The Truth About Coffee and Cholesterol

October 2, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

Mark Ramos asked:




This is a very important question for anyone who may be concerned about their cholesterol levels. In the past, coffee has been rumored to be bad for you because it can potentially cause heart disease and hypertension. Coffee also does contain caffeine, which is seen as an addicting substance. However, there is new information that has been brought to light lately showing that coffee is full of health benefits and is no longer seen as an unhealthy beverage.

It is very important to monitor your cholesterol levels to protect the health of your heart. If you do have high cholesterol, it does make you vulnerable to a heart attack. When cholesterol in the body becomes high, it will slow down blood flow going to and from the heart. It can also potentially block blood flow, which will become disastrous to the body. Blood is full of oxygen, and when your heart does not receive enough oxygen, you can experience chest pains and difficulty breathing. If this problem does continue, it will cause a heart attack that could be fatal.

In 2001, Dr. Klag reviewed different studies regarding coffee that linked coffee drinking to increasing cholesterol in the body. The research concluded that those who drank 6 cups of coffee each day were prone to having higher cholesterol directly due to unfiltered coffee. This review claimed that the increased cholesterol was supposed to be due to a component found in coffee called terpenes.

Many people also have an issue with coffee due to the caffeine content. It is important to determine whether decaf or caffeinated coffee will affect cholesterol levels in the body. In 2005, the American Heart Association did reveal that individuals who drank decaffeinated coffee were more likely to have an increase in the fatty acids in their body that would raise their LDL cholesterol. This was not the same case for those who drank caffeinated coffee, but only the decaf variety.

The overall conclusion relating to coffee and cholesterol in the body is that everyone does respond differently toward different types of coffee. Coffee is no longer the harmful beverage that it was once thought to be, and it is actually full of antioxidants that can neutralize free radical damage in the body to prevent premature aging and disease. Cholesterol levels in the body cannot be attributed to just one source, but they are affected by many different factors, including smoking, exercise, and the food that you eat.

The overall recommendation is to drink your coffee in moderation, whether it is caffeinated or decaffeinated, or filtered or unfiltered. It is recommended to drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day, and that will protect you and reduce your risk of developing many different diseases. Coffee does have the potential to reduce the risk for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and even cirrhosis of the liver. Again, these cases of coffee affecting cholesterol levels in the body are inconclusive, but it is important to pair your coffee drinking with a healthy diet and exercise program!

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The Most Overlooked Beauty Secret

October 1, 2010 by wpautoblog  
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Sharon A Sullivan asked:




Cosmetics are a multi-billion dollar industry. Department stores devote the best locations in their stores to cosmetics. These displays direct a great deal of attention to moisturizers, anti-wrinkle creams, emollients, exfoliation etc. all to make your skin soft, supple and younger looking.

But the simplest and often disregarded beauty treatment of all is …

Are you ready for this?

Water!

We are always looking for the latest and greatest, most innovative products to improve our skin. But when you think of it, after oxygen, water is the most precious element we need. By weight our body is approximately 72% water and needs a consistent water supply to maintain itself.

Our largest organ is our skin. It also is the most exposed. Our skin is made up of millions of cells, each which needs water. Drinking water will actually plump up your thirsty skin cells making them softer, healthier and even give you younger looking skin.

One of the ways to test for dehydration is to pinch your skin. If it stays even the least bit pinched after you let go, you are deeply in need of water.

Drinking water also improves your skin because it helps every part of your body do its job. Every system in your body requires water. If you aren’t drinking the proper amount of water your body will become sluggish. Water transports nutrients, regulates your body temperature and removes waste. The process of flushing out toxins is beneficial to all areas including your skin as it will eventually result in a beautiful clear complexion.

Waters’ presence also aids in digestion and thus helps your cells absorb nutrients. Combined, these give your skin that natural healthy glow. As you can see water really is the essential ingredient for healthy skin.

