When you’re living with less sleep than your body needs to operate, it’s tempting to go the easy route and keep yourself alert with caffeine and sugar. But these quick fixes can make things worse in the long run. Read More
Good news for coffee, tea, and cola lovers: Caffeine may be the perfect complement to your summer workouts. Several recent studies have found that a small dose before exercising helps improve performance, and a few cups of the strong stuff after a tough workout can help your muscles recover more quickly.
A pre-workout jolt
In a recent Australian study of both recreational and advanced runners, those who took about 95 milligrams of caffeine (about the equivalent of an eight-ounce cup of coffee) improved their 5K times by an average of 10 to 12 seconds. Read More
You know that your morning cup of coffee or afternoon soda can do wonders for perking you up.
But did you know that becoming emotionally involved in an issue can make you sharper too, sans the caffeine? “When you’re engaged in something, your brain forms new neural connections—and the more and longer you get involved, the more those changes occur,” says John Roache, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio. “It’s a use-it-or-lose-it situation,” he says. “The brain is always changing, turning over, and getting rid of unused neural circuits and tracks.” There is even some existing evidence that being actively engaged in something long-term can ward off dementia. Read More
Ever feel like climbing out of bed is the most exhausting thing you do all day? Morning sluggishness is epidemic—and caffeine may seem like the only cure. But, maybe not. Hiding under your comforter is a morning person bursting with energy, says Mary Ann Bauman, MD, author of Fight Fatigue: Six Simple Steps to Maximize Your Energy. Wake her up with this a.m. makeover. Read More
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