Caffeine has a bad reputation, but you might not want to kick the habit just yet. Medical experts say caffeine could actually be better for you than you think. So let’s take a minute to bust a few caffeine myths, courtesy of LifeScript.com.

• First caffeine myth: It’s addictive. Not true Caffeine IS a mild stimulant and it’s habit forming, but that’s not the same thing as addictive. Think about it. You can go eight, 10 even 20 hours without having a cup of coffee. If you were addicted you couldn’t go one hour without needing a fix. Still, you will have some symptoms if you drop the habit cold turkey. So if you’re giving up coffee, decrease your consumption slowly over a week.   
• Next myth: Caffeine leads to heart disease and hypertension. Also FALSE. A recent study found that women who drank two to three cups of coffee a day actually decreased their risk of heart disease. A 33-year long study from Johns Hopkins found that coffee played little or no role in increasing hypertension. The truth is, coffee does raise your blood pressure, but the boost goes away fast and doesn’t have any lingering effects.
• Last myth: Caffeine causes hyperactivity in children. False again. Suzanne Sheres is a pediatric dietician in Florida. She says kids will get a quick energy boost from caffeine, but one serving a day, which is about one 12 ounce can of Coke, isn’t enough to have a lasting, harmful effect. Studies show that a small amount of caffeine may actually help kids with ADHD concentrate better. Sheres says the bigger problem is all the empty calories that soda and energy drinks have.
• Now, not all news is good news with caffeine. It does cause dehydration. Caffeine is a diuretic which means it makes you need to use the bathroom more often, and the more fluids you lose the more dehydrated you become.
• It’s also been shown to cause bone loss. However, studies show the effect is minimal and you can offset it by adding just a few tablespoons of milk to your cup of coffee.