Coffee May Reduce Risk of Diabetes

Several studies in the last years have suggested that high regular coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
A group of researchers lead by Dr. Rob M. van Dam from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston evaluated the effect of the consumption of different types of coffee on the risk of diabetes in more than 88,000 US women.
They found that the risk was reduced 13 percent with one cup of coffee a day and 47 percent with four or more cups a day. They concluded that moderate consumption of coffee may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in middle-age and younger women.
The researchers also believe that other substances in coffee other than caffeine may affect glucose metabolism and therefore lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, coffee may not only lower type 2 diabetes risk, make you more alert and even improve your learning abilities, but some studies report that coffee is a potent antioxidant.
However, this doesn't mean that you should increase your coffee consumption or start drinking coffee if you don't already drink it regularly. Caffeine is a mild stimulant that has effects on the cardiovascular system such as increased heart rate, higher blood pressure or irregular heartbeat that should be considered in case you have heart disease or hypertension.
If you feel that coffee has negative effects on you please talk with your doctor about it.
February 9, 2006.
Source: Van Dam, R, Willett W. Coffee, Caffeine, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 29:398-403, 2006

References:
Diabetes Care: care.diabetesjournals.org
About.com: diabetes.about.com

Bird Girl Statue

This is a copy of the Savannah Bird Girl Statue featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, 1997. Was in Savannah, GA this past weekend. Lovely city. Supposed to be 'Georgia's First City'. The only city not destroyed in Georgia during the Civil War. Went on an architectural tour and learnt a lot about the different styles that influenced the houses surrounding all the different squares. Wish I remembered a bit more. :) Nevertheless I had a great time.

What have you done for me lately?

Would it be selfish if I asked you?

What have you done for me lately?

When was the last time you reached out to me?
When was the last time you caught me by surprise?
What did I get in return the last time I gave you something special?
What was your response when I did something to prove myself to you?
When was the last time you appreciated me?
When was the last time you admitted something to me?
How did you treat me when I was in a vulnerable position with you?
How did you answer when I asked something from you?
When was the last time you thought of me?
When was the last time you thought of telling me so?
How much thought does it take to please me?
How much effort do you put in to make me smile?
When was the last time you leaned on me?
When was the last time you asked me for advice?
How do you know you are still on my good side?
How do you know you haven't taken me for granted?
When was the last time you treated me with good regard and deep respect?
When was the last time you treated me as an equal?
How hard is it to admit that you are truly sorry?
How hard is it to share something important with me?
When was the last time you asked me if I had a good day?
When was the last time you asked me if I was happy?
I don't want to know, I really don't want to know.
I don't even want to know when it was,
the last time I asked you any of these questions.
When was the last time you wondered why?

Why Men Don't Babysit?

I got this funny email about a while ago ...

SI Swimsuit 2006

SI Swimsuit 2006 edition is out. And Maria Sharapova looks great. She looks just as sexy, if not more, in a swimsuit on the beach making faces at the camera as she does when she is grunting on the tennis lawn, when she is slightly out of breath and staring at her opponent. Wow!

Miami Beach

Have been to Miami Beach this past weekend. The most heavenly of places. Had the most fun partying in a long time. And lying on the beach listening to the waves all night till morning was one of the best times I had ever.

Avra Greek Tavern

Avra Greek Tavern

Was at Avra in Midtown last night for drinks and I liked the place. Tried a choclate martini, it was gooooood!

Moving on ...

Here is a favorite quote from Insomnia (Stephen King, 1995):

How much courage does it take to fire up your tractor and plow under a crop you spent six or seven years growing? How much courage to go on and do that after you've spent all that time finding out how to prepare the soil and when to plant and how much to water and when to reap? How much to just say, "I have to quit these peas, peas are no good for me, I better try corn or beans."

It was about not being able to get past a relationship. I thought it was a wonderful analogy in the context.