The amount of water you need to drink each day is constantly under debate. At one time it was believed that each person should drink 8 glasses a day. Unfortunately this general rule doesn’t take into consideration the difference in size, shape, gender. Other factors are where you live, how active you and what your diet is like also influence how much water you should drink.

If you exercise a lot or have a physically demanding job your water requirements would be higher than a typical office worker. Also, if you live in a hot climate (or during the summer) your body’s water loss will also be greater and require more frequent replacement. Perspiring, which is wonderful for your skin, is water of course that will need to be replaced.

On the average, food will provide twenty percent of your water intake, especially if you include fruits and vegetables which have more water content. Juices and other non-caffeinated beverages will also contribute to the amount of water you consume. Although coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages actually can work against this because they act as a mild diuretic which means they actually will promote your body to getting rid of them.

For the average person five glasses of day is an ideal place to start. Five glasses of water a day may seem daunting at first but they are really quite simple to drink if you space them out throughout the day. Drink one glass while eating your breakfast, another at lunch and another at dinner. That is three easily taken care of. Now drink another sometime between breakfast and lunch and another between lunch and dinner. You can just sip on these throughout the day.

Depending on the water quality in your area, an investment in a small filtration unit that is in a small jug in your refrigerator is always a good investment. Others have found that having a water cooler in their home was just what they needed for their family to drink more.

As a variation you can always zest it up a bit by putting a slice of lemon, lime or orange in your glass. If you do buy any flavored waters that are on the market today make sure that sugar isn’t listed as an ingredient.

If you are not accustomed to drinking that much fluid in a day, cut down on some of the non-water beverages and replace it with water. Slowly increase it to your goal. You may find that you have increased trips to the washroom but that’s okay because it shows that the water is really working. Soon enough your body will regulate itself so the trips to the washroom will decrease. It will be worth it and you will be amazed at the results!

Water really is your skins most optimum beauty treatment and the most affordable. Give it a try. You will be glad that you did.

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Antioxidants in Coffee

October 1, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

John Janson asked:




Coffee provides the morning jolt, keeps us awake, and makes us radiant and healthy. A cup of coffee is rich in antioxidants that are good for the overall wellness of the body. This characteristic of coffee is not known to the average coffee drinkers, however. A lot of us were all brought up thinking that the only benefit we can get from coffee is its strong power to keep us awake.

Nevertheless, researching on the effects of coffee on health allowed scientists to learn that coffee can be indeed good for us. A lot of researchers recommend drinking two to four cups of coffee daily to maximize the benefits, such as absorbing the much-needed antioxidants in coffee.

Antioxidants are the good guys that fight the harmful effects brought by reactive oxygen species, which threaten to control our healthy cells and convert them to aging and dead cells. Reactive oxygen species, more commonly known as free radicals, affect the normal function of the cells and damage the DNA in our bodies. These free radicals bombard the body in different ways. The most potent source of free radicals is the sun that gives off high level of ultraviolet rays, which, in turn, creates free radicals. These radicals, in turn, produce more of them that will damage the skin in a matter of minutes after exposure. A “shot”-or a cup-of antioxidants in coffee can provide the necessary backup for the existing ones found in the body.

Studies show that antioxidants in coffee look for the free radicals and fight them, keeping the cells healthy in the process. Antioxidants minimize the chances of developing heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death worldwide. These antioxidants also minimize the possibility of developing degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Type 2 diabetes and liver cirrhosis can also be avoided by intake antioxidants in coffee.

Several food like berries, wheat germ, nuts, and brown rice have antioxidants. Beverages like tea, wine, and beer are also rich in antioxidants; but studies have shown that of all the sources of antioxidants, coffee leads the list in terms of quantity of these useful components. The antioxidants in green tea, which has always been known to be truly effective, do not even come close to the number of antioxidants that coffee possesses.

Caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee appears to have the same content of antioxidants. Roasting the coffee has some effects in the level of its antioxidant content, though. Light and dark roast coffee has a lesser level of antioxidants than medium-roast coffee. Also, if you want to increase your antioxidants, you may want to roast your coffee for at least ten minutes.

