Prefer your coffee black? Then you probably like dark, bitter chocolate, according to a new research identifying a genetic basis for those preferences.
If that’s you, then congratulations — you are the lucky genetic winner of a sort that may offer you an advantage toward good health, according to caffeine researcher Marilyn Cornelis. Studies find moderate amounts of black coffee have been shown to lower the risk of certain diseases. But those benefits are likely to be more pronounced if the coffee is free of all of the milks, sugars and other fattening flavorings we tend to add.
In an earlier research, Cornelis and her team discovered that a genetic variant (变体) may contribute to why some people enjoy numerous cups of coffee a day, while others do not. “People with the gene metabolize (新陈代谢) caffeine faster, so the stimulating effects disappear faster, and they need to drink more coffee,” she said. “This could explain why some individuals seem to be fine consuming a lot more coffee relative to someone else who might become very anxious,” she added.
In the new study, Cornelis analyzed more precise types of coffee drinkers, separating black coffee lovers from cream and sugar lovers. “We found coffee drinkers with the genetic variant that reflects a faster metabolism of caffeine prefer bitter, black coffee,” Cornelis said. “We also found the same genetic variant in people who prefer dark chocolate over the milk chocolate.”
Cornelis and her team don’t think the preference has anything to do with the taste of plain black coffee tea. Instead, she said, people with this gene prefer black coffee and tea because they ae the bitter favor with the boost in mental comfort they desire from caffeine. “It’s possible these people are just very sensitive to the effects of caffeine and they also have that learned behavior with other bitter foods.”
Future studies will try to deal with the genetic preference for other bitter foods, Cornelis said, “which are generally linked to more health benefits.”
8. The earlier study is mainly about ________.
A.why coffee is refreshing |
B.why bitter foods attract black coffee lovers |
C.why coffee drinking habits vary among people |
D.why black coffee is healthier than white coffee |
9. Cornelis may agree that people prefer black coffee because of ________.
A.its bitter taste | B.faster metabolism of caffeine |
C.the caffeine it has | D.the mental comfort it brings |
10. According to the text, which of the following is TRUE?
A.The preference for black coffee may have a genetic basis. |
B.People with the genetic variant are sensitive to sweet flavor. |
C.Scientists found certain genetic variant in milk chocolate lovers. |
D.Coffee drinkers with the genetic variant show a slower metabolism of caffeine. |
11. What might the researchers do next?
A.Learn more health benefits associated with black coffee. |
B.Cover more bitter foods with genetic preference. |
C.Analyze more precise types of coffee drinkers. |
D.Know more learned behavior people have. |