FitSugar

Drinking Coffee, Decaf or Not, Has Health Benefits

Leta Shy — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:51:01 PDT

The benefits and risks of coffee are often debated, but a new study has found that coffee drinkers may be better off sticking to that cup of joe: in fact, having two cups of coffee a day may just help you live longer - even if it's decaf.

The latest coffee study followed 400,000 healthy older men and women and is the largest study to ever look at the benefits and risks of coffee. Of the study group, 42,000 did not drink any coffee, about 15,000 drank more than six cups a day, and the remaining study participants averaged two to three cups. After following the group for almost two decades, researchers found that those who drank coffee lived longer than those who didn't; men who drank two to three cups of coffee were 10 percent less likely to die at any age, and women who drank the same amount were 13 percent less likely to die at any age. The biggest risk reduction was seen in women who drank four to five cups a day.

The findings aren't a reason to force yourself to drink coffee; after all, the benefits are small, and too much caffeine can make you feel wired, anxious, or irritable, and may increase your risk of heart conditions. But the good news is that the study didn't find any differences between drinking decaf and regular coffee, so if you're a coffee fan but hate that wired feeling you get when you drink too much, have a cup of decaf in the afternoon - it just may help you live longer. (And if you don't like coffee, there's always green tea!)

Wake Up! Pre-Workout Beverages to Boost Your Energy

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:39:43 PDT

Whether they're working out first thing in the morning or after work, many people may feel a little drowsy and sluggish. Rather than heading to the gym with only one eye open, prepare by drinking one of these energy-boosting beverages to help you feel more focused, energized, and ready to push your body to do more.

Coffee or Green Tea
Caffeine increases your endurance because it changes how your body uses fat. Caffeine helps your body convert fat into readily accessible energy, so you can work out for longer. As an added bonus, studies have also shown that caffeine consumption helps reduce postworkout DOMS.

Green Juice
Rich in natural sugars, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, a homemade green juice is a glass full of easily absorbable nutrients, especially iron, which can combat your sleepy slump. And because green juice recipes are high in carbs but low in fiber, it helps give the body energy while also being easy to digest. Perfect if you need something on the way into the gym.

Apple Cider Vinegar
If you are a fan of kombucha, then you'll love the tart flavor of apple cider vinegar, which is rich in minerals, vitamins, and beneficial acids. For an energy booster sans caffeine, mix a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and drink prior to a workout. Look for raw and unfiltered varieties to get the most nutrients possible. A small study also links apple cider vinegar to improved weight loss.

Preworkout Sports Beverages
Gatorade, Vega Sport, and Biosteel High Performance offer sports drinks that are developed specifically for before workouts. Each drink is formulated with ingredients to help stimulate and energize the body. We recommend these drinks for more intense or longer workouts.

5 Ways to Feel Reenergized During the Day

Leta Shy — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:24:22 PST

When you feel like you need an extra jolt of energy during the day, sometimes coffee isn't the answer. Luckily, we've got some ways to wake you up without the caffeine hit. Here are five ways to feel refreshed and reenergized anytime!

Fresh Start Resolution: Quit Your Caffeine Addiction

Emily Co — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

It's a new year and a new you! We're kicking off a short series detailing 12 helpful tips to start off the year right, whether it be to advance your career or increase your financial cushion. We've already given you advice on kicking your daily deal habit, so here's another way to start afresh in 2012.

Caffeine addiction is so commonplace that nobody will bat an eye if you say you need your daily dose of coffee. In fact, many of us would readily admit to an addiction. Though people claim that coffee benefits them, the efficacy of the brown liquid is often misconceived. For starters, studies have shown that although caffeine may give you more speed, you'll be more prone to making mistakes. This means even if you have a larger output, it'll be of lower quality. More negatives include feeling jittery when you drink too much coffee and withdrawal symptoms like headaches if you choose to stop drinking. Convinced? Here are some tips to kicking your caffeine habit to the curb for good this year:

Figure out your quitting style. Everyone has their own way of kicking bad habits and you can either choose to go cold turkey or ease off of it slowly. Remember, if you go cold turkey and suffer withdrawal symptoms, don't take any pain medication for your headaches since those have caffeine in it as well!
Find a replacement. When you find yourself craving coffee, try to replace it with caffeine-free tea. Chamomile and mint tea are always good options.
Try decaf. When you just miss the comfort of the taste of coffee, opt for decaf. Keep in mind that there's actually a small amount of caffeine in a decaffeinated cup of joe, so drink a small cup.

Of course, it's up to each individual to decide if quitting coffee is right for them. I'd say you should truly consider it if you're drinking excessive amounts (I'm talking more than three or four cups a day) and if you're feeling some of the negative effects of caffeine.

