Three cups of coffee and one cup of tea (about 350mg of caffeine) can lead to poor performance caused by concentration lapses and increased stress, according to new research.

Out of 1,000 office workers surveyed for Volvic mineral water, 76% said they drank tea, coffee or caffeinated cola more than three times during the working day, with one in 20 consuming more than ten drinks.

Stress specialist Dr David Lewis, who analysed the research for Volvic, is calling for traditional morning and afternoon breaks to be scrapped and said: "Our clinical research found that a high caffeine intake (more than 350mg during the working day) acts as a powerful diuretic and causes people to visit the toilet more frequently, which can lead to performance-zapping dehydration. This, coupled with the powerful stimulating effects of caffeine, increases stress and causes failures in concentration."

The study found 93% of workers surveyed drank at least one caffeinated beverage a day. More than half of those who consumed more than three cups of tea, coffee or cola a day complained of stress-related problems.

Almost eight out of ten of those surveyed drank tea, coffee or cola either first thing or mid morning – which are periods of the day in which stress levels peak for most workers.
So, feel like another cuppa?

Jessica Jarlvi