We here that wine is good for preventing heart disease but bad for breast cancer patients and one study will say women should have only 2-3 drinks a week and men can have more. My list of beverages is very limited as I am not a pop drinker and fruit juices are too sweet so my mainstay is Tea and a occasional Cafe mocha from Tim Horton's. Guess what? It is ok. Caffeinated beverages are the best over -the- counter medication. Now I am not endorsing the ones that give you such a jolt that your heart is pounding out of your chest and I still push water but Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa have health properties so enjoy these beverages as there seems to be no harm in them for most people and as always moderation is the key. Make sure that you get the ok from your healthcare professional as you certainly don't want it interacting with any medications or health conditions you might have but it is definitely worth the inquiry.
Having presented those issues, keep in mind that caffeine is a stimulant and for many of us that means that afternoon is a good time to stop drinking these beverages so that you can sleep at night. I do know people that can continue drinking caffeinated beverages up till bedtime and get a good night sleep, but I am not one of them. Teas also being one of these caffeinated beverages also contain antioxidants. Now when it comes to chocolate count me in. We are talking about cocoa, and it has been shown to have health benefits, again, I am in and what is more fun than the fact that it is a vegetable too.
The last of these informational tidbits has to do with withdrawal from caffeine and I am sure we have all been there at some time or another. Try skipping your morning cups of coffee for a day and see how lousy you feel. You may need to up your fluid intake to help with the drop in caffeine. I for one will pass on the prune juice but I will grab a glass of water and I do enjoy it because I don't want that caffeine withdrawal headache... Have a great day! S