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Caffeine, is it secretly good for your health? Can it stunt your growth or worse yet, kill you? How about Alzheimer's disease and erectile dysfunction? Does it cause that? And what about asthma?


Today we’re breaking down 8 unsuspecting truths about caffeine that you need to know right now!


Myth #1: Caffeine Can Kill You?


Don’t freak out about what I’m about to tell you. But yes technically this is true. It can. In fact, I've even treated a number of people who had some health issues from ingesting way too much caffeine in the Emergency Department. Symptoms like: tachycardia, or sped-up heart rate, tremors, high anxiety, and vomiting among other side effects. It can affect your body if consumed in too high amounts. That’s why it's important you know the difference between a healthy amount and just how much is too much?


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers up to 400 milligrams a safe amount of caffeine for healthy adults to consume daily. That’s equivalent to about four cups of coffee, or ten cans of soda, or 2 energy shot types of drinks in a day. But please keep in mind different products out there have different amounts of caffeine and other added ingredients like loads of sugar, so the limit and health impact can really vary from product to product. They say the average person in the U.S. drinks about 135 mg a day or about 1.5 cups of coffee. How does your caffeine intake compare to the average?


Alright back to the question at hand, Could too much caffeine kill someone? In rare instances yes. When caffeine is consumed in very high doses, at say in excess of 5 grams in adults (which is 5000 mg) yes it could be lethal. Remember you’re only supposed to drink up to 400 mg a day. Here’s the caveat: higher levels of caffeine consumption is usually found more with products like powdered caffeine and caffeine pills like with weight loss pills. In a concentrated potent product, the dangers increase a lot. For instance, some concentrated products out there contain around the same amount of caffeine as 20-30 regular coffees. This is not good, so please be safe, and like with anything, don’t go buck wild on it and know what ingredients are in the type of products you are consuming. Alright, I'm going to get off my high horse and move on to the next myth, I think you’re going to like this.


Myth #2: It Stunts Your Growth


We’ve all heard this one, but this is not true. This has long been a myth circling coffee and just about anything caffeinated for that matter. Heck, I know I definitely heard it when I was growing up, if you drink too much soda, it will stunt your growth. But where did this rumor start?


It may have had something to do with the fact that decades ago some research studies found an association between high caffeine intake and reduced calcium absorption in the body. And we all know that calcium is good for bone density and health so the thought was that any lack of calcium in the body could be a contributing factor to osteoporosis.


So if you say you drank coffee or some other caffeinated beverage for instance, you could in theory, be at increased risk of osteoporosis. But here’s the issue with this. The studies also concluded that the reduction in calcium absorption associated with caffeine intake was very small, and the calcium loss could even be offset by adding 1-2 tablespoons of milk to your cup of coffee that you drink. So to flat out say caffeine stunts your growth is a bit of a stretch.


Myth #3: Caffeine Can Make You Live Longer


Errr what? Ummm but Doctor Wagner didn’t you just say that too much caffeine could possibly kill me? And now you’re saying it has health benefits, I’m confused.


Here’s the deal: caffeine by way of coffee can actually be very beneficial for your health. Besides feeling more alert and giving one energy…drinking coffee has been linked to lowering risk for all sorts of health problems. Diseases like: Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia are just the beginning.


For instance, one scientific study revealed that drinking 3-5 cups per day was associated with a decreased risk of dementia & Alzheimer’s disease by about 65% at late life. Other evidence suggests that normal consumption of caffeine can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 26%. For women, drinking at least one cup of coffee a day that’s associated with lowered stroke risk, which is the fourth leading cause of death in women. I could go on and on about all sorts of health benefits from caffeine and caffeine-related products like coffee.


I could go on and on about all sorts of health benefits from caffeine especially when consumed through coffee.


Myth #4: Caffeine Sobers You Up


Uh No, not exactly. Listen, we all know that alcohol can have sedative effects on the body. In other words, in addition to making one impaired, it can also make a person feel sleepy. And it usually hits a person 2 to 6 hours after alcohol consumption.


