Got a headache or minor aches and pains? Don’t make a doctors appointment or grab that bottle of
aspirin. Instead, hit up the local Barista for a cup of Joe. Although the effects have really only been tested in sleep-deprived mice, according to Robert Schmerling, MD, coffee can act as a pain reliever. And while it may seem unbelievable, a jolt of Java can actually keep you calm. “The caffeine in coffee mimics anti-stress hormones like progesterone,” notes physiologist and health expert, Dr Ray Peat, PhD. Dr Peat does caution that people should avoid excessive amounts of coffee and enjoy it with either a meal or cream and sugar in order to prevent feeling shaky. Have you noticed any pain-relieving effects from coffee? How much do you drink per day?