are still putting27 caffeine into their bodies when they have energy drinks, which have high amounts28 of caffeine.
Caffeine is a bitter29 substance found in coffee, tea, soft drinks30, chocolate, kola nuts, and some medicines31. It has many effects on the body, including helping to activate the central nervous system. This can make you more awake32 and give you increased33 energy.
America’s National Institutes of Health says drinking two to four cups of coffee a day is not harmful34 for most people. But it warns35 that too much caffeine can make you restless36, irritable and worried37.
It may also cause headaches38, abnormal heartbeats39
and other problems.
The NIH says women who are pregnant40 or breast-feeding41 should limit their consumption of caffeine.
And it says caffeine may affect how the body reacts to some drugs and vitamins.
It suggests talking with a doctor if you havequestions.
Drink Black Tea If You Are Worried About Diabetes
Would you like a drink of coffee or tea? A mathematical study showed43 that tea -- especially black tea -- might be the best choice. The study showed that few people44 have Type 2 diabetes in countries where people drink a lot of tea. Diabetes is a life-threatening45 condition that reduces the ability of the body to turn46 glucose -- or sugar -- into energy. It is a growing problem47 around the world. The number of people with diabetes is expected to rise sharply48, to 438 million, over the next 20 years49.
A team of researchers studied the amount of black tea sold50 in 50 countries. It compared the sales51 records with information from the World Health Organization about diseases in those nations. People in Ireland52 were the top tea-drinkers. On average53,each person there drank54 more than two kilograms of black tea a year. People in China, Morocco and Mexico drank the least tea.
The study showed a link between black tea sales56 and rates57 of diabetes, but not with any other health condition. Organizers of the study say the link does not necessarily prove that black tea prevents58 diabetes.
Drink Black Tea If You Are Worried About Diabetes
Would you like a drink of coffee or tea? A mathematical study showed43 that tea -- especially black tea -- might be the best choice. The study showed that few people44 have Type 2 diabetes in countries where people drink a lot of tea. Diabetes is a life-threatening45 condition that reduces the ability of the body to turn46 glucose -- or sugar -- into energy. It is a growing problem47 around the world. The number of people with diabetes is expected to rise sharply48, to 438 million, over the next 20 years49.
A team of researchers studied the amount of black tea sold50 in 50 countries. It compared the sales51 records with information from the World Health Organization about diseases in those nations. People in Ireland52 were the top tea-drinkers. On average53,each person there drank54 more than two kilograms of black tea a year. People in China, Morocco and Mexico drank the least tea.
The study showed a link between black tea sales56 and rates57 of diabetes, but not with any other health condition. Organizers of the study say the link does not necessarily prove that black tea prevents58 diabetes.
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks – perhaps62 the most popular. Results of a large American study may help to make it even more popular63. The study showed that drinking coffee might help reduce the risk of oral or pharyngeal cancer, a deadly64 form of cancer.
Vocabulary
1. report = relatar
2. caffeine = cafeína
3. tea = chá
4. found = descobriu
5. also = também
6. drinkers = bebedores
7. may have a lower risk = podem ter um risco mais baixo
8. climate change = mudança climatica
9. may affect = pode afetar
10. one of the most popular kinds = um dos tipos mais populares
11. choice = escolha
12. socially acceptable = socialmente aceitavel
13. found = encontrado(a)
14. caffeine-based = baseado em cafeina
15. addicted = viciado
16. depending heavily on = dependendo fortemente de
17. stop using such drinks = parar de usar tais bebidas
18. mild symptoms = sintomas suaves
19. withdrawal = retirada
20. addiction = vicio
21. may be = pode ser
22. claim = afirmam
23. unless = a menos que
24. throughout the day = por todo o dia
25. Even = até mesmo
26. touch = tocar
27. are still putting = ainda estão colocando
28. high amounts = grandes quantidades
29. bitter = amargo(a)
30. soft drinks = refrigerantes
31. medicines = remedies
32. awake = acordado(a)
33. increased = aumentado
34. is not harmful = não é prejudicial
35. warns = alerta
36. restless = agitado
37. worried = preocupado
38. may also cause headaches = pode também causar dores de cabeça
39. abnormal heartbeats = batimentos cardíacos anormais
40. pregnant = gravida
41. breast-feeding = amamentando
42. consumption = consumo
43. showed = mostrou
44. few people = poucas pessoas
45. life-threatening = ameaça à vida
46. turn (turn into) = transformar
47. growing problem = problema crescente
48. is expected to rise sharply = espera-se que suba rapidamente
49. over the next 20 years = ao longo dos proximos 20 anos
50. sold = vendido
51. sales = vendas
52. Ireland = Irlanda
53. On average = em media
54. Drank = bebia
55. the least = o menor (a menor quantidade de)
56. sales = vendas
57. rates = indices, taxas
58. prevents = previne
59. earlier research = pesquisa anterior (previa)
60. for many centuries = por muitos seculos
61. most widely-consumed = mais amplamente consumidos
62. perhaps = talvez
63. even more popular = até mais popular
64. deadly = fatal
