A recent study found that caffeine can ease muscle pain! So next time you’ve worn yourself out, just chew more, then you can do more!

From Inquirer.net:

According to the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, the caffeine in coffee may lessen muscle pain by blocking the activity of a chemical called adenosine. This is released as part of the anti-inflammatory response to muscle injury which then activates pain receptors in body cells.

Researches had several men pedal on a stationary bike for a high-intensity workout. They were given 2-3 cups of coffee an hour before the workout.

Less thigh muscle pain was experienced by the men who had coffee than the group who were given placebo. Coffee may not be an urgent need before every workout, but if you are trying a new sport or exercise routine, a cup or two might just do the trick to prevent or ease muscle pain.

Image courtest of OnSugar.com

We’re proud to introduce our guest blogger. Please welcome Army Staff Sargeant Natasha Gibson. She’s currently stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Though she’s from Southern New Jersey, Natasha says, “I was born in Germany and lived there with my parents for seven years. Yes, I am a military brat. I have been serving the U.S. Army for nine years exactly.”

The Push Up

I’ll finally took my first Army Physical Fitness Test since giving birth to my 8-month-old daughter on Dec. 29, 2008. Prior to getting pregnant, the push up part of the test was always a breeze. My goal was always to “max out” by hitting a level of 100 percent fitness for my age group by doing at least 45 push-ups in a two-minute period. “Too easy”

On Sept. 8, I took a PT test and discovered that what was once a quick 45 push-ups in well under two minutes turned into a slow 23 barely keeping myself from collapsing face first in to the dew-coated grass beneath me. I asked myself, “Am I still out of shape? Have all those months of training up after child birth been in vain?”

The answer I was given was “No.” I had just forgotten the correct form and thus worked twice as hard only to produce half the results. So I did some research and found this help video. In this video, two Army Drill Sergeants demonstrate how to execute the a correct “Army” push-up. Check it out.

Oh sure, caffeine gets us through days, meetings, mornings…and, well, nights. But how about improving your skin?

From Yahoo Health:

Caffeine’s blood vessel-constricting benefits also make it a go-to ingredient in many eye creams (like MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Eye Crème, for example), as it can quickly minimize redness and puffiness.

In addition to its anti-inflammatory benefits, though, caffeine is starting to get lots of attention for its antioxidant properties when used both topically and orally. (That morning cup o’ joe might not be so bad after all!)

In fact, research suggests that both oral and topical caffeine may offer powerful anticarcinogenic benefits. A series of studies performed on mice found that caffeinated green and black teas prevented sun damage and even repaired damage once it occurred, whereas decaffeinated teas did not.

One particularly promising study suggested that topical caffeine may also repair UV damage – and that it may prove to be a stronger antioxidant than certain green tea polyphenols, currently among the strongest and best-researched antioxidants around. (On a related note, coffeeberry, which comes from the fruit of the coffee plant, is also getting a lot of attention lately as the next big antioxidant.)

Caffeine Molecule

Image courtesy of TheFormOfMoney

That’s right. Chewing Jolt Energy Gum won’t just power you through the day (or night), it may make you smarter.

From the LA Times Health Blog:

“Studies have suggested that something about chewing gum reduces stress, improves alertness and relieves anxiety. But most of this research has been found in a laboratory setting. Now, the first study in people also supports the idea that chewing gum boosts academic performance. Now, the first study in people also supports the idea that chewing gum boosts academic performance.“

Researchers had a group of students chew gum in class (which, how unfair! I was never allowed to do that) for several weeks, and it improved their test scores.

Someone should tell that to Mrs. Brown, my fifth grade teacher (scary lady!).

Photo courtesy of the LA Times website.