So here’s where the myth comes into play, one would think that because caffeine does the opposite of alcohol, or generally makes people feel more alert. It could kind of counteract the buzz. But this is just not the case. Although it might make a person feel more alert after a late-night chug fest, it, unfortunately, cannot remove the feelings of or state of drunkenness or the cognitive deficits that alcohol can cause.


For instance in one lab study. Mice were given alcohol followed by the human equivalent of eight cups of coffee. After the caffeine intake, the rodents did appear more alert, but they were still much worse than the sober mice at getting around a maze.


The reason is that we have to metabolize the alcohol we drink in order to diminish its effects. The body processes it in several ways but it’s mostly broken down in the liver by two enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase, and eventually excreted.


Myth #5: Caffeine’s Good for Asthma


This one is in fact true. If you struggle with asthma issues or even shortness of breath, you may want to listen to what I'm about to say. Caffeine does appear to improve airway function for up to four hours in people with asthma after consumption. In fact, it is a weak bronchodilator and it also reduces respiratory muscle fatigue. And Caffeine is also chemically related to the prescription drug theophylline which has been used over the years to treat wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other lung diseases.


Now is this a substitute for your quick-relief inhaler or other asthma action plan prescribed by your doctor? No, because we all know if not treated properly asthma attacks could be life-threatening, but caffeine has been suggested to have protective effects against asthma, and reduce asthma symptoms.

For instance: in a study out of Korea where researchers analyzed the frequency of the participants' beverage intake and their findings showed that caffeinated coffee consumption lowered the frequency of asthma. And yet another study found that the consumption of caffeine prior to exercising may reduce the symptoms of asthma as well.


Speaking of ummm stunting your growth, next myth you’re going to want to know about: Caffeine Cause Erectile dysfunction?


Myths #6: Erectile Dysfunction:


I’m happy to report this one is also false. Caffeine has many effects on the body, it gives you that burst of energy that can be great for um athletic performance but it can also narrow the blood vessels throughout the body, so with less room for blood to flow, it can temporarily raise blood pressure a bit which is why researchers initially suspected that there could be a potential link between caffeine and ED.


But according to one study, caffeine intake is actually linked to reduced odds of having erectile dysfunction (ED) in men who drink the equivalent of two to three cups of coffee per day. Evidently, caffeine triggers a series of internal effects that lead to the relaxation of the penile arteries, and the smooth muscle that lines cavernosal spaces, thus increasing penile blood flow.


Number 7 Caffeine Myth: Caffeine Causes Insomnia


Insomnia? Eh not usually but could it disrupt your sleep yes. But it really all comes down to your body's sensitivity to it. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes for caffeine to reach its peak level in the blood. Then the half-life of caffeine, or the time it takes to eliminate one-half of the caffeine people have in their bodies, is about 4 hours.


But keep in mind this also depends on things going on in your body like for instance: one factor could be your metabolism, or say how much fiber you have, or how frequently you consume caffeine, processed mainly through the liver, some caffeine can stick around in the body for several hours. But for most people, a cup of coffee or two in the morning won't interfere with sleep at night.


Your sensitivity may vary, though, people who are more sensitive may not only experience insomnia-like effects but also have caffeine side effects of nervousness and gastrointestinal upset, etc. And women who take birth control pills may keep caffeine in their systems for up to 4 hours longer than compared to those who are not on the pill. And Pregnancy can even extend caffeine's half-life even more. Interestingly though, on the other end of the sensitivity spectrum, it’s said that Caffeine's half-life may be shortened in people who smoke. So moral of the story here: if your body is sensitive or impacted by caffeine's effects try not to consume any caffeine products at least 6 hours before going to bed.


Myth #8: Caffeine Can Provide Relief For a Headache


This is a caffeine truth. During a headache, blood vessels swell or go through other changes causing more blood flow around the brain. Now this increase of blood to the brain area puts pressure on surrounding nerves which sends pain messages to the brain. Aka what you experience as a headache.


Caffeine has vasoconstrictive properties, meaning it could cause your blood vessels to narrow, restricting blood flow, which might relieve a little bit of that pain you're experiencing from your headache. Now caffeine taken with other common headache pain meds could also increase the absorption and strength of the medication to provide even faster relief.


But keep in mind also that consuming too much caffeine can also trigger headaches and caffeine withdrawal can sometimes also have the same blood vessel enlarging type of qualities and trigger a headache as well. Adjusting to the right amount of caffeine in your system is key here.


So just how much caffeine is in some of your favorite beverages?


An 8-ounce cup of coffee: has about 95 to 200 mg of caffeine.


A 12-ounce can of cola on the other hand: 35-45 mg.


And your average 8-ounce energy drink? Typically they have between 70 to 100 mg of caffeine. Obviously, there are some with way more than that, but let’s just say the average.


Now tea, on the other hand, depending on the type of tea, has around 13-60 mg on average for 8 ounces.


So if you and your buddies are trying to stay up all night cramming for school or you gotta drive home and you’re getting tired you may want to just opt for a good ol’ cup of coffee to get the most bang for your buck so to speak.




What if I told you that some of the most commonly held Bro science beliefs out there, arent really backed by science. Yep some of your most swear by health, wellness and exercise info out there could just all be hearsay. Today we are discussing and debunking some of the most popular bro science myths out there.( And i’m curious to know what you believe, let me know if you agree or call B.S. on some of these philosophies.


Alright here are 8 Bro Science philosophies that frankly need to just go away.

Alright, here are 8 BroScience Myths destroyed with actual science. Ready?


Myth #1: It’s best to abstain from sex before an athletic competition event.

You’ve heard it with boxers, football players, you name it. People that wont umm do the deed before a big match because… the belief is: that it could negatively affect one’s athletic performance.

This is actually one of the longest-held superstitions in sports going back to ancient Greeks and romans. But according to the experts, the whole no sex before sports is….

Much more rooted in unfounded fear than actual science.

Additionally a study out of california state university san marcos where healthy men on average aged 25, they were studied to see whether or not sex affects the amount of muscle focre men can exert with their legs the following day. They took a look at leg strength and endurance twice: once on a day where they had sex and once on a day where they did not engage in extracurricular activities.

The study revealed that there was no impact on the maximum leg torque achieved. Self-reported levels of physical and mental fatigue also didn't differ or make the participants feel—any weaker either. Granted this was a small study with limiting factors, but sex was determined to not make at least these men weaker.

On the other hand one of, if not the greatest Boxer all time Muhammed ali was rumored to not have sex 6 hours before a boxing match because of the possibilities of being physically or mentally weakened. What are your thoughts on this, i’m curious do you think this myth is true or or do you call BS? Let me know in the comments


Myth #2: Tons and Tons of Crunches are Needed for a 6 Pack


Sorry Broskis this one is false! Despite the overwhelming fitness market that is trying to sell you all types of beer gut busting contraptions and ab routines, I hate to break it to you but you just can’t get around the fact that diet and nutrition are the secret sauce to a flat stomach and possible washboard abs.


I don't care what kind of malarky the meatheads at the gym are trying to sell you on, the truth is if you want to get noticeable abs, you will have to shed the top layer of fat that covers the muscles in the midsection. And unfortunately you can't really target specific fat sections like saying oh I only want to burn fat in my stomach area. I wish that’s how it worked but it isn't. The best way to naturally achieve your washboard goals is to instead lose excess fat from your entire body through diet and exercise. .


Now let me clarify, this doesn't mean you can't do sit ups or crunches to strengthen your abs but in order to specifically get that superhero type 6 pack it is absolutely necessary to burn fat first.


Plus some other food for thought, your abs are somewhat of a small isolated muscle group and when you target only them, you're not really getting that optimal fat burn type of metabolic effect.


Myth #3: Men Can’t Suffer From Breast Cancer


This bro myth is flat out false. Although definitely more rare in men, I’m sorry to report anyone with breast tissue, which is all of us, can potentially suffer from this disease. That’s why it's important to be aware of your health or more specifically changes in your health. If one sees warning signs such as a lump in the under arm or chest area, or a sudden fluctuation in breast size or any abnormal rashes in and around the nipple area. Make sure you talk to your health care provider immediately.


