Perk up with a moderate amount of caffeine

Okay, readers, it’s time to ‘fess up: How many of you drink coffee, tea or indulge in a little chocolate each day? No judgment here! If you’re one of the millions of Americans who need a daily intake of caffeine to keep energized, you should know that a moderate amount of caffeine has its benefits.

A recent study conducted by Rutgers University, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, discovered that instead of drinking a cup of joe, those that lather their skin with sunscreen made with caffeine may protect themselves from developing certain skin cancers.

What’s more, additional research cites caffeine as the source of powerful antioxidant effects that may help protect people from Alzheimer’s and other diseases, according to the American Chemical Society.

Of course, an excess amount of caffeine does have its disadvantages. Overuse of caffeine could cause your body to “crash.” Additionally, a caffeine withdrawal could cause such issues as headache, fatigue and sometimes even more serious problems, including flu-like symptoms (i.e., nausea/vomiting, muscle aches, etc.) and impairment of psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances, according to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

A few tips to keep your caffeine consumption in check:

• Give yourself a while to wake up before eating or drinking any type of caffeinated food/beverage;
• Smaller is better: Need an iced latte every morning? Opt for a small cup, versus a medium or large. Chocaholic? Eat a bite-size piece or two (not enough to qualify as a king-sized bar!); and
• Cut your intake at least six hours before bed to assure you get a full night’s rest!

Tell us: How much caffeine do you consume each day?

Tags: benefits, caffeine, chocolate, coffee, moderate consumption, study, tea

Comments are closed.