Generally, the different types of coffee beans have the same amount of antioxidants, although some, such as the Robusta coffee bean, have more than twice the antioxidant content as regular coffee beans.

The most abundant polyphenol in coffee is chlorogenic acid, which is composed of caffeic acid and quinic acid. This polyphenol contains most of the antioxidants found in coffee. Coffee also contains cinnamate esters, which have been proven by a lot of researchers to be potent antioxidants.

Some people may think that adding milk to coffee would increase levels of the antioxidant components; however, research has shown that milk does not increase or decrease this.

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People Ask, is Green Tea Caffeine Free?

September 30, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

Gordon P Hall asked:




Is green tea caffeine free? A lot of people seem to think so, but while the caffeine-content is naturally lower than that of coffee, you need to read the label. Some manufacturers add caffeine, especially when they are promoting the item as an “energy drink”.

Energy drinks are loaded with the stimulant. They can cause nervousness, agitation, inability to concentrate and while you might think that you are “hydrating”, the affects of these beverages is actually “dehydrating”.

Drinking purified water is the best thing for your body. It helps to clear the body of toxins and waste products. Every cell of the body needs water to function properly. Every time that you substitute a caffeinated beverage for water, you increase your body’s need for plain water. You end up drinking more and more of the beverages, because they cannot quench your thirst.

There is no doubt that some of the antioxidants found in green teas are good for your health, as are many other antioxidants. So, if you want the health benefits, without getting green tea caffeine, try a good dietary supplement.

Doctors have said that drinking teas is better for your health than drinking coffee and that is probably true. A small amount of caffeine is not bad for you. It may make you more alert and better able to focus, but in large quantities, it actually has the reverse effect, as I mentioned above.

According to a paper published by Oxford University, researchers believe that caffeinism is much more common than was thought. When a patient goes to their doctor complaining of anxiety or inability to sleep, the first step should be to have the patient reduce his or her consumption of caffeinated beverages.

But, often times, the symptoms are mistaken for true anxiety, a mental condition. Doctors often prescribe anti-anxiety drugs. The patient continues to drink caffeinated beverages and while the anxiety may be relieved, he or she is now taking two drugs. Most people don’t think of green tea caffeine as a drug, but strictly speaking, it is.

In my opinion, the best thing that people can do for their health is to find the best nutritional supplement on the market; one that contains antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and cofactors. Once you start taking it, you will start to see some immediate benefits, if it is properly manufactured.

If you aren’t drinking any caffeinated beverages, at all, the green tea caffeine content may give you a little “boost”, but if you take a multi-nutritional supplement that includes the extract, along with ginkgo biloba, you will find that you have more energy and are able to focus. You won’t have difficulty sleeping and you will start to notice a sense of well-being. Even your hair and skin will look better, if you choose the right supplement.

In the extracted form, the green tea caffeine content is so low that you won’t feel any unwanted side effects. You get the benefits, without the draw-backs. Makes sense to me! If you have two minutes to spare, please take a look at my website.

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Water, Water Everywhere – Getting What You Need to Stay Hydrated

September 27, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

Brent McNutt asked:




Do you know what you’re made of? When someone asks, can you tell them what makes you, well, you? You might not know it, but about 75-80% of every human being made up of the same thing from person to person- water. That’s why you always hear doctors, nutritionists and fitness experts reminding you to drink more water and to cut back on soda and. The amount of water each person needs varies with body weight. Usually the rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in ounces everyday. For example, a person who is 140 lbs then you should be throwing back about 70 ounces every day.

Why is it that we need so much of one fluid? From aiding in proper digestion to regulating your temperature, water plays a vital role in almost all bodily functions. Most of your body’s water is contained within your cell walls. If you are the type who always fails to get their daily intake you’re likely experiencing what is called Chronic Cellular Dehydration. People who fall into this category most likely suffer from weakened immune systems and chemical imbalances.