Starbucks Holiday Drinks: Not So Cheery After All

FitSugar — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 02:30:22 PST

If you're heading into the closest Starbucks for a caffeinated pick-me-up, you'll notice some tasty holiday specials. These fun beverages not only bring you extra holiday cheer, but they also bring you extra calories (and lots of them). Check out the stats on these 16 ounce Grandes.

Gingerbread Latte with whipped cream: 320 calories, 13 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 grams of carbs, and 37 grams of sugar.
Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream: 420 calories, 14 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 68 grams of carbs, and 64 grams of sugar.
Eggnog Latte: 460 calories, 21 grams of fat, 140 milligrams of cholesterol, 53 grams of carbs, and 48 grams of sugar.

Keep reading to find out which Starbucks drinks are better for your waistline.

DrSugar Answers: Caffeine, Coffee, and Diuretics

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:32:45 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! To celebrate National Coffee Day, she's answering an age-old question about how your cup of java affects your day.

DrSugar,
I am confused about coffee. I remember reading somewhere that coffee is only a mild diuretic and doesn't contribute to dehydration. But after I drink a cup of coffee or an espresso drink, my mouth feels dry and I need to pee more frequently. So I am hoping you can clarify this. Is coffee a diuretic? And how exactly do diuretics work? Is coffee dehydrating, or is it the caffeine?
- Confused Coffee Lover

Don't worry, you are not the only one out there confused about coffee! For years, medical experts had been saying that the caffeine in coffee acts as a potent diuretic, which leads to excessive urination resulting in dehydration. But, like you mentioned in your question, recent research has been published on this topic and the results appear to contradict the prior notion about coffee. Most studies have shown that in moderate amounts, the caffeine in coffee only has mild diuretic effects and does not lead to dehydration. To learn why, keep reading.

3 Healthy (and Easy) Ways to Perk Up Your Morning

Leta Shy — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:51:45 PDT

Late bedtimes and early morning conference calls are just a few of the reasons why we can't always jump out of bed ready to face the day. But whether you're a morning person or not, a few habit changes can be the difference between having a productive morning and feeling like your brain is functioning under fog. Read on for a few suggestions on how to easily perk up your morning.

Have You Ever Tried to Get Off Caffeine?

Emily Co — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:00:03 PDT

Although caffeine can give you a boost of energy, too much dependence on it can make you more prone to mistakes when you're at your job. Fast Company shared a few great tips for kicking the caffeine habit to the curb, which include drinking good quality decaf coffee when you just want to enjoy the taste of a cup of joe and wait out the withdrawals and headaches. It also takes about a week to 12 days to break your dependency off the drug.

I've actually decreased my intake of caffeine and I only drink decaf these days. I find that I'm more refreshed in the mornings and actually have more energy throughout the day. What about you - have you ever tried to get yourself off caffeine?

How Many Cups of Coffee Do You Drink a Day?

Leta Shy — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:13:28 PDT

Coffee either gets a bad rap for causing things like sleeplessness, high blood pressure, or diabetes, or is celebrated for its benefits (like reducing risk of disease, improving memory, and easing muscle pain). And now, two new cancer studies have added to the discussion of how much coffee is too much.

One study followed 5,929 Swedish women, half of whom had breast cancer, and found that those who drank more than five cups of coffee a day reduced their risk of developing estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer (a particularly aggressive type of the disease) by 33 to 57 percent compared to those who drank less than a cup.

Another study followed 48,000 Boston men for 12 years and found that those who drank six or more cups a day reduced their risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer by 60 percent and of developing any form of the cancer by 20 percent. The study even found a risk reduction in men who drank about three cups a day.

The authors of the Swedish study caution against changing your daily coffee-drinking habits just based on their research alone, so no one is recommending you start making hourly trips to Starbucks if you don't already do so. They do say, however, that they hope to do more research to find out what exactly is the cause. And it's important to note that the Harvard researchers in the Boston study think that antioxidants found in coffee and not caffeine are responsible for the effect, so you can get any potential anticancer benefits from decaf as well.

Do inconclusive coffee studies keep you from enjoying the beverage, or do you enjoy your java whether or not you hear about the negative or positive effects of your habit?

Why Coffee May Have More Health Benefits Than Tea

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:30:51 PDT

We've been trying to cut back on caffeine here at FitSugar, but many of you are into having that daily cup of joe. And you may have good reason. Study after study have found that there are many more benefits to drinking coffee than just its ability to prevent you from falling asleep at your desk. Want to know why one researcher recently called the beverage "more healthful than tea"?

Check out the healthy findings below.