Recently I found an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine improved memory loss in aged mice raised to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article began with the suggestion that “Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup.” It went on to discuss a sequence of studies published online July 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that demonstrated 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 opt to add an extra cuppa to your daily routine, let me, Dr. Jamie Phillips elaborate by saying that also on the website, under “Related Stories,” were at least two articles regarding studies that showed 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, I’ve noticed, especially when it has to do with health and longevity, can be affirmed, or at least given credence, by other related studies. The “yin-yang” of caffeine benefits-deficits certainly 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 incontrovertibly help we, humans, to live longer, healthier lives. Humans are dynamic, biological beings. We aren’t bred in a cage! We are actively engaged in life. And, furthermore, though Alzheimer’s disease may be on the rise, obviously none of us has been “singled out 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.
The human body is a splendid, complex system that is based on homeostasis (balance). It makes sense, then, that good health is cultivated by a healthy, balanced attitude towards living, rather than our jumping on the bandwagon of the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one particular thing fooling ourselves into believing that it will reverse all of the other excessive and unwholesome things we do to our bodies.
As a doctor of chiropractic in Santa Barbara, it is my belief that every single day we have an opportunity to choose healthfully for our body, to decide what will help us to live longer, healthier lives. When it comes to what is good for us, we know what truly “feels” right and what doesn’t. So, I just wanted to offer some thoughts for you to keep in mind the next time you consider having that extra cup of coffee or second glass of red wine. There is no “one thing” that will do “everything” for your age-related health issues.
Tags: age-related health issues, caffeine, chiropractor, dr. jamie phillips, Health, longevity, red wine, santa barbara chiropractor
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