Is your lifestyle very different to that of your parents’ generation? In what way(s)?2 Do you often hear comments about modern life? What kind of comments?3 How much tea/coffee or other drinks do you have in a normal day? Do you think the writer is successful in his/her purpose?2 Did you change your ideas about caffeine after reading the article? 3 In what way has the article infl uenced your opinion of caffeine? ¿Tu estilo de vida es muy diferente al de la generación de tus padres? ¿De qué manera(s)?2 ¿A menudo escucha comentarios sobre la vida moderna? ¿Qué tipo de comentarios?3 ¿Cuánto té/café u otras bebidas toma en un día normal? ¿Crees que el escritor tiene éxito en su propósito?2 ¿Cambió sus ideas sobre la cafeína después de leer el artículo? 3 ¿De qué manera ha infl uido el artículo en su opinión sobre la cafeína? Over the centuries, people have created many traditions around preparing and drinking their favourite drinks, tea and coffee. Just think of the Japanese tea ceremony, British afternoon tea or the 5morning coffee custom in many societies. Why are these drinks so popular? The answer is their secret ingredient – caffeine. In the modern world, the new caffeine ‘delivery systems’ are canned ‘energy’ drinks. And the more modern our world gets, the more we 10seem to need caffeine Caffeinated drinks make you less tired and more alert. This double power of caffeine to reduce physical tiredness and increase alertness is part of the reason why it is the world’s most popular 15mood-changing drug. It is the only habit-forming drug we routinely serve to our children (in all those soft drinks and chocolate bars). In fact, most babies in the developed world are born with tiny amounts of caffeine in their bodies.20Most people don’t think twice about their caffeine intake being harmful. However, it raises blood pressure and so increases the risk of heart disease. That’s why the use of caffeine is considered to be a problem by scientists and public health authorities. In 25the United States, for example, many canned energy drinks carry warnings. In most European countries, manufacturers have to label cans with warnings. But in France and Denmark you are not even allowed to sell energy drinks. On the other hand, there’s also research which suggests that caffeine may have benefi ts for human health. It helps relieve pain, reduces asthma symptoms and increases reaction speed. And it seems we need coffee – or Diet Coke ® or 35Red Bull – to get us out of bed and back to work. Charles Czeisler, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School, explains that traditionally people went to sleep and woke up following sunset and sunrise. Then the way we worked changed and people did more 40indoor jobs. Consequently, we had to adapt. Electric light, and caffeinated food and drink allowed people to follow a less natural work pattern. Therefore, without caffeine, the 24-hour society of the developed world simply couldn’t exist. Czeisler says, ‘Caffeine helps people try to ignore the natural human rhythms.’ He warns us that ‘there is a heavy, heavy price to pay’ for all this extra alertness. Without enough sleep – the traditional eight hours out of each 24 is about right – the human body will 50not function at its best, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, the doctor says.According to Czeisler, the modern desire for caffeine is a ‘Catch 22 situation’. ‘The main reason that people want caffeine is to stay awake,’ he says. ‘But the main reason 55that people can’t stay awake is they don’t get enough regular sleep – because they use caffeine. A lo largo de los siglos, la gente ha creado muchas tradiciones en torno a la preparación y el consumo de sus bebidas, té y café favoritos. Solo piense en la ceremonia del té japonesa, el té de la tarde británico o la costumbre del café de las 5 de la mañana en muchas sociedades. ¿Por qué son tan populares estas bebidas? La respuesta es su ingrediente secreto: la cafeína. En el mundo moderno, los nuevos "sistemas de entrega" de cafeína son bebidas "energéticas" enlatadas. Y cuanto más moderno se vuelve nuestro mundo, más parece que necesitamos cafeína. Las bebidas con cafeína te hacen sentir menos cansado y más alerta. Este doble poder de la cafeína para reducir el cansancio físico y aumentar el estado de alerta es parte de la razón por la que es la droga para cambiar el estado de ánimo más popular del mundo. Es la única droga adictiva que