Energy Drinks vs Coffee.... Is this even a Contest of Health?

    

     Okay! This rivalry isn't exactly age-old. It's kind of like placing Buzz Lightyear in a fight with the Lone Ranger.

     You have to consider several things. First, coffee has history on its side. For centuries coffee has been the drink of choice for millions. It comes from trees and has that "herbal remedy aura" since it is all natural. Second, energy drinks have quickly become an emblem of popular culture because you can find these beverages at almost any retail store. Lastly, while coffee delivers a nice dose of instant energy, energy drinks provide a stronger "slap" of caffeine, but it does not last as long as the effects of coffee. Which one could possibly come out on top?

     Countless doctors and psychologists conducted studies on which beverage is the healthier choice. In all honesty, neither of them can be all that great for a person, as they are both loaded with the drug of the Internet Age; Caffeine. "For a population complaining of fatigue, exhaustion, stress, and insomnia, it appears a near perfect antidote," said Matthew Edlund, M.D.

     In comparing the cultural differences of energy drinks and coffee, you must understand that coffee has been around seemingly since the dawn of time. Besides activating the minds of countless people throughout history, coffee is highly social, and coffeehouses have been the centers of community life for as long as I've seen them. Energy drinks are so popular for one reason; they provide a quick boost of energy. The quicker you guzzle them, the bigger the hit. Typically, you'll find that youths are the primary buyers of these beverages because of this quick hit.

     To resolve this rivalry, let's bring common sense into it. There is something more effective and far healthier than either coffee or energy drinks. I am referring to sleep. In order to fix your caffeine fix you must make the following changes:

1. Realize that rest is like food and it is necessary for function and survival. Deprive any animal of sleep long enough and it gets sick and dies. People need to get rest.

2. Recognize that caffeine is a drug whose "normal use" can abuse our bodies.

3. Use caffeine the way it's meant to be used - as a food we love. Energy drinks may have their use in sports, where the slightest edge can mean everything to competitors, or for plant workers tending a nuclear reactor late at night. But foods are social glues and forms of celebration. People want to dine, not feed. It's fun to sip a cup among peers, family, and friends, giving us a better chance to enjoy the buzz and enliven our brains.

The winner is.......sleep! It's not the sissy's way out!

     

Yeah! Can I have an extra order of Blubber?!

     We all understand that belly fat is unhealthy, and it can be dangerous to have an excessive amount of it.
   
     However, here's something you probably didn't know. Belly fat, also known as visceral fat was historical known to be very important for humans. Our ancestors feasted heartily on whatever food they could successfully catch and they would store it as visceral fat.

    The fat was most useful in this area because they had easy access to the nutrients it could provide their bodies. In times of famine, the stored visceral fat could quickly go through the portal vein which feeds the liver and the fat would provide the liver with enough nutrients. Here allies the issue. In those days humans would spend the whole day hunting and physically asserting themselves, whereas today, we only have to stand in line at Burger King!

     Because of this, visceral fat accumulates in the belly and it poisons the liver by shoving chemicals through the portal vein, thus clogging the liver. In turn, the liver will produce bad cholesterol, inflammatory chemicals leading to diabetes, and this can even go as far as to block muscles from using sugar effectively.

     In addition to the negative effects on the liver, the visceral fat can become so big that it squeezes the kidneys, thus increasing blood pressure.

     So, belly fat causes high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. All of which lead to heart attacks, strokes, impotence, wrinkles, and so many other health issues. So what do you do to find out if you have too much belly fat?

     According to Dr. Oz, you should use a tape measure to size up the circumference of your belly. Once you obtain the measurement, that number should be half the size of your body's height.

     In my case, my belly's circumference is 32 inches, but I am 5 feet and 8 inches tall. This means I am 68 inches tall. When you chop that number in half, I am 2 inches away from being on the edge of having too much belly fat. Give this measurement a try, you might find that your not so fat after all. If not, just skip the dessert tonight.