Coffe is Good

I know a lot of moms who would struggle to get through the day without their morning coffee. Now they don't have to feel guilty about drinking it!

If you need a good cup of coffee to get going in the morning, you're probably not alone. And now, new research says a good 'ole cup of joe could give you more than just a little get up and go. love your coffee? (sot: mos) "I love coffee, and I think it's good for the soul." (sot: mos) "It makes me feel good. That's what I go on." Besides the kick, lots of new research suggests coffee may also help kick back at certain diseases.

Studies show coffee lowers the risk for type 2 diabetes, helps protect against liver cancer and perhaps colon cancer, reduces the likelihood of Parkinson's Disease, and may reduce the risk of stroke. (sot: mos) "Those are all positive things in my book. I may have to stop in for my second cup of the day." But before you drink up, wake up and smell the coffee, says Dr. Marcus Reidenberg, professor of pharmacology at the Weill Cornell Medical College. He says the studies make associations, not conclusions. (sot: Dr. Marcus Reidenberg, Weill Cornell Medical College) "Association studies can't prove cause because they are many other differences between people who drink a lot of coffee and people who don't."

While researchers say the benefits of that coffee outweigh most of the risks, there are some caveats you should know about. For example, the caffeine in coffee can raise the heart rate and affect the regularity of the beat. Dr. Richard Brockman, endocrinologist at the hospital for special surgery says watch out for your bones. (sot: dr. richard bockman, endocrinologist) "If you drink more than four cups of black coffee a day, it can affect your skeleton, but if you use milk it probably won't." On the other hand, what was once considered an evil brew is now at least low-risk, if not healthy. (sot: mos) (q: "so after hearing about the health benefits of coffee, will you drink more coffee?" "If I choose to do so, I won't worry!"

I do love coffee, but I don't drink it that often. It always gives me heartburn. And right now it would probably give me contractions too. However, when I do splurge, I get an iced cafe mocha latte with skim milk. I can taste it right now. What's your favorite?s

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Afraid to wear shorts? Do you have unwanted hair? Embarrassed by unsightly varicose or spider veins? NOW is the time to get your legs ready for summer! You don’t have to be afraid to wear shorts because of unwanted hair or unsightly varicose or spider veins.

Call 674-SKIN to schedule your FREE leg vein or hair laser consultation at Soderstrom Skin Institute, and you’ll be ready to show off your beautiful legs this summer!Soderstrom Skin Institute is positioned to be a comprehensive, full service, skin care facility. Visit www.soderstromskininstitute.com to learn what Soderstrom Skin Institute can do for you.

Moms drink too much caffeine

I had to chuckle when I read this story today on the CNN feeds. This is so me! And I was just writing about how hard it is to get off caffeine in the "Energy Drinks at school" post. I have never been a big coffee drinker because my body reacts poorly when I drink it, but I love my Diet Coke.

I have been soda free for four days. I know, it's not a great accomplishment. But it is for me! I saw this cold can of Cherry Coke in the break room a moment ago and it looked so good! I feel like an addict.

Here's the CNN story on moms taking in too much caffeine:

Moms are consuming caffeine more now than ever. What effect does it have on their health?

A study shows caffeine consumption is on the rise, especially with busy mothers. How much caffeine is too much? One mom said, "I have about 4 energy drinks a day." Another said, "I'm drinking coffee every waking hour." These moms, who are also CNN I-reporters, are fairly typical caffeine consumers.

A National Sleep Foundation study found more than 65 percent of moms drink caffeinated beverages to get through their day. Stacy DeBroff , the CEO of MomCentral.com said, "We are facing the busiest generation of moms ever, we dash from place to place. We find ourselves always on the go and usually with a cup of coffee in hand." But here's the thing: research shows caffeine can trigger migraines, heart burn and put women at an increased risk of miscarriage.

Cardiologist Dr. Allen Dollar from Emory University said, "The jitteriness, the nervousness, the feeling that the heart may be racing a little bit, skipping a beat every now and again, those are the short term side effects of caffeine intake but again the good news is there is no serious health consequences to that of the long term."

So there are no serious long term health effects. Relying on caffeine for energy drains the body because it never gets a chance to properly recharge. DeBroff said, "Take advantage of small breaks in the action. Sometimes you only have 10 minutes as a mom and you have to think of 'What can I do to restore my energy so that I can then get ready to go forth on the next mom mission that awaits me.' The key is moderation." Experts agree, 200 milligrams of caffeine a day is safe. That's between one and four drinks--depending on the size of the beverage.

Here are some tips from readers about what they drink instead of caffeine:

Maria said, "Sometimes when I think I want a pop, I drink a Perrier instead. It's my guilty pleasure. Oh, and in Europe, I would mix some 100% juice and mix it with mineral (carbonated) water at a 20/80 mix of mostly water. It was so good..."

Septboy said, "When I get tired of the taste of tap water, I add a squirt or 2 of lemon or lime juice."

How much caffeine do you drink?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.