How can you tell if you’re on the way to dehydration? The first response to lack of water is, of course, thirst. So, when you feel the urge to grab a carbonated beverage it’s best to head for the kitchen sink. Caffeinated soda and juice both contain water, but none can compare to pure H2O. Also, if urine begins to appear bright yellow, it can be a sign that your body doesn’t have enough fluids to properly excrete waste. Beware for dehydration is a common cause of urinary tract infections. Muscle cramps, dizziness and lightheadedness are soon to follow.

If you experience any of these symptoms it is best to begin taking steps at home to rehydrate. However, if any of these symptoms occur in conjunction with or because of vomiting or diarrhea than it may be best to seek medical attention. Patients struggling with Bulimia Nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by inducing vomiting, often dehydrate and experience electrolyte imbalances. These imbalances can lead to sudden heart problems and muscle fatigue. Dehydration can prove fatal if one goes without water completely for an extended period of time. Stranded outside on 120

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Enjoying Coffee and Caffeine For Energy and Fat Burning Benefits

September 26, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

John Hartie asked:




While most people may enjoy a cup of coffee to jump-start their morning, or for a mid-afternoon pick-up, most consumers are unaware of coffee’s incredible fat burning benefits!

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How to Keep Our Heart Healthy When Drinking Coffee

September 24, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

Henry Laker asked:




Coffee drinking is now being linked to development of heart diseases. Many studies were conducted to prove the relation of coffee intake and heart diseases. According to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, drinking coffee moderately does not pose health risks to the coffee drinker. The debate on the effects of the caffeine content in coffee to development of heart diseases is still under scrutiny. No studies have directly given evidence that coffee especially the caffeinated coffees contribute to risk of heart disease. On the other hand, drinking coffee has deemed helpful for some because of its health benefits. Studies show that drinking coffee can:

* reduces the risks of Type 2 Diabetes

* minimize the development of gallstones because coffees are natural diuretics

* improve cognitive function

* Provide stamina and endurance in performing daily activities with long duration.

Experts advice that while no proofs has been submitted to directly prove the relationship of coffee drinking and development of heart disease, we have to drink coffee in moderation everyday because we do not have any idea what dangers can happen if we take too much. We all know that too much of something is not good. Coffee contains caffeine which is a mild and addictive stimulant. When taken in excess, the caffeine stimulates cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, occasional irregular heartbeats and mild palpitations. Take note, these stimulants are addictive so we may not notice that we have been drinking too much of it until such time that we start to feel uncomfortable due to the side effects.

Yet there are available blends of coffees in the market that has healthy benefits. These are not the pure coffee loaded with caffeine but rather the less caffeinated coffees with the blend of natural herbs or spices. Natural herbs are good for our body because it poses less harmful side effects. The uses of herbs date back to the ancient traditional Chinese medicine and, no doubt herbs have healthy and healing properties. Some herbs blended to coffees that are good for the body are Ganoderma herbs, Ginger, Ginko Biloba, and many more. These traditional herbs have healthy benefits like lowering blood sugar, lowering blood pressure and provide protection from developing heart diseases.

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Energy Or Enemy? Teens Drink of Choice

September 24, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

Tollie Schmidt asked:




Apparently, it doesn’t take a biochemist to formulate an energy drink. No, according to Starbucks, any guy off the street is qualified. At least that’s whose opinion mattered most when the coffee giant recently created the ingredient list for its own concoction.

“There are many energy ingredients on the market, and B vitamins, guarana, and ginseng are the ones our customers are most familiar with,” says Ruby Amegah, product development manager for the team behind the Starbucks Doubleshot Energy + Coffee. Which perhaps in large part explains why the company chose them; It’s smart marketing.

