That's Fit

My husband has an energy drink habit. It's something we disagree on. I think that it's better to boost your energy through a good night's sleep and maybe a morning coffee, that energy drinks have too much sugar and possibly too much caffeine. He likes the kick the drinks give him. He's even known to buy an off brand from the dollar store, which gives me even greater pause.

The energy drink market has exploded over the last few years, and have become highly popular, especially among young men. But I'm not the only one who's concerned. Forbes recently interviewed Roland Griffiths, a John Hopkins scientist who has studied the effects of caffeine. He, among others, is calling for labeling of the drinks by the FDA. Griffiths says that because some energy drinks have as little as 50 mg of caffeine, while others pack as much as 500 mg, drinking an energy drink is tantamount to "drinking a beverage and not knowing, not being able to taste, whether it's straight vodka you just drank or beer."

Though Griffiths has concerns about the overuse of energy drinks, all he and his peers are urging right now is labeling requirements so that consumers can be aware what they're drinking. Seems reasonable to me ... what do you think?

If you've been debating whether or not to try a nutritional supplement, you may be surprised to know that you've already been using one for quite some time -- even if you didn't realize it.

Ask almost any regular exerciser what one of the most effective and widely-used supplement is, and they'll surely tell you it's caffeine. Research shows that drinking a caffeinated beverage prior to a workout can help a person lift more weight and complete more reps. What's more, caffeine -- in particular, coffee -- is one of the main single sources of antioxidants in the American diet, which means that it helps neutralize free radicals as it helps burn fat and improve athletic performance.

There have been over 21,000 studies conducted on the health benefits/detriments of caffeine on the body. And though I obviously focused on a benefit in this post, it's worth knowing that other research indicates that consuming too much caffeine can restrict blood flow during exercise. Clearly this falls into the "detrimental" category. However, in this study, participants consumed 300mg of caffeine, or the equivalent of about three cups of home brew. Therefore, using the results of said study as our guide, if you keep your pre-workout caffeine intake to one cup, you should be just fine.

Do you remember how many cups of coffee you drank yesterday? If you do, your recall ability may be due to the fact that you drank those cups in the first place. Allow me -- better still, allow researchers who published their study findings in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology -- to explain.

In a study of over 7,000 older adults, researchers discovered that women age 65 and older who drank at least three or more cups of coffee (or any other caffeinated beverage) per day experienced less memory loss than women who drank only one cup or less per day.

Although it appears that caffeine does not prevent dementia, it may delay some age-related memory loss in older women.

Maintaining high cholesterol boosts Alzheimer's risk, according to past studies. One way to keep this risk level at bay -- apart from lowering LDL cholesterol, of course -- is to drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks.

A study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation reveals that caffeine may "block some of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky," says a lead researcher in a recent Men's Health article.

Since caffeine obviously does not require a prescription, drinking a daily cup of coffee is an easy way for someone with high cholesterol to safely begin their therapy against this neurological disorder.

Workout wisdom says to put something in your body after exercise takes so much out. What's the best something, though? How about whole-grain cereal, a bite of Indian takeout, or a big fat non-fat latte? RealAge says these are real possibilities.

Why these three snacks? Because they have something in common, capable of helping the body recover post-workout -- the three C's: Carbs, Curcumin, and Caffeine.

A carbohydrate-rich snack like cereal restores glycogen -- the stuff muscles use for energy -- and helps conquer fatigue. Curcumin, a substance found in the Indian spice turmeric, helps minimize muscle inflammation. And caffeine. It works to block muscle-pain-producing substances. Coffee has other health benefits too.

Constantly tired? Join the club. It seems like everyone these days is walking around in a permanent haze of fatigue. Blame it on our crazy schedules, our myriad of commitments. But whatever the case, the fact of the matter is that it's affecting our health.

What can you do? The first step is figuring out where your sleep deficit is coming from. According to this article from Prevention Magazine, you should take two or three weeks to adjust your lifestyle and figure out if your fatigue is the result of your own habits or something deeper. Cut back on caffeine and alcohol, go to bed earlier, scale back your social calendar, get more exercise and eat better. And If none of the above help you feel less tired? Check out Prevention for some common causes of fatigue.