Especially if you have increased risk factors like: exposure to estrogen, like with hormone therapies, or Liver disease, obesity, being over the age of 55. These factors could put you at a higher risk, especially if you have a family history of cancer. Some people inherit abnormal mutated genes from their parents that increase the risk of breast cancer. Mutations in one of several genes, especially a gene called B-R-C-A-2, put you at greater risk of developing breast, prostate and ovarian cancers. If you have a family history of cancer, discuss this with your doctor. They may recommend that you meet with a genetic counselor in order to consider genetic testing to see if you carry genes that increase your risk of cancer.


Myth #4: You Need to Drink Protein Shakes to Build Muscle


This is a no bro. If you are getting enough protein in your everyday diet, honestly there is no real need to drink a supplemental shake. But let’s rewind a sec to that part where I said supplemental. Yes, that's the key to understanding here.

Protein shakes are in fact a supplement and that means they should be used or consumed to fill in your nutrition gaps. What does that mean exactly? Well first you need to determine how much protein you should be getting a day and that really depends on your size and fitness goals.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein is about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Which isn't much, that's basically just to meet your basic nutritional requirements.


Myth #5: Erectile Dysfunction Only Affects Much Older Men.

Sorry I’m calling B.S. on the ED only targeting older men.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 30 million in the United States are affected by erectile dysfunction — that’s about one in every five men.

So what causes ED? Well it can really be caused by a number of things but most notably, issues like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, drug use, and performance anxiety just to name a few. Also I hate to be a buzzkill here but surprisingly, alcohol isn’t great for erectile health.

In a 2007 study, researchers found that men with alcohol dependence syndrome had a high rate of sexual dysfunction. Of the 100 men that participated in the study, 72 percent had either one or several forms of sexual dysfunction, ED being one of the most common. If you find you or someone you know struggling with this issue, talk to your doctor, that way you can try to find the underlying issue of what's causing it and what possible treatments there are.

Myth #6 Eating at Night Makes You Fat


This one’s a little controversial but generally speaking this is False. Despite what you’ve heard, it’s not about when you eat, it's about what you eat. And let’s be real with ourselves for a sec. Sometimes at night when folks are tired, or say they had a little alcohol or other umm substances, what they reach for in the fridge isn't the most healthy.


Experts say its more of a behavior correlation. So people who tend to do late night snacking according to studies, they tend to opt for calorie dense or sugar filled snacks or heck even whole pizzas and door dash offerings that are no doubt tasty and convenient but that often put them over their targeted caloric intake for the day. It’s this type of binge behavior that leads to weight gain. Not necessarily the fact that you’re munching at midnight.


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Weight Control Information Network website, “it does not matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight.” and According to the Center for Disease Control, it’s the calories you burn over a 24-hour period that determines fat gain/loss, not when you intake those calories.


In the most simplest terms, calories in vs calories out. No matter the time of day.

And of course the type of calories you consume is important as well. A late night protein shake with about 120 calories and 30 grams of protein is going to hit much differently than a slice of pizza that has around 285 calories and maybe 12 grams of protein.


Myth #7: Snoring


It's just what guys do? Right, bro? Wrong, that's a whole lot of hogwash. No matter who you are, every now and again, you might find yourself sawing logs from, say, a clogged nostril, allergies, changes in the weather, infection, weird sleeping position. You name it. But this is not just bros out there that snore. This truly can affect anyone at any time. But if you find that your snoring becomes persistent you may just want to get this checked out. Prolonged snoring can be problematic far beyond your partners ears in fact it may be a sign of a more dangerous sleep disorder like sleep apnea.


Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea. Usually risk factors include being overweight, or older age, sometimes the use of alcohol and other depressants can also contribute to this sleep disorder as well.


But sleep apnea can up one’s risk for developing high blood pressure and heart disease, so if you or someone you know find themselves snoring much louder than usual, or pausing with they breathe at night, or gasping, taking shallow breaths, or frankly just being restless at night, it may be wise to seek out your trusted health care provider to get to the root of this.