habitualmente servimos a nuestros hijos (en todos esos refrescos y barras de chocolate). De hecho, la mayoría de los bebés en el mundo desarrollado nacen con pequeñas cantidades de cafeína en sus cuerpos.20 La mayoría de las personas no piensan dos veces si su ingesta de cafeína es dañina. Sin embargo, eleva la presión arterial y por lo tanto aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades del corazón. Es por eso que los científicos y las autoridades de salud pública consideran que el uso de cafeína es un problema. En Estados Unidos, por ejemplo, muchas bebidas energéticas enlatadas llevan advertencias. En la mayoría de los países europeos, los fabricantes deben etiquetar las latas con advertencias. Pero en Francia y Dinamarca ni siquiera está permitido vender bebidas energéticas. Por otro lado, también hay investigaciones que sugieren que la cafeína puede tener beneficios para la salud humana. Ayuda a aliviar el dolor, reduce los síntomas del asma y aumenta la velocidad de reacción. Y parece que necesitamos café, o Diet Coke® o 35Red Bull, para levantarnos de la cama y volver al trabajo. Charles Czeisler, neurocientífico de la Facultad de Medicina de Harvard, explica que, tradicionalmente, las personas se iban a dormir y se despertaban después de la puesta y la salida del sol. Luego, la forma en que trabajábamos cambió y la gente hacía más trabajos en interiores. En consecuencia, tuvimos que adaptarnos. La luz eléctrica y los alimentos y bebidas con cafeína permitieron a las personas seguir un patrón de trabajo menos natural. Por lo tanto, sin cafeína, la sociedad de 24 horas del mundo desarrollado simplemente no podría existir. Czeisler dice: "La cafeína ayuda a las personas a tratar de ignorar los ritmos humanos naturales". Nos advierte que "hay un precio muy alto que pagar" por todo este estado de alerta adicional. Sin dormir lo suficiente (las tradicionales ocho horas de cada 24 son correctas), el cuerpo humano no funcionará de la mejor manera, ni física, ni mental ni emocionalmente, dice el médico. Según Czeisler, el deseo moderno por la cafeína es un ' Coger 22 situación'. “La razón principal por la que la gente quiere cafeína es para mantenerse despierta”, dice. “Pero la principal razón por la que las personas no pueden permanecer despiertas es que no duermen lo suficiente porque consumen cafeína. Is your lifestyle very different from your parents' generation? In what way? I think yes, since(sens) their independent(indipendent) work rhythm (ruisem) allowed them more time to rest(ruest), on the other hand, for me, work and the rhythm of life allow me few hours of rest. 2 Do you often hear comments about modern life? What kind of comments? I heard that this modern life is busier (bisier), you have less rest. Also, our brain (brein) is the most exhausted (exousted) 3 How much tea/coffee or other drinks do you drink in a typical day? Actually, I drink very little coffee or tea. I prefer water or natural fruit drinks. Do you think the writer is successful in his purpose? I think so, because it allows us to know how bad high caffeine consumption can do. 2 Did your ideas about caffeine change after reading the article? Yes, because I didn't think it was so bad for the heart. 3 How has the article influenced your opinion about caffeine? In that somehow we all consume caffeine, because today's world of work requires it. Caffeine has become very necessary. Page: 62 Exercise 1 1. Is your lifestyle very different from your parents' generation? In what way? I think yes, since their independent work rhythm allowed them more time to rest, on the other hand, for me, work and the rhythm of life allow me few hours of rest. 2.- Do you often hear comments about modern life? What kind of comments? I heard that this modern life is busier, you have less rest. Also, our brain is the most exhausted 3 How much tea/coffee or other drinks do you drink in a typical day? Actually, I drink very little coffee or tea. I prefer water or natural fruit drinks. Exercise 8: 1. Do you think the writer is successful in his purpose? I think so, because it allows us to know how bad high caffeine consumption can do. 2 Did your ideas about caffeine change after reading the article? Yes, because I didn't think it was so bad for the heart. 3 How has the article influenced your opinion about caffeine? In that somehow we all consume caffeine, because today's world of work requires it. Caffeine has become very necessary.
