Dr. Jamie Phillips

Last week I found an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine decreased memory loss in aged mice induced 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 continued by reporting on coterminous 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 exhibiting symptoms of the disease.

However, before you make a decision to add another cuppa to your daily routine, let me, Dr. Jamie Phillips add that under “Related Stories” on the website were a couple of articles regarding studies that professed to prove the not-so-healthy 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.”

Almost any point of view, I’ve noticed, especially when it comes to health and longevity, can be corroborated, or at least bolstered, 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 pondering about the likelihood that there will never be any “one thing” that will incontrovertibly help we, humans, to live longer, healthier lives. We are dynamic, biological creatures. We are free to participate in life. We’re not bred in a cage! And, moreover, though Alzheimer’s disease may be on the rise, obviously none of us has been “bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” therefore caffeine isn’t absolutely the “one thing” that will reverse or prevent it.

Our body is an exquisite, complex system that is based on homeostasis, i.e, balance. Consequently good health is about a healthy, balanced way of living, as opposed to our jumping on the bandwagon of the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one specific thing under the illusion that it will reverse all of the other over-indulgent and harmful things we have done to our bodies.

I believe, as a doctor of chiropractic in Santa Barbara, that every single day we have an opportunity to make decisions that will help us to live longer, healthier lives, healthy choices for our body and mind. We know what truly “feels” life enriching and what doesn’t when it comes to what is good for our body. So, I just wanted to pass along some thoughts for you to keep in mind the next time you reach for that extra cup of coffee or second glass of red wine. 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

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