COFFEE

There have been claims drinking coffee will increase your risk of succumbing to a whole range of terrible things.

Yet when scientists followed over 120,000 men and women for more than 20 years they found “regular coffee consumption was not associated with an increased mortality rate in either men or women”. In fact, it appears to be mildly protective. But we simply don’t know what it is in coffee that helps.

The amount of coffee you can safely drink without side effects, such as a temporary rise in blood pressure or insomnia, may be down to your genes, and in particular how much of the liver enzyme CYP1A2 you have. – MM VERDICT: Two to five cups of coffee a day are fine, but side effects may be dictated by your genes.