I am sure you are familiar with the usual X is good for you stories only to find out that some other scientists then say that it is actually now bad for you before, once again, becoming good for you when another group looks at the very same substance.

From Pravda (no, not the BBC) we have coffee being good for you in ways that involve goats, rats and sex. It is also possible to die from coffee poisoning so read on before rushing to either the kettle or goat shed :

What is wrong with caffeine? Mostly, it is its ability to raise blood pressure and cause vascular walls to contract. The most adamant critics claim that excessive coffee consumption may lead to a heart attack, and there is some truth to it.

However, American experts calculated that a lethal dose of caffeine is 10 to 13 grams, which means that you have to drink 23 liters of coffee at a time to die. This is more than a hundred cups.

Thats the bad part over anyway, now on to the parts you came here to read about (admit it).

Firstly, the sex and rats :

Red wine and champagne are considered to be traditional beverages for a romantic dinner. Men might want to reconsider this tradition. It you want some hot after-dinner action, give your lady some coffee, researches from the South West University recommend.

They conducted a series of experiments on female lab rats and found out that a dose of caffeine prompts the rodents for more frequent sexual contacts. There is a “but” – the beverage will only be effective provided the lady does not drink coffee on a regular basis. If she is a habitual coffee drinker, you will have to rely on wine and your personal charm.

It also works on men you know :

There is a theory that a dose of caffeine may help men be more active in bed. Caffeine improves the blood flow, which means the blood is carried better to the sexual organs as well. As a result, the possibility of an erection and its duration may increase; therefore coffee can be considered a substance for prevention of erectile dysfunction.

But dont over do it or your lady friend may not be impressed :

Another advantage is coffee’s ability to increase stamina, which allows longer and more efficiently training. Caffeine is indispensable in team sports as it improves focus and reaction. Too much coffee accompanied by intense exercise may cause tachycardia and tremor followed by insomnia and nervous breakdowns.

All of which would result in a memorable romantic evening if for all the wrong reasons.

And finally, the goats :

According to a legend, coffee was first discovered and brewed approximately in 800 A.D. in Africa. Kaldi, an Ethiopian goatherder, was frustrated because his goats did not let him sleep. He decided to find out what made them so lively. He noticed they were eating some red berries of a tree. He took the berries to a local abbot where the entrepreneurial African monks brewed the first coffee that they later used to pray all night long.

Given the possible romantic uses, I am wondering if the “pray all night long” in the last paragraph is a euphemism or not?