5 health reasons to not quit coffee

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I really like coffee. The morning ritual of brewing a cup, the smell that perks me up before I take a sip and, of course, the flavor all make it my favorite beverage aside from water (water’s delicious!). As a registered dietitian and a nutrition editor for EatingWell Magazine, I know that coffee is fine in moderation. It has lots of antioxidants and is low in calories if you don’t load it up with cream and sugar. Nonetheless, I always feel slightly guilty about drinking it—you know, in a “it’s so good, it must be bad” kind of way.

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Which is why I’m always delighted to hear of new reasons that coffee is good for your health...and there are plenty! Over 18,000 studies on coffee have been published in the past few decades, revealing these benefits, many of which Joyce Hendley wrote about in the March/April issue of EatingWell Magazine:

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1. It protects your heart: Moderate coffee drinkers (1 to 3 cups/day) have lower rates of stroke than noncoffee drinkers, an effect linked to coffee’s antioxidants. Coffee has more antioxidants per serving than blueberries, making it the biggest source of antioxidants in American diets. All those antioxidants may help suppress the damaging effect of inflammation on arteries. Immediately after drinking it, coffee raises your blood pressure and heart rate, but over the long term, it actually may lower blood pressure as coffee’s antioxidants activate nitric oxide, widening blood vessels.

2. It diverts diabetes: Those antioxidants (chlorogenic acid and quinides, specifically) play another role: boosting your cells’ sensitivity to insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar. In fact, people who drink 4 or more cups of coffee each day may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to some studies. Other studies have shown that caffeine can blunt the insulin-sensitivity boost, so if you do drink several cups a day, try mixing in decaf occasionally.

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3. Your liver loves it: OK, so the research here is limited, but it looks like the more coffee people drink, the lower their incidence of cirrhosis and other liver diseases. One analysis of nine studies found that every 2-cup increase in daily coffee intake reduced liver cancer risk by 43 percent. Again, it’s those antioxidants—chlorogenic and caffeic acids—and caffeine that might prevent liver inflammation and inhibit cancer cells.

4. It boosts your brain power: Drinking between 1 and 5 cups a day (admittedly a big range) may help reduce risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as Parkinson’s disease, studies suggest. Those antioxidants may ward off brain cell damage and help the neurotransmitters involved in cognitive function to work better.

5. It helps your headaches: And not just the withdrawal headaches caused by skipping your daily dose of caffeine! Studies show that 200 milligrams of caffeine—about the amount in 16 ounces of brewed coffee—provides relief from headaches, including migraines. Exactly how caffeine relieves headaches isn’t clear. But scientists do know that caffeine boosts the activity of brain cells, causing surrounding blood vessels to constrict. One theory is that this constriction helps to relieve the pressure that causes the pain, says Robert Shapiro, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neurology and director of the Headache Clinic at the University of Vermont Medical School.

Now, that’s not to say that coffee doesn’t have any pitfalls—it does. Some people are super-sensitive to caffeine and get jittery or anxious after drinking coffee; habitual coffee drinkers usually develop a tolerance to caffeine that eliminates this problem (but they then need the caffeine to be alert and ward off withdrawal headaches). Coffee can also disturb sleep, especially as people age. Cutting some of the caffeine and drinking it earlier in the day can curb this effect. Lastly, unfiltered coffee (like that made with a French press) can raise LDL cholesterol, so use a filter for heart health.

But if you like coffee and you can tolerate it well, enjoy it...without the guilt.

By Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D., Associate Nutrition Editor atEatingWell Magazine

How to Stop a Heart Attack in 30 Seconds

Article by: Madison Cavanaugh

Can an ordinary cooking condiment used in cooking spicy, hot dishes really stop a heart attack or stroke?  These doctors say it can.

     Cayenne pepper (also called capsicum frutescens) is a red, hot chili pepper used primarily for flavoring dishes, but it has also been used for medical purposes for centuries.  This stimulating herb has been widely used all over the world to treat a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, poor circulation, weak digestion, chronic pain, sore throat, headaches and toothache, among others.

     Cayenne pepper derives its medicinal properties from a resin-like substance known as capsaicin. Capsaicin is an ingredient that has thermogenic properties, that is, it increases body temperature and is the greatest blood circulation stimulant known.  It doesn't cause palpitations, hyperactivity or an increase in blood pressure that most other stimulants cause.  It also provides temporary relief of pain, which is why it is used in pain-reducing topical preparations such as Capsazin-P, Zostrix-HP, Dolorac, R-Gel and others.

     Cayenne has steadily gained the reputation of being a wonder herb over the past few decades. Dr. Richard Schulze, a notable medical herbalist and naturopath, stated, “If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other.”