Trouble is, by letting consumer research influence ingredient lists, energy-drink companies are helping popularize exotic-sounding compounds that even scientists don’t yet fully understand. The approach has worked: Last year, Americans spent $4.2 billion on these supposedly high octane elixirs. And that’s probably why manufacturers haven’t strayed far from the best-selling recipe they used when the first energy drinks took off a dozen years ago.

It’s a formulation that includes a hefty dose of caffeine and sugar combined with smaller amounts of seemingly obscure substances, most notably guarana, ginseng, and taurine.

But do these beverages really energize your body and sharpen your mind? Or should you can the energy drinks for good? To help you separate the science from the sales pitch, I analyzed five key ingredients in the market’s most popular potions.

Caffeine: What is it? Caffeine is a chemical compound that stimulates your central nervous system. Most energy drinks contain between 140 and 170 milligrams (mg) of caffeine in a 15- or 16-ounce can.

Does it work? Java junkies certainly think so. As for the science, an Austrian study showed that men who swallowed 100 mg of caffeine had a bigger boost in brain activity after 20 minutes than those who took a placebo.

Is caffeine safe? The most caffeine-packed energy drink contains the equivalent in caffeine of about two 8-ounce cups of coffee. If downing that much joe doesn’t make you jittery, then quaffing a can shouldn’t pose a problem. Of course, if you combine that with other caffeinated beverages throughout the day, then the sum total stimulation could cause headaches, sleeplessness, or nausea.

Glucose: What is it? Sugar. Sucrose, another ingredient you’ll often see on energy drink labels, is a combination of fructose (the natural sugar found in fruit) and glucose. Many energy drinks contain 50 to 60 grams (g) of glucose or sucrose in a 16-ounce can.

Does Glucose work? Your body runs mainly on glucose, so topping off your tank with the sweet stuff should theoretically provide an instant boost.

Is Glucose safe? Dumping empty calories down your gullet is never a great idea, and some energy drinks contain nearly as much sugar as a 20-ounce soda. Then there’s the fact that a sudden infusion of glucose can cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to skyrocket, signaling your body to stop incinerating fat.

Guarana: What is it? Guarna is a South American shrub. One seed has caffeine content of 4 to 5 percent, while a coffee bean has 1 to 2 percent. The amount of guarana in a 16-ounce energy drink ranges from a minuscule 1.4 mg to as much as 300 mg.

Does Guarana work? Yes, if you don’t set the bar too high. Is Guarana safe? Scientists at Florida’s Nova Southeastern University conducted tests and concluded that the amounts of guarana found in most energy drinks aren’t large enough to cause any adverse effects.

Ginseng: What is it? An extract made from the root of the ginseng plant. Panax ginseng is the species most commonly used. The ginseng content in energy drinks typically ranges between 8 mg and 400 mg in 16 ounces.

Does Ginseng work? Not if you’re hoping for energy to burn. However, ginseng is known to boost brainpower. Is it safe? Since the amount of ginseng in an energy drink is minimal, harmful effects are unlikely. And while there have been some reports of negative side effects from ginseng – diarrhea, for example – Scholey points out that those occurred in people taking 3 g a day.

Taurine: What is it? One of the most abundant amino acids in your brain, where it can act as a neurotransmitter a chemical messenger that allows your cells to communicate with one another. Does Taurine work? Scientists aren’t sure, but it doesn’t seem likely. When taurine is dumped into your bloodstream when you down a Red Bull, for instance, it can’t pass through the membranes that protect your brain. Is taurine safe? Probably in small doses, but chug too many energy drinks and the picture becomes less clear.

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Green Tea Caffeine – How to Avoid

September 24, 2010 by wpautoblog  
Filed under Caffeinated Content

Dan Reeves asked:




A lot of people tend to worry about the green tea caffeine content. While the health benefits are good, they don’t want to consume caffeine in any way. This situation is easy to remedy, though. But before we get to that, first we need to understand the details of where does green tea come from, how does it provide the health benefits, and then we will see what the best way to consume it is.