How do you prevent the yawns?

You already know that caffeine can put a little extra pep in your step, but did you know that it could translate to better race times? A study in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport concluded that a shot of pre-race caffeine could help you race faster.

The study compared the effects of the equivalent of an eight-ounce cup of coffee with a placebo, and the 5k times of runners of all levels improved, generally by 10 to 12 seconds.

This could be due to a change in your perception of pain, according to the study's co-author Brendan O'Brien, Ph.D. For maximum effectiveness, have your java 30 to 60 minutes before the start. Make sure you know how you react to caffeine -- jittery joggers don't generally win medals, you know.

I've always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to headaches. But, until recently, I had never had a migraine. Just a few weeks ago I found myself dealing with the most painful headache I've ever had. I found a position -- half-sitting, half-laying down -- on the couch that was somewhat comfortable. I covered my eyes with a damp washcloth. And I just stayed put. I tried to turn the TV on so I'd at least have something to listen to, but if it was loud enough to hear it at all, it felt like it was booming in my ears. Even though the blinds were closed, every time I took that washcloth off my eyes, the light felt blinding. And every time I moved, I felt sick to my stomach. It was awful. I seriously sympathize with anyone who has migraines regularly.

A few months ago I wrote about natural treatments for migraines. (Maybe writing that post and saying I never had a migraine jinxed me... ya think?) Revolution Health has more ideas for managing migraines:

• OTC pain relievers may provide some relief; your doctor can also prescribe medications to help.
• Caffeine can constrict blood vessels and relieve some of the pressure, but don't go overboard -- too much caffeine can be a trigger for migraine headaches.
• Avoid foods containing tyramine. Tyramine is found in aged or fermented foods including some cheeses and wine.
• Visit a chiropractor. Some chiropractors believe that migraines are caused by a misalignment of the spine and that adjustments can minimize migraine frequency.
• Include magnesium-rich foods in your diet.
  
• Get a massage -- massage therapy has helped some migraine sufferers reduce the frequency of their headaches.

After spending many college weekends popping caffeine pills before heading out to party, my stomach felt ripped to shreds by the age of 22. Stupid. I've since matured -- herbal tea and my favorite rainbow coffee mug are best of friends these days.

Now energy drinks are the rage. However, beyond the jitters, researchers have seen an association between high consumption of canned energy and risky "toxic jock" behavior, such as unprotected sex, substance abuse and violence. It's not just young adults reaching for super-caffeinated cans of Red Bull, Monster, Full Throttle, Amp and the like. Four middle schoolers headed to the ER last spring with heart palpitations and sweating after downing Spike Shooter -- a 428 milligrams of caffeine powerhouse.

While many energy drinks have less caffeine than a cup of brewed Starbucks coffee, they are served cold, which means people may down multiple cans quickly. It's even worse for those mixing alcohol with energy drinks -- a study published this month revealed college students choosing these super-charged mixers got drunk twice as often as alcohol-only drinkers. The awake drunks were also far more likely to be injured and more likely to be victims or perpetrators of aggressive sexual behavior.

It's kind of strange, really; there are literally thousands of supplements out there claiming to do this and that for your health and fitness, yet very few have the empirical research to prove it. And, as odd as it may seem, the one thing that continuously shows promise in scientific studies is a household ingredient almost everyone already uses: Caffeine.

In a recent study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition Exercise, evidence shows that caffeine reduces "pain" during exercise. Now, I put the word pain in quotation marks because I feel it's necessary to clarify something first before proceeding about the study. Unlike the old fitness maxim "No Pain, No Gain," the pain described in this case refers to the buildup of tenseness in the muscles. The burn, if you will. Pain should never be the goal; in fact, pain should be avoided at all costs. Yearn For the Burn? Sure, that fitness credo works fine. But No Pain, No Gain? Sorry ... no dice. Anyway, sorry for the cautionary detour. Back to the study.

