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Dear Doctor: Does drinking coffee really increase the craving for sweets? I tend to drink a lot of coffee throughout the day, and if it’s true, it explains a lot about my dietary choices.

Dear Reader: While recent studies have found a connection between caffeine and the urge for something sweet to eat, the cause and effect isn’t quite that direct. It’s not the coffee itself that somehow makes us long for the doughnut or Danish, but rather how caffeine affects certain chemical processes within our bodies. To get a fuller understanding of what’s going on, let’s take a closer look at the research — and at caffeine.

Our daily coffee (or tea or cola or energy drink) habits give us that boost because the caffeine they contain cuts off access to the adenosine receptors in our brain. Adenosine is a chemical that helps to regulate our internal clocks. It gradually builds up throughout the day, and, as it reaches a certain level, we begin to feel sleepy. By blocking those adenosine receptors with caffeine, we get a sense of energy and alertness.