BETTER than a cup of coffee!
Quitting caffeine isn't always easy, especially if you've had a long-term habit.
It's not just addictive -- many folks miss the quick pick-me-up they get from a little java.
Unfortunately, that energy boost comes with a downside in the form of jitters, anxiety, and restlessness. In some cases, a late-afternoon cuppa can even cause sleep problems at night!
You might know you're a little sensitive to the effects of caffeine, but can't quit because you don't want to feel tired and slow, especially in the morning.
If that's your battle, go ahead and toss the coffee. I've got something better for you today, as new research reveals another way to boost your energy that works as well as caffeine.
And you're not going to believe how simple it is.
This little trick can be done in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee, and it won't cost you a penny.
Just find a staircase, and walk on up!
Really, that's all you have to do. It's not as easy as it sounds, especially if you're the type who normally avoids stairs.
But new research shows how if you find a staircase and walk for about 10 minutes, you can charge your internal batteries so effectively that you'll feel as if you've had a little coffee.
Volunteers who were getting an average of 6.5 hours of sleep per night or less were given either 50 mg of caffeine -- about what you'll find in a can of soda, or a little less than what's in a small cup of coffee -- or a placebo.
Then, they were sent to the staircase for 10 minutes.
When the time was up, the volunteers who did the stair walk with the placebo actually had a little MORE energy, according to the study.
The effect does wear off. Then again, the same is true of coffee.
What's great about this is that you don't have to act like Rocky running up the steps in Philadelphia. You don't even have to go exclusively up.
The study finds that 10 minutes of going both up AND down the stairs at a comfortable pace will do the trick.
Obviously, don't try this if you have a condition where you might fall or if you take medications that make you dizzy. But if you're otherwise healthy and can handle it, a trip up and down the stairs will kill two birds with one stone.
Along with boosting energy, it will also get you on your feet and moving -- and that's one of the keys to avoiding chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more.