'EVEN A SINGLE SHOT OF ESPRESSO IS BAD'

UNFAVOURABLE CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECT

London: Here's some bad news for those who can't get out of bed without sipping a hot espresso- a single cup of the caffeinated drink is enough to damage your heart, a new study has claimed.

                     Italian researchers have carried out the study and found that the high amount of caffeine in a single espresso can have "unfavourable cardiovascular effects"-it cuts blood flow to the heart by more than a fifth. Decaffeinated coffee, in contrast, boost blood flow, the study has found. 

                      A single espresso contains 130 mg of caffeine, compared to 75 mg in a cup of instant coffee. Filter coffee is estimated to contains around 120 mg per cup.

                    The researchers from the university of Palermo recruited 20 volunteers. They examined the blood  flow of the subjects who drank a single espresso and compared it to a decaffeinated alternative.

                   The caffeinated variety narrowed blood vessels, cutting blood flow to the heart by an average of 22% within an hour. This is because caffeine acts to block a chemical which keeps blood vessels expanded.PTI