The Checkup: Rejoice! Coffee Is So Stinkin’ Good For You!

• If you’re sipping a cup of coffee while reading this post, give yourself a pat on the back. A new review of 176 studies, which go back 100 years, found that coffee, tea and cocoa—three plant-based sources of caffeine—are chock full of good-for-you compounds that may work together to give you turbo-charged health boost. The review aimed to tease out what science does and doesn’t know about the effects of these three substances on your body and brain. It documents is a laundry list of compounds—phytochemicals, polypheonols, et al—that may work in concert with caffeine to give you major health benefits. Meaning? Next time you need a pick-me-up, your best health bet is reaching for a cup of coffee or tea, rather than popping caffeine pills (but I’m sure you already knew that, right?). Runner’s World has more.

• Are you a Phillies fan? Click over to the Rothman Institute’s blog to read about what it’s like to be a Phillies team physician. (Bonus: