Coffee may boost gut health

Moderate consumption of coffee may be good for your digestion because of the healthy bacteria growth that it promotes.

Consuming three cups of instant coffee a day for three weeks resulted in increased populations of Bifidobacterium ( healthy bacteria) according to findings published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology.

Bifidobacterium are associated with a lower incidence of allergies and also prevents some forms of tumor growth . Some bifidobacteria are used as probiotics and are among the friendly microorganisms that have been shown to alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Researchers recruited 16 healthy adult volunteers aged between 21 and 57 and a BMI of between 20 and 30 kg/m2 (nine women), and assigned them to drink three cups of coffee per day for three weeks. The volunteers consumed a restricted diet for three weeks prior to the coffee period, during which they did not consume any yogurt,probiotics , fermented milk, or whole grain products...foods which can also promote bifdobacterium growth.

Intestinal contents collected before and after the coffee consumption period showed that the populations of dominant bacteria were not significantly affected. However, numbers of Bifidobacterium increased, with the greatest increases amongst people with lower initial bifidobacterial populations.

In fact subjects showed an increased metabolic activity for bifidobacterial species after consuming the coffee for three weeks.

Although these results cannot be directly related to the consumption of coffee it suggests that the consumption of coffee may prove useful for increasing bifidobacterial numbers which in turn can improve overall digestive health


The study found that coffee consumption increased Bifidobacterium in the gut, but scientists are still not sure which components of coffee are responsible for this increase.


We do know that coffee, and the caffeine it contains, is also associated with beneficial effects on mental and physical performance.

In the past coffee has been villainized as the bad guy, but in recent years several human research studies have shown that coffee consumption does not increase the risk of developing diseases such as specific types of cancer, like liver and colon, cirrhosis, Parkinson’s disease and type-2 diabetes.

This is all great news to me because I love my coffee and now I can rest assured that it isn’t bad for me, and in fact has many positive health benefits. Although with my current menopausal tendency to have hot flashes and night sweats, I tend to stay away from hot coffee in the evening. Hot beverages especially those containing caffeine will increase night sweats. For me it’s best to stick with the morning hot coffee and then ice coffee in the afternoons.

Did You Know Night Sweats Could Be Dangerous

Over 40 percent of Americans suffer from night sweats at one time or another.Most of the times it isn't serious, but there are some conditions where night sweats is a symptom of a serious underlying problem. Normal reasons for night sweats can be menopausal hormone fluctuations, obesity or hot weather.Dr. Oz recommends wicking pajamas to help this problem. Watch this video to learn more.

Anti-Aging Skincare Giveaway Winners

Cool-jams congratulates the winners of our Striking Skincare anti aging serum contest. The lucky winners below will all receive a supply of striking skincare's fantastic anti aging serum. The women at Cool-jams were able to try the Striking products out this month and fell in love with the simplicity of the program and the way the products made their skin look and feel. The lucky winners are:



Susan A
Boise, Idaho

Melinda N
Moore, OK

Susie B
San Diego, CA

Cheryl F
Fort Wayne, IN

Kyla P
Estero, FL

If you would like to sign up for a future contest at Cool-jams be sure to fill out our contact form at Cool-jams. Don't miss our Cool-jams weekly free pajama give-away.

I Love Milk, But Milk Doesn’t Love Me...Is This Menopause?

My husband and I recently discovered that we both have become dairy intolerant. This problem seems to be a common complaint of aging babyboomers and menopausal women and is most likely the result of the age related loss of the intestinal enzyme lactase.

As many as 22% of adult white Americans are lactase deficient. Adult-onset lactase deficiency varies widely among countries. Northern Europeans have the lowest prevalence at approximately 5%. Central Europeans have a higher prevalence at approximately 30%, and Southern Europeans have a much higher prevalence at approximately 70%. Hispanic and Jewish populations also have a high prevalence at approximately 70%, while Northern Indians have a much lower prevalence than Southern Indians, at approximately 25% and 65%, respectively. Almost all (90%) Asians and Africans are affected.

If you have bloating, abdominal discomfort or gas from 1 hour to a few hours after ingestion of milk or dairy products may signify lactose intolerance.

Most people with lactose intolerance should avoid dairy products, however some people can tolerate full fat milk or full fat yogurt because fats decrease the rate of gastric emptying. The rate of gastric emptying is important in the development of symptoms, which may develop if lactose moves quickly to an intestine that is low in lactase. Fats decrease the rate of gastric emptying, whereas carbohydrates increase the rate of gastric emptying. Thus, if dairy products that contain lactose are consumed with carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates, symptoms are more likely.

Another solution is to try goat milk , goat milk yogurt and goat milk cheeses. Goat milk still has lactose, however it is more completely and easily absorbed than cow's milk, leaving less undigested residue behind in the colon to quite literally ferment and cause the uncomfortable symptoms of lactose intolerance.

It may also be that the person is not lactose intolerant at all, but instead is one of the 1-in-10 people who are allergic to the major protein of cow's milk ... alpha S1 casein protein. The symptoms are almost identical to those of lactose intolerance. Both goat milk and human milk lack this offending protein.

