Dr. David Hoewisch is concerned about your overall wellness, and offers the following commentary: Recently I read an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine improved memory loss in aged mice induced to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article began with the angle 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 showed that caffeine considerably 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 decide to add an extra cup of coffee to your morning routine, let me warn you that under “Related Stories” on the website were at least two articles about studies that professed to prove the negative 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.”

In my experience, I’ve noticed that there are conceivably many studies that will corroborate, or at least support, almost any point of view, in particular when it is about health and longevity. The “good/bad” studies related to caffeine certainly aren’t, of course, the only ones. Nonetheless, it did get me to thinking about the likelihood that there will not ever be any “one thing” that will incontrovertibly help we, humans, to live longer, healthier lives. We are dynamic, biological beings. We aren’t raised in a cage! We are free to make choices in life. And, furthermore, though Alzheimer’s disease apparently is on the rise, obviously no one has been “bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” therefore caffeine isn’t going to be the “one thing” that will reverse or prevent it.

The human body is an exquisite, involved system that is based on homeostasis (balance). It is likely, then, that good health has more to do with a healthy, balanced approach to living, as opposed to our being momentarily convinced by 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.

As a chiropractor, I believe that every moment of the day we have an opportunity to choose healthfully for our body, decisions that will help us to live longer, healthier lives. We know what genuinely “feels” beneficial and what doesn’t when it comes to what is good for our body. So, I just wanted to pass along a little something 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 good health.

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