I love a good mystery — and there’s one brewing right now in the world of coffee.

You’ve probably already heard that java can help protect you against everything from dementia to Parkinson’s to colon cancer.

Now, a new study has found two ingredients in particular that seem to work together to protect you against Alzheimer’s disease. One is caffeinate, and the other is…well, that’s where the mystery comes in.

Previous research had shown that pure caffeine itself improved cognition in mice with symptoms of Alzheimer’s. But according to the results of this latest study, caffeinated coffee could give you an even bigger brain boost than caffeine alone. Take a look…

Researchers from Tampa’s University of South Florida gave mice either pure caffeine, regular coffee, or decaf coffee. They found that mice that got the “real” brew had the highest blood levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor, or GCSF.

That’s a protein that plays a key role in the immune system. High levels of it has also been linked to better memory, and low levels have been tied to Alzheimer’s.

It’s no wonder GCSF is such a powerhouse. The researchers say that it benefits your brain in three different ways.

First, it suppresses the production of beta amyloid, the plaque that is believed to be the cause of Alzheimer’s. But
it doesn’t stop there. GCSF also goes to work destroying any existing beta amyloid. Finally, it produces connections in your brain, and encourages the birth of new brain cells.

Since pure caffeine alone didn’t produce the same surge in GCSF, researchers believe it’s the combination with the “mystery ingredient” that provides the boost.

Coffee — especially espresso — is also one of the top natural sources of niacin, a key vitamin that can help prevent heart attacks and stroke.

One recent study found women who drank more than a cup a day had a 25 percent lower risk of stroke than women who drank no coffee.

And of course, one of coffee’s most notable effects on your brain is its ability to wake it up each day. I know my own
always seems to function just a little bit better after the second cup.

There’s some great research going on these days when it comes to allergies and asthma. Too bad it’s being used for the wrong reasons.

The latest discovery concerns a protein that may be linked to allergy-induced asthma. But instead of using this information to help develop a safe and effective natural treatment or better understand the triggers, it’s likely that it will instead become the basis of yet another unnecessary drug.

Researchers say mice without this protein have fewer signs of asthma, according to the study published in May in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

They also found that mice that have the protein but are given a drug to block it show fewer asthma symptoms.

I find it appalling that every new discovery seems to lead to a drug. But it’s hardly surprising in today’s environment.

In this case, several of the researchers involved in the study also have ties to the company developing the drug that was used to block the protein.

You can guess where this is going.

I know Big Pharma likes it that way because that’s how drug makers line their pockets. But how much longer will everyone else play along?

You don’t need meds and their side effects to combat allergies and asthma. You need to understand what triggers your symptoms, and what eases them. For more information on how to heal from asthma, order my book, The Body Heals, 2nd Edition at www.thebodyheals.com.

For example, there’s even a new study out that shows how yoga can benefit asthma sufferers.

The study, presented in May at the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual meeting, found that people who perform basic yoga moves and breathing exercises for two and a half hours per week had a 43 percent improvement in asthma symptoms compared to those in a control group.

Surely that’s a better option than any new drugs and their yet-unknown side effects.

But yoga will only take you so far. What will really help you is better testing and, as a result, better awareness of the cause of your allergies.

These allergens can lurk just about anywhere. One recent study found that some people are allergic to chemicals used in point-of-sale printers, triggering their asthma symptoms.

These are the little printers used just about everywhere to print everything from lottery tickets to credit card receipts.

The study, published in May in the New England Journal of Medicine, followed a Spanish woman who had asthma symptoms while at work – but none on her days off. They were able to link the symptoms to the lottery ticket printer she used at her job.

But many people who develop coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath don’t get the kind of treatment that can link those symptoms to a specific cause. Most doctors are all too happy to just write a prescription for their patients and send them on their way.

Don’t settle for that.

These symptoms are always triggered by an allergen, and that allergen can almost always be identified if you insist on thorough testing.

Find them, remove them from your life – and breathe easier without any of Big Pharma’s meds.