The Benefits of Caffeine

I know it's the middle of a sweltering summer and the last thing you're thinking when you're sweating it out on the court is, "If only I could get my hands on a steamy cup of coffee!" But don't give up on your caffeine just because of the heat. According to a recent issue of Prevention magazine, there are all kinds of great reasons to drink coffee:

• It can help prevent DNA damage that leads to skin cancer.
• It is full of healthy antioxidants.
• And, people who drink 3 to 4 cups a day have a 25% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Wow! Just remember - caffeine is a diuretic (see this post - Quick Tennis Fix: Cut Your Caffeine - for more info on that) so you don't want to be drinking coffee or any other caffeinated beverage during your match. Instead, enjoy your coffee during a non-tennis-playing moment and load up on water and other forms of hydration during matches (see Drink! Drink! Drink! to find out what you should be drinking).


© Kim Selzman 2010 All Rights Reserved