Goat milk contains more of the essential fatty acids (linoleic and arachidonic acids) and a higher proportion of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids than cow's milk. The fat in goat milk may be more readily digested and absorbed than cow milk because lipases attack ester linkages of such fatty acids more readily than those of longer chains. And, unlike cow's milk, goat milk does not contain agglutinin; as a result, the fat globules in goat milk do not cluster, which helps facilitate digestion and absorption.

As a 52 year old female, I’m concerned about getting enough calcium. Here are some tips to help you deal with lactose intolerance and to ensure that you are getting at least 1200-1500 mgs per day.

• Choose lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk. Oftentimes full fat lactose free milk is much easier for most people to digest.

• Take a lactase enzyme supplement (such as Lactaid) just before you eat dairy products. These can be taken in drops or tablets and even added directly to milk (they tend to make milk taste a bit sweeter if left for a long time).

• When you do drink milk or eat lactose-containing foods, eat other non-lactose foods at the same meal to slow digestion. Remember simple carbs are the worst and fats tend to slow the digestion.

• Drink juices that are fortified with calcium.

• Eat a variety of dairy-free foods that are rich in calcium, such as broccoli, beans, tofu, or soy milk. Consider hard cheeses such as cheddar, which are lower in lactose and easier for the lactose intolerant individual to digest.

• Yogurts that contain active cultures are easier to digest and much less likely to cause lactose problems. Opt for full fat varieties versus fat free.

• Learn to read food labels. Lactose is added to some boxed, canned, frozen, and prepared foods like bread, cereal, lunchmeats, salad dressings, mixes for cakes and cookies, and coffee creamers. Be aware of certain words that may mean the food has lactose in it: butter, cheese, cream, dried milk, milk solids, powdered milk, and whey, for example.

October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By now, we've probably all been touched by someone who has been negatively affected by breast cancer in some way....perhaps a friend, relative or neighbor. To help the cause, Cool-jams is going pink this month to promote breast cancer awareness. There’s no time like the present to get passionately pink about breast cancer prevention. During the month of October Cool-jams pledges to donate 10% of every sale to the Susan G. Komen organization. Susan G. Komen is a fundraising program that inspires breast cancer advocacy and honors those affected by the disease. Please help raise awareness among your friends, family or co-workers; and help end breast cancer forever!

Here's how it works...

1). Go to www.cool-jams.com to place your order
2). Order any Cool-jams style or gift certificate to qualify for a donation.**
3). At check-out write the word "Pink" in the comment box provided during the check out process.
4). The rest is easy. Cool-jams will automatically donate 10% of your purchase to Susan G. Komen.

**If you know of someone suffering from night sweats associated with breast cancer treatment. The gift of Cool-jams along with a donation a 10% donation to Susan G. Komen is the perfect gift!

Thanks for your support of Susan G. Komen and breast cancer awareness. Visit Cool-jams before the end of October to make your order count toward a donation toward breast cancer awareness.

Remember October 16 is National Mammagraphy Day. According ot the National Cancer Institute, women in their 40s and older should have mammograms every 1 to 2 years.

Are You Interested In Raising Funds For Your Group or Charity?

Cool-jams has a very active charitable giving program. Their simple philosophy is that they are here to make a difference in people's lives. They love to help others in whatever way they can! If you would like to learn more about Cool-jams fundraising programs, contact info@cool-jams.com.

Are Depression, Hot Flashes and Memory Related?

In the last few years, there have been many research studies designed to understand how the menopause transition affects mood, memory , and thermal regulation. In fact an entire day of lectures was devoted to these issues at the October 2009 North American Menopause Society meeting in San Diego. Below are some of the findings discussed at the conference.

1). Depression is 14 times more likely to occur around menopause compared to during the 31 years before the menopause transition.

2).Like postpartum depression, menopausal depression is likely to occur because of hormonal fluctuations. There seems to be a correlation between depression, sleep disturbances and hot flashes for a significant number of menopausal women .

3).In both animal studies and human studies there seems to be strong evidence that depression, hot flashes and sleep disturbances are related to hormonal fluctuations. There seems to be an overlap for many women. Scientists are finding that by treating depression with SSRI( antidepressants) they can also help sleep disturbances and hot flashes.

4). A study conducted at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, found that Estrogen interacts with brain’s neurotransmitter systems necessary for memory and mood control. Age related hormonal changes seem to affect certain parts of the brain. In fact as we age it seems that we begin to use more of our frontal cortex versus the middle part of the brain.

5). Scientists have shown that low doses of estrogen seem to improve memory in younger postmenopausal women(50-60), but has little effect in older menopausal women(over 70). Scientists do warn that memory loss is a side effect of menopause and that symptom should not specifically be treated with hormone replacement therapy, however they did notice that cognitive functions improved when HRT was used to treat other menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Using HRT to help memory might be a possibility in the future, however for now scientists say more research is required to understand the relation between hormones and memory.

Although there was no conclusive evidence presented past studies suggest that combining a low dose transdermal patch with a low dose antidepressant may help diminish quite a few age of the most common menopausal symptom including hot flashes, sleep disturbances and some memory issues. Dose and timing are very important and it seems that the main benefit occurs in early menopause not with older post menopausal women.

Women Making A Difference

Anita Mahaffey founder of Cool-jams Wicking Sleepwear was interviewed on Blog Talk Radio. During the show she discusses how Cool-jams was founded and how she and her company work to make a difference in our world today. To listen to the show go to Women Making A Difference Show with Anita Mahaffey .