8. Cardio is the only way to get skinny. Cardio is the only way to slim down.


Sorry to report bro this is total B.S. Now while it is true to some degree to say you don’t see many marathon runners who are overweight, constant cardio though isn't the best way to shed those pounds. If you want to lean out and get more sculpted in the process, the best way to do this is by combining strength training and cardio.


Cardio’s great because it burns more calories and is good for your heart, nervous system, and improved brain plasticity and you don’t not want to do cardio. But on a very basic level, strength training increases your metabolic burn rate, meaning you will be burning calories long after your workout stops. So be safe and just do a bit of both if you really want to trim down.



There are hygiene habits you secretly do or maybe don’t do that you wouldn't want your friends or family to find out about. Let alone the person you’re crushing on. But what if I told you these seemingly dirty activities could actually benefit your health? Yep, today we are discussing and breaking down all your gross and eccentric “behind closed door” type of activities that may actually be surprisingly good for you!


1. Farting


Call it flatulence, passing gas, fizzling, tooting, whatever you want to name it, Farting is actually good for your health. I know it may not be proper social etiquette, at least out loud, at the dinner table or on a first date, but farting is totally healthy.


When you eat, you don't swallow just your food. You also swallow air, which contains gasses like nitrogen and oxygen. Small amounts of these gasses travel through your digestive system as you digest your food. Other gasses like hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane are made when food is broken down in the large intestine. All of these gasses in the digestive system have to escape somehow, so guess what, they come out as farts!


In fact, a typical healthy person might pass wind between 5 and 20 times a day. Or depending on what type of foods you are eating, you could be creating the equivalent of 1 liter of gas every single day in your body.


And it also helps with creating a diverse microbiome which is super important to your health in many ways. On the other hand, farts are also a great indicator of your health on the opposite end as well. Conversely, if you are letting them rip way too often, more than the average, this could indicate that you have a food allergy or some sort of gastrointestinal issue like IBS, chrons, Celiac disease, etc.


And for those who are watching this and are a little shy about the whole whoopie cushion sounding process, just know that holding in your gas can limit the motility of the bowels leading to things like constipation and bloat. I don't know how many times people come to see me in the ER for this. Thinking it's something far worse when it is really just stored up gasses in the digestive tract, believe it shows up on X-rays, and See this more than you could ever know. So verdict about farting: in the right social setting let er’ rip. I promise it's a bodily process for a reason and it is keeping you healthy.


2. Not Cleaning Out Your Ears


You’ve heard the phrase mind your own beeswax, well if you believe the experts you may not even want to mind your own. I’ll explain. Ears actually have their very own internal cleaning mechanism and when people use a cotton swab or Qtip as it’s sort of widely known, to remove ear wax, oftentimes this can cause damage to the ears. In fact, if you check closely on the packaging it usually will warn against actually sticking the little cotton swabs in your ear. And believe me, I have seen a lot of ear injuries in the Emergency department caused by just that. Sticking cleaning utensils into ears when they really just don’t belong there. I see things like wax impaction, perforated eardrums, lost tips of cotton swabs, or other cleaner objects that fall off and cause further complications… So just don't do it.


Oh and here's the other part that's super important to realize. Having earwax is not actually a sign of poor hygiene. In fact, quite the opposite, Earwax or the medical term cerumen is there for good reasons. For starters it’s a natural moisturizer, preventing the skin inside the ear from becoming too dry, and it also traps dirt and dust before it goes too deep into the canal. Earwax also absorbs things like dead skin cells, and other debris like bacteria or say creepy crawlies or infectious organisms from reaching your inner ear.


Now if you fear you may have an excessive buildup of earwax that is causing hearing issues or say problems with your equilibrium or whatever is the case, definitely have a healthcare provider look inside your ear and have them use instruments specifically designed to remove earwax. Sometimes they can recommend drops to help this overproduction situation. But all in all, earwax is not a reflection of uncleanliness, it is typically a sign of normal healthy ears. Now if you want to wipe around the outside that’s fine, but don’t stick random things into your ears.


