Coffee and Taxes

OK. It’s time to do those taxes again. So you belly up to the computer, receipts and all manner of paper in hand, and force yourself to get it done...for your financial health, for your family who already has plans for that refund (Please, God!), and for your own sanity.

As you sit there, entering figures, do you ever wonder if that mug of coffee in your hand is really working? Of course not! That’s why I’m here. Read on.

Coffee contains a stimulant called caffeine, as you know. Even decaf has trace amounts of caffeine. According to one doctor who grew up around coffee plantations, there is no such thing as a decaffeinated coffee bean.

Although no one has come up with a definitive answer as to whether coffee is good for you, the cuppa joe has its good points. According to an article by Sam Murphy in iVillage.com, coffee is a powerful anti-oxidant that can increase physical endurance. It also stimulates the central nervous system and boosts brain function for a short time after you drink it. It doesn’t exactly raise your I.Q. It just helps you do more with the brain function you have. Just don’t take forever to complete your tax return because too much coffee does have some negative side effects. It reduces the absorption of nutrients and its stimulating effects remain in your system hours after you’ve sipped your last sip of the day.

But let’s not think about that right now. Pour a cup of your favorite coffee, fire up that computer or pencil, and get to work. You need that refund for Starbucks.