Researchers discovered that when volunteers were given 5mg of caffeine per kilogram of bodyweight, they reported less muscle fatigue during a 30-minute session on an exercise bike (at 80-percent effort) than volunteers who were given a placebo. Bear in mind, however, that excessive amounts of caffeine have also been shown in separate studies to restrict blood flow during exercise. Therefore, using this old and new information as a general guide, it seems that allowing yourself a small amount of caffeine before workout is a safe and effective way to give yourself a little boost.

You've seen the infomercials and you've gotten the spam... miracle weight loss in a pill. When it comes to weight loss (actually, when it comes to almost anything in life) if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

FitSugar gives us the skinny on some of those weight loss supplements. Some of the components in the pills can actually be detrimental to your health. The list of red flag components includes ma huang, bitter orange, guarana, synephrine HCI, caffeine anhydrous, and more.

For long-lasting, healthy weight loss your best bet is eating well and working out. Check out AOL Body's America Takes It Off for tips. The proof is in the low-fat pudding, people. So far, ATIO participants have lost 155 pounds and counting.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: the jury is still out on whether or not caffeine is good for you. As a matter of fact, I should have actually put it this way: if I've said it once, I've said it 21,000 times -- because that's how many studies have been conducted on the effects of caffeine, yet the last word on the matter has yet to be spoken.

Until now. No, I'm just kidding. I have new information, but certainly nothing that can be considered the last word. In typical caffeine-related fashion, the new information I have is contradictory; one study shows its benefits, while the other its detriments.

Let's start first with the good news. A new study from Harvard found that women who consume at least 500mg of caffeine daily were 20 percent less likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who consumed far less. Now for the bad news. A Duke University study revealed that people with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) who consume 500mg of caffeine daily witnessed an average increase of eight percent in their blood glucose levels.

Like I said, it's new information. Does it get us any closer to a verdict? Not really. Just the same, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on whether or not you think caffeine is good for you. Feel free to weigh in on the issue in the comments section.

Coffee has a bad reputation. Is it the jitter-inducing caffeine content? The bitter taste that for some people makes it necessary to load it with sugar? The fact that it's often served topped with whipped cream? Maybe all of the above. But take a second chance on coffee -- it could be help you get slim.

Yes, that's right: Coffee is slimming. Regular coffee has 0 calories, so it can help curb your hunger without doing too much damage to the numbers on the scale. It also has all-important antioxidants. And even more importantly? According to AOL Body, it can help boost your metabolism for up to two hours after you drink it.

Of course, this doesn't apply to fancy, fat-laden coffee drinks at Starbucks. When grabbing your java, make sure to keep it simple: Black is best, but adding a little skim milk and splenda won't hurt. And be sure to stick to no more than one or two cups a day.

If you were to guess what U.S. city consumes the most caffeine, which would it be? Me, I'd go with Seattle. Would I be correct? Not quite.

Seattle, while it does rank number one in coffee consumption, still falls short with regard to total caffeine consumption. Surprisingly (at least to me), Chicago was found to consume more total caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks, soda, and caffeine pills) than Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and every other major city in the nation. These results come from a survey conducted by Prince Market Research.

I've never actually been to the windy city, but if I do plan to visit in the near future, I suppose I should expect to run into a whole bunch of highly energized people while I'm there!!

I know I've mentioned it several times before, but there have been an astonishing amount of studies conducted on the potential benefits vs. the alleged detriments of caffeine. I'm not exactly sure which number the following study is (maybe 14,289 ... who knows), but it struck me as a bit interesting.

Researchers from the University of Georgia claim that caffeine may help reduce pain. 16 study volunteers were asked to consume caffeine or a placebo one hour before peddling on a stationary bike for 30 minutes. The exercise was purposely designed to make the volunteer's muscles ache, presumably with a high resistance setting on the bike. After the 30 minutes was up, volunteers who consumed caffeine before the exercise reported less thigh muscle pain than those who received the placebo.

So does this mean you should down a few Red Bulls before heading off to the gym? I'm not sure, really. Especially when you take into account another study (we'll call this one study number 7,453) showing that high amounts of caffeine can restrict blood flow to the heart during exercise by up to 39 percent.

As always, the verdict is still out on caffeine. What are your thoughts on caffeine? Is it healthy or not?