3. Pubic Hair


To remove or not to remove that is the question. This may all boil down to preference when it comes to the hair design of your nether regions but from a health standpoint, not removing one’s pubic hair may actually come with some health benefits believe it or not.


Now, of course, there are some people who prefer to work with a clean slate if you will, and have their pubic hair partially or fully removed or even say bedazzled, by all means, have at it, do what makes you happy. But did you know that having some hair in that region can actually offer a degree of protection against certain pathogens? Yes, sir, there was a small study done put of that correlated pubic hair grooming with a higher incidence of STIs. In other words, they concluded that hair down there may act like nose hairs for your nostrails in that it traps dirt, debris, and other potentially harmful microorganisms or things that can cause infection or bacteria from entering.


Furthermore when one does not remove their hair down below via waxing, plucking or whatever your removal agent of choice is, you obviously then reduce your risk of injury in the form of cuts, burns, boils, inflamed hair glands, etc. I think we can all attest that these things just don’t sound pretty or feel that great. And believe me, I do not like treating them in the ER. So regardless of whether you have 1 hair, all the hairs, or no hair at all make sure you are keeping your nether regions clean as you would the rest of your body.


4. Touching Dirt


Although some may view touching dirt well as just that, dirty. It may actually have super impressive health benefits. Now they may not seem to have a correlation from afar but the soil-based organisms that are found in dirt do in fact support your immune response and microbiome. And according to experts, these good bacteria help to crowd out harmful pathogens and fight off bad bacteria that bind to your gut wall.


Additionally, in 2004 one such study out of London found an oncologist injecting lung cancer patients with a common soil bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae to see if it could prolong her patient’s lives. She found that the patients studied reportedly were happier, expressed more vitality, and had better cognitive functioning.


In another study, a neuroscientist at the University of Bristol injected M. vaccae into mice and subjected them to a series of stress tests. The ones who had the soil bacteria showed far less stressed behavior than their untreated counterparts—in fact, they acted as if they were on antidepressants. He concluded that the bacteria activated groups of neurons in the mouse brains responsible for producing serotonin. So no I'm not telling you by any means to go inject this weird soil bacteria into your body. No way. But you could start by just going outside and sticking your bare hands or feet in your garden. Although it may feel weird at first or you may have to fight the urge to run inside and wash your hands with antibacterial soap. There is a lot of research out there that suggests an intimate connection between the immune system, emotional health, and this type of soil bacteria.


5. Hocking Loogies


I know, I know, gross, but what exactly does it mean to hock a loogie, and is it good for you? Or what can it at the very least tell you about your health?


In a nutshell, mucus is sort of like a gel-like watery substance that you’ll find in your nose and sinuses. Phlegm on the other hand is a thicker secretion made in say your, mouth, throat, and lungs. But these types of gross bodily secretions actually serve an important role in keeping certain parts of your body hydrated and protected. In fact, I've heard it described as if your body was a nightclub, mucus would be the bouncer, located at the door and ready to kick out anything causing trouble. Soooo when a sickness-causing agent like say a virus or bacteria enters your body, cells in the body that produce mucus kick into overdrive and beef up the goo in order to sequester those germs. Now typically this type of mucus will see itself to the door and clear out of the body on its own, but sometimes it needs a little extra push out of the body. Like, say as coughing, spitting, or even blowing your nose.


So in the proper social setting maybe it's not okay to just hock one up but from the comforts of say your home, or away from the crowd you may just want to get that mucus out of you because you never know what type of bacteria or germs is binding to and trying to expel from your body.


And your flem, it can also tell you a lot about what else is going on inside your body. For instance, if you notice that your normal clear or pearly white flem or mucus starts to change consistency or color, drama might be going down inside your body.


And if you have excess flem or you know a guy that is always's hocking one up, this could be a sign of a food issue, allergy, acid reflux, smoking irritant, or have something more serious like a bacterial or viral infection. And if your flem starts to take on more of a yellowish color, it could be because you're dehydrated. So do yourself a favor, expel it out of your body, pay attention to it because it may just truly be telling you what’s going on with your health. On the other hand, please do be courteous and don't just spit anywhere and everywhere.

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