Welcome everybody and thanks for joining us on episode #15 of “Health Talk with Dr. Kell”. We are in the middle of a four-part series dedicated to exercising. In week one, we discussed why we should exercise, how it improves our physical and emotional health, and what to do in the Pre-Workout Phase. 

Last week, we talked about the Workout Phase, how much to exercise, should you change up your routine, should you exercise when you’re sick, and where to get help with your exercise routine options. 

This week, we’ll get answers to what is caffeine, where does it come from, how does it affect the body, is it ok to use caffeine with exercise, and what are caffeine alternatives?

Caffeine is a natural stimulant most commonly found in tea, coffee, and cacao plants. It works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system. 

We NEED it. We wake up feeling groggy and need something to wake us up. Often, it’s a cup of coffee, or two or three, but who’s counting. We know a couple more hours of sleep would really help us to feel refreshed, but sometimes we just don’t have that extra time, so we reach for another cup, or a chocolate bar, or a cup of tea. 

Feeling tired does not feel good. And we need a quick fix. The problem is when we start to rely on the coffee instead of taking care of ourselves. The more tired we get, the more caffeine we need, the worse our food choices become, and the more irritable we get from it all. It’s a vicious cycle, but it's one that can be broken. 

The goal is to balance health and wellness by getting enough sleep, eating nutritiously, and cutting out junk and chemicals in our food so that we can wake up refreshed.