Have a cup of coffee!

Research published in The Journal of Nutrition found that coffee consumption was inversely associated with all-cause mortality in a dose-dependent manner, with each additional cup associated with a 7% reduction in mortality risk. This study involved 2,461 participants with 11 year follow-up.

In another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2012 also found a dose-dependent inverse association between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality. But the risk reduction appeared to plateau at around five cups of coffee per day. The study involved 229,119 men and 173,141 women.

For men, compared to those who drank no coffee, there was a 6% reduction in mortality for those drinking one cup per day; 10% for two to three cups per day; 12% for four to five cups per day and 10% for those drinking six or more cups per day.

For women there was a mortality risk reduction of 5% for one cup per day; 13% for two to three per day; 16% for four to five cups per day and 15% for six or more cups per day.

In terms of cause-specific mortality, the study found an inverse association between coffee consumption and deaths due to heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, infections, and accidents and injuries.

The AARP Diet and Health Study also found that the amount of coffee consumed correlated negatively with risk of death and that those who drank any coffee lived longer than those who did not.

Meanwhile, according to Cancer Research UK, drinking coffee had no effect on the risk of dying from cancer

Other studies suggest coffee consumption reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease, dementia,Parkinson's disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,cirrhosis and gout.

Perhaps this is due to the presence of antioxidants in coffee which can prevent free radicals from causing cell damage.

However, excessive amounts of coffee can cause very unpleasant and even life-threatening adverse effects. For example, caffeine, a main active component of coffee, can cause anxiety, especially in high doses. And coffee consumption can also lead to iron deficiency anemia by interfering with iron absorption, especially in mothers and infants.

Ways to boost our energy levels all day

Below are ways crucial for having fabulously consistent energy levels in our daily life:

Fresh air
Indoor pollutants can affect us in the form of an allergic reaction as soon as we enter a room. Fatigue is a symptom often linked to poor indoor air quality according to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. And so if you are feeling so, try to get out and get more fresh air. It will do you good - your body, mind and energy levels.

Water
Our muscles are made up of 70 per cent water while our brain made up of 75 per cent water. In order to keep our mind sharp and our muscles pain free and agile, we must be sufficiently hydrated throughout the day.

It is easy to get dehydrated when we do not drink enough water because we lose about two cups of water per day from even breathing alone. In addition, we also lose vital electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, which are important for major organ function.

Water also helps flush our toxins from our cells. Toxins make us feel ill and tired.

Movement
Movement will get rid of our stagnated energy. Important mood and energy affecting hormones like insulin and endorphins will get processed better or released in our body and the fatigue we feel from working will disperse into relaxation and revitalisation.

Love
Not having enough joy, contact and love in our life can take a toll on our health and energy levels.

Sleep
Modern sleep studies have discovered that our body releases hormones to keep us on schedule. If we stay up late, we add extra stress to our body by demanding it to keep us going at the time when it needs rest.

Stress 
Stress will deplete our body of energy. When we are under stress, we spend most of our time worrying over-thinking or overworking. Not allowing our body and mind to relax will age us, draining our vital energy.

Replenish ourselves by quieting our mind on a daily basis. Start by incorporating a simple mindfulness meditation into our daily life.

Focusing our thoughts requires quieting our mind. The more we are able to become quiet internally, the more refreshed and energised we shall start to feel.

Self-awareness
Rather than ignoring or repressing the feelings that are uncomfortable, try to face them. Once we know the root of our pain and release the emotions that come up around it, we can bring ourselves back to a more rational state of mind and deal with whatever the real issues are with maturity and stability.

Spirituality
Many people feel more balanced and energised when they connect with a faith or higher purpose. Life can feel long and weary if we do not connect with something greater than ourselves.

Garlic - a natural antibiotic, antioxidant and lead detoxifier

Garlic is a powerful natural antibiotic, antiseptic and antimicrobial, albeit in broad spectrum rather than targeted. The bacteria in the body do not appear to evolve resistance to the garlic. This means that its positive health benefits can continue over time.

 

Some studies have shown that garlic can have a powerful antioxidant effect to help protect the body against damaging free radicals. It can also control our blood pressure cholesterol levels.

 

In addition, research found that garlic may be as effective at removing lead from the body as a standard chelation drug.

 

In a study published in the journal Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, researchers compared the effects of garlic with the heavy-metal chelating drug D-penicilllamine and found that garlic may have chelating capabilities comparable to D-penicillamine while revealing less side effects but more clinical improvement than D-penicillamine.

How to prevent the onset of dementia

Research has revealed a number of factors that may be able to prevent or delay the onset of dementia in some people. For example, people who maintain tight control over their glucose levels tend to score better on tests of cognitive function than those with poorly controlled diabetes. 

People who engage in intellectually stimulating activities, such as social interactions, chess, crossword puzzles or playing a musical instrument, can significantly lower their risk of developing AD and other forms of dementia. 

Thus mental activities may stimulate the brain in a way that increases the person's "cognitive reserve" - the ability to cope with or compensate for the pathologic changes associated with dementia. 

Besides, some herbs such as Ginkgo, Bacopa and Gutu Kola are found to have some effect on improving cognition in dementia patients.

In addition, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that brain cells contract significantly during sleep, expanding the area between cells by as much as 60 percent. This increase in the space between cells enables greater flow of cerebrospinal fluid, increasing the removal of beta-amyloid proteins. The accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain is believed to be a primary contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a leading cause of dementia in the elderly. 

Turmeric might help repair damaged nerves

Although turmeric is a spice, it has been used medicinally for more than 4,000 years, for a wide range of applications, from skin to respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.

Further, modern research has focused on the activity of phenolic compounds found in turmeric known as curcuminoids, which have demonstrated powerful antioxidant properties.

New research indicates that curcumin can help repair damaged nerve tissues.

Researchers examined the effects of three different dosages of curcumin on nerve crush injury in rats. The rats were subjected to nerve crush injury and given either curcumin or a placebo daily for four weeks. The effects on nerve regeneration were measured by morphometric analysis and behavioral tests.

In summary, it was found that rats given curcumin achieved better nerve regeneration and functional recovery compared to rats given a placebo, and rats given higher doses of curcumin showed better performance than those given lower doses. These findings suggest that curcumin might have the same neuroprotective effect on men that could benefit our brain and central nervous system function.