Do you absolutely need a jolt of caffeine to get going in the morning? Are you convinced that a cup of coffee gives you an edge? According to one English study, you may need coffee to boost your performance or just to function only because you drink coffee.

Research conducted at the University of Bristol's Department of Experimental Psychology found that the stimulatory effects of caffeine that many coffee "addicts" experience may be just a reversal of the negative effects of caffeine withdrawal.

Have you visited your local pharmacy lately? I recommend it as a bit of a reality check. Check out the stuff for sale near the cash register - that's the stuff they want to catch your eye as you pay, hoping you'll "pick up something extra," the stuff with the highest profit margin.

But before you head out, a few words about placebos.