My one vice that I just can’t give up is coffee and each year I think to myself.. maybe this new year I should make a resolution to give it up. Then when I wake up from lack of sleep on New Years day I quickly realise this is a rubbish idea.

I have also managed to wean myself off a teaspoon of sugar and on to agave syrup in my coffee so I am not going to give up everything for the one thing that will get me out of bed!

I am actually one of those people who likes to get up in the morning. I hate to lie in bed thinking about all the things I could be doing. I would much rather just get up and do them (sometimes of a weekend, I have an afternoon nap – it feels like the ultimate indulgence).

Anyway, back to coffee. I have recently read that it isn’t as bad as once thought and some studies have proven that one is less likely to get dementia or Alzheimer’s as well as lowering the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Caffeine can also encourage muscles to burn fat. So to me it seems like a win win start to the day!

Caffeine is a stimulant which is why most of us drink it, but as a result, it has an effect on the central nervous system, which both raises metabolism and increases the oxidation of fatty acids. It is a diuretic however so I tend to have it followed by a glass of water before doing morning exercise.

I don’t recommend starting to drink coffee if you don’t already – it affects everyone differently and I have a rule that I don’t drink any after lunch time or it affects my sleep.

I promise I don’t always believe what I read in the Daily Mail online, but it has some interesting information for you so take a look: Daily Mail article on Coffee