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

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

Meetings at Jolt HQ usually involve such topics as, “How do we fill the marshmallow with peanut butter?” and “Wait, can we then COVER the marshmallow with CHOCOLATE?” Not a bad gig, I’ve got to say. But I know, not everyone’s as lucky.

File this one under “journalism of obvious”: “Employees Say Caffeine, Texting Key to Making Meetings Bearable”

I say, forget coffee, grab a pack of Jolt Gum before you sit down with Bob from Accounting or Diane from HR. Because you don’t want to be the “coffee breath” guy, ya know?

Nobody wants to sit next to coffee breath guy.