Green tea is derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant. This plant gives us green tea, white tea, and black tea also. The processing done on the leaves is different for each tea type and this results in different oxidation levels in them. Of all these types, the antioxidant properties of green tea are the highest, making it popular amongst the health conscious people.

This tea derives its properties from a substance known as Catechins. Catechins in general have been linked to many health benefits. They can reduce the risk for heart failure, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Catechins have specifically been known to have antibiotic properties, which helps ward off many diseases.

Green tea caffeine content is due to the caffeine found in the leaves of the tea plant, which is usually about 4% in fresh leaves. A typical 8 ounce cup of green tea would contain around 10-50 mg of caffeine. In contrast, drip coffee has about 100 mg and black tea has about 50 mg of caffeine. Although it is less in green tea, still it is a significant enough amount to not be ignored. And remember, to get the complete health benefits, you would need to drink 2-5 cups of the tea daily.

One way to counter this is to drink de-caffeinated green tea. The problem with that is the de-caffeination process also leeches out some of the catechins from the tea, leaving it much less beneficial than its original form.

The optimal solution would be to take a nutritional supplement with green tea extract in it. You can find supplements in the market which contain only a miniscule amount of caffeine in them. So a recommended dose of 100 mg of the supplement for example, would contain up to 0.4 mg of caffeine only. This is too small an amount to have any discernible effect.

Apart from getting rid of green tea caffeine, these supplements also have an added advantage that they contain a host of other vitamins and minerals also. These ingredients work really well in synergy, and when taken together in the form of a supplement, they offer much more health benefits than if taken individually.

In conclusion, you have now an alternative to consuming green tea caffeine – just find a good nutritional supplement that not only offers you the benefits of green tea, but also other minerals and vitamins needed for a healthy body.

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What Type of Diet After Gallbladder Surgery? 7 Suggestions

September 24, 2010 by wpautoblog  
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Everett Maclachlan asked:




The human gallbladder is something most of us do not take the time to learn much about – until we experience a problem with it. The gallbladder is one of those organs that does not get the kind of general medical media attention that the brain, heart, kidneys and liver get.

Serious gallbladder problems can arise, however. For example, a gallbladder can become filled with stones. In serious cases, it can rupture if not treated properly or removed by surgery.

If you have undergone gallbladder surgery or are scheduled to do so in the near future, you will benefit from a better understanding of what types of foods to eat during your post-operative recovery period.

If you are wondering what type of diet after gallbladder surgery is appropriate, here are 7 suggestions for what to eat and not to eat during your recovery period:

What to Eat & Drink after Gallbladder Surgery

1. Eat vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, which greatly assist the body’s healing process after surgery. Foods like green-leafy vegetables are highly recommended. Also, high-fiber fruits like apples are an excellent source of nutrition after surgery.

2. Since you will not be getting your protein from meat or dairy products for a while, make sure to take in lots of protein from other sources, such as via non-fat yogurt, beans and legumes.

3. Eat Omega-3 fatty acids, contained in foods such as flax seed oil and fish.

4. Try pureed rice and low-fat soups.

What Not to Eat & Drink after Gallbladder Surgery

5. Avoid eating any types of meat and high-fat content dairy products after surgery. This includes avoiding beef, pork, cheese, milk, cream, half and half, butter, and whipped cream. You may be unpleasantly surprised at how much even a butter role can have an effect on how you feel.

6. Try not to drink highly-caffeinated drinks like coffee or tea.

7. Soda (pop) drinks such as cola are highly acidic and may be hard on your digestive system in the days and weeks after gallbladder surgery.

Fortunately, the strict dietary limitations that you will want to follow after gallbladder surgery should loosen up over time. However, just how long it will take your body to begin to process high-animal fat content foods and caffeinated or acidic drinks will vary from person to person.

It is likely that your diet will someday return to the way it was before your surgery. However, some people who have undergone gallbladder surgery never fully adjust to their new diet. The main point is to take it slow and listen to your body’s signals.

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