     Perhaps the most important recognition that cayenne has gained in recent years has been its ability to stop a heart attack or stroke.  Dr. Richard Anderson, author of “Cleanse & Purify Thyself,” reported that one of his fellow doctors rushed out into the parking lot to attend to a man who had died of a heart attack while parking his car.  The doctor put cayenne tincture into the mouth of the man, and within a few minutes, the man’s heart started beating again.

     According to Dr. John Christopher, pioneer of herbal medicine, “In 35 years of practice, working with  people and teaching, I have never on house calls lost one heart attack patient and the reason is, whenever I go in--if they are still breathing--I pour down them a cup of cayenne tea (a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water), and within minutes they are up and around."

     Cayenne has been shown to stop heart attacks in as little as 30 seconds.  Perhaps the most well-known anecdotal evidence of this involved a 90-year-old man in Oregon who had a massive heart attack.  When the medics arrived at his home, he was pronounced dead.  His daughter was able to administer cayenne extract into his mouth, and within a few minutes, he regained consciousness. 

Thereafter, he was rushed to the hospital, and while he was in a semi-conscious state, his daughter continued giving him the cayenne extract.  By the time they arrived at the hospital, he had fully recovered and insisted that he be taken home so that he could mow his lawn!  When the doctor asked the daughter what she had given him, and she told him it was cayenne, the doctor declared it was the closest thing to a miracle he had ever seen.

     The capsaicin in cayenne pepper is unrivaled in its ability to boost circulation and increase heart action. It has a mechanism of action that has the extraordinary ability to enhance cardiovascular performance while actually lowering blood pressure.  Capsaicin has an energizing effect on the entire cardiovascular system.

     Dr. Anderson believes that cayenne greatly strengthens the heart and could possibly even prevent heart attacks.  He routinely carries capsules of cayenne with him in the car and whenever he goes hiking, mountain climbing or backpacking.  “You never know when you may find someone having a heart attack,” he says.

     Other doctors, however, insist that cayenne capsules are not as effective as cayenne tinctures or cayenne powder in emergency situations, such as in the event of a heart attack or stroke.  If a heart attack or stroke should occur and the person is conscious, it is suggested that 5 to 10 droppers full of cayenne pepper tincture (or 1 teaspoon of cayenne powder in a glass of hot water) be administered into the mouth, and repeated every 15 minutes until the crisis has passed.

PS: Losing Weight and being at your target weight does reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Disclaimer: The information in this report is based upon research conducted by the author, unless otherwise noted. This information is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of the author. The author encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Lose Weight Fast: The 5 Best Exercises for Weight Loss

Losing weight is becoming an increasingly popular theme on the minds of more and more people in today's society, but finding the correct exercises for the right results seems like a daunting task. The overall goal of any weight loss program is to lose weight but to stay healthy while doing it. There are effective exercises for fat burning, and the whole body can get a workout and it doesn't have to be boring or overwhelming.

1.  One of the best exercises to do to burn fat and lose weight fast is Interval Training; interval training can consist of walking, running, jogging and swimming. This type of exercise is excellent, it keeps the body moving constantly for intervals of 10-20 minutes at a time and the individual is never bored. The intensity level can be beginner or advanced and the impact is still just as impressive.

2.  Aerobics is the next exercise that constantly burns fat and keeps the metabolism active. Aerobics can be very intense and fun at the same time, an aerobics class that involves constant change ups and a mixture of stretching, jumping, dancing and up and down movement is great for shedding the pounds. The aerobics class should be at least 35-45 minutes of an intense workout.

3.  Strength Training is another excellent way to lose weight, it sheds the fat and strengthens the muscles, Lifting weights with small increments helps to build muscle and not bulk and this causes the body to get firm and builds muscle not fat. Dumbbell reps of 15 at a time are good along with similar reps of leg lifts.

4.  Stretching/Pilates; this is an intense way to bring circulation to every area of the body, it increases the flow of oxygen throughout the body and it stretches muscles that are not used every day. This encourages weight loss and it doesn't feel like it does. The stretching techniques are so relaxing and calming that the individual forgets that they are doing something that is great for the body and the circulation. Pilate's classes should be at least 30-45 minutes long.

5.  Squat/Jump/Turn; this exercise is excellent for fat burning and losing weight. Whenever there is a combination of movement, down, jumping and turning all within a few seconds is good for the burning fat and creating an intense workout. The exercises for this can also incorporate leg thrust and climbing movements, of 10-20 reps of each.

Any exercise where the body is constantly moving and movements are alternated for at least 10 -20 minutes each will burn body fat and help the individual to lose weight. Beginners can start out with walking and then build to speed walking etc. Those with back problems can do many of these exercises from a chair. It is all about where you are mentally and physically, but the fat can come off and the weight can be lost.

Article by: Dan Myhill