Recently I saw an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine reversed memory loss in aged mice raised to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article started with the suggestion that “Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup.” It continued by discussing back-to-back studies published online July 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that proved that caffeine significantly decreased abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, both in the brains and in the blood of mice displaying symptoms of the disease.
But, before you make a decision to add another cuppa to your morning routine, let me, Dr. Jamie Phillips warn you that also on the website, under “Related Stories,” were a couple of articles about studies that professed to prove the non-beneficial effects of caffeine, “Morning Jolt of Caffeine May Mask Serious Sleep Problems,” and “Coffee Consumption Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Persons With Certain Gene Variation.”
Nearly any point of view, from my experience, especially when it has to do with health and longevity, can be affirmed, or at least given credence, by other related studies. The “good/bad” studies related to caffeine naturally aren’t, of course, the only ones. But, it did get me to considering about the likelihood that there will not ever be just “one thing” that will with absolute certainty help we, humans, to live longer, healthier lives. Humans are dynamic, biological creatures. We aren’t raised in a cage! We are free to engage in life. And, moreover, though Alzheimer’s disease is likely on the rise, obviously we, cage-free humans, have not been “bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” therefore caffeine isn’t going to be the “one thing” that is going to prevent or reverse it.
Our body is an exquisite, involved system that is designed to function homeostasis, i.e, balance. Consequently good health is about a healthy, balanced approach to living, instead of our jumping on the bandwagon of the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one specific thing fooling ourselves into believing that it will reverse all of the other immoderate and unwholesome things we do to our bodies.
I believe, as a doctor of chiropractic in Santa Barbara, that every single day we have an opportunity to make healthy choices for our body, decisions that will help us to live longer, healthier lives. We know what actually “feels” right and what doesn’t when it comes to what is good for our body. So, the next time you reach for that extra cup of coffee or that second glass of red wine, I hope that you’ll keep this in mind. There is no “one thing” that will do “everything” for your good health.
Dr. Jamie Phillips
601 E. Arrellaga St. #201
Santa Barbara, CA, 93103
http://www.santabarbarachiropractic.org