Speaking of skin cancer prevention, most people know the basics – stay in the shade and wear a hat in sunny days, use SPF daily, and stay out of tanning beds. But what if there is more to this? A combination of exercise and caffeine may reduce the risk of developing skin cancer caused by sun exposure. The findings of a new study, presented on the annual meeting of the AACR, point in this direction. Previous studies have shown that exercise and caffeine are independently associated with reduced rates of skin cancer. However, this is the first study to examine the combined effect of exercise and caffeine.

The research team did not investigate the reasons why there might be a link between skin cancer tumors, exercise, and caffeine. However, the researchers found an association between reduced body fat, exercise, and caffeine. Fat may trigger inflammatory processes in the body, and inflammation may lead to the development of skin cancer.

Caffeine has other beneficial effects such as helpings habitual drinkers dodge diabetes. Furthermore, caffeinated drinks keep dopamine molecules active. Men who have four cups of coffee a day are less likely to suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine blocks adenosine and thus slows the build-up of a toxic substance – amyloid-beta – which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a new Austrian study, a cup of joe boosts mind power for 45 minutes. Finally, a research team at Brooklyn College established that people who had four cups of coffee a day had a significantly lower risk of dying of heart disease. Scientists are not sure whether it is antioxidants or caffeine in coffee that provide the abovementioned benefits. Opt for the leaded variety unless you are caffeine-sensitive. Studies have shown that regular coffee has more antioxidants than decaf.