6 Make-Ahead Meals That Are Ready When You Are
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: produce season! Literally everything is ripe for the picking, which means that this is the optimal time to up your fruit and vegetable game. This perfectly coincides with our tendency to crave lighter and more refreshing fare during warmer weather without spending...
From the Coffee Shop
Caffeine Boosts Memory
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience indicates that caffeine enhances certain memories for at least a day after they were formed. Volunteers were asked to look at images of several objects and afterwards were given either caffeine (the equivalent of two cups of strong espresso) and some were given a placebo. Saliva samples were taken to measure caffeine levels, and the next day, they were asked to look again at another set of pictures. Some were the same, some were different, and some were “similar,” for instance, a basket with one handle instead of two. Both groups did well...
Coffee Consumption and Dehydration
Despite what you may think, a new study shows that moderate coffee consumption does not cause people to become dehydrated. This research was conducted to the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee. The study involved having 50 men drink four mugs of black coffee or four mugs of water each day for three days. After a 10 day “wash out” period, the men swapped beverages and tried the other. University of Birmingham School of Sport and Exercise Sciences researchers analyzed the hydration status of the participants after both the water and coffee drinking periods by looking at their total body...
The Best Times of Day to Drink Coffee
Some of us might make a cup of coffee as soon as we wake up; however, research has shown that that may not be the most optimal time of day to drink it! The reason is that our bodies are regulated on a 24-hour hormonal cycle, known as the circadian clock. One major factor in this regulation is sunlight, but another is a hormone called cortisol which helps us feel awake and alert. The peak production of cortisol is usually between 8-9 AM, which is when our bodies are “naturally caffeinating.” The addition of caffeine at this time actually diminishes...
Causes of Acidity and Ways to Prevent it in the Workplace
Sitting for long hours in the office can create acidity in the body, which no one likes! Acid reflux, or acidity, is the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus and can cause heartburn or other symptoms. Top Causes of Acidity: - Eating large meals or lying down after meals - Being overweight or obese - Snacking close to bedtime - Eating certain foods or combinations of food- citrus, tomatoes, garlic, onions, spicy foods - Smoking - Taking certain medications Tips for Preventing Acidity in the Workplace: - Stand up or take a short walk every 30 minutes -...
Coffee May Improve Blood Vessel Function
A new study out of Japan suggests that moderate caffeinated coffee consumption may have some beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. The study, conducted at The University of Ryukyus, measured reactive hyperemia (vascular function that takes into consideration how well small blood vessels function) in participants’ index fingers across participants drinking caffeinated and decaf coffee. Those who drank the caffeinated coffee had a 30% increase in this function over a 75-minute period. Heart rate levels stayed the same across both groups. A study released last year also showed that regular, moderate coffee consumption may significantly reduce a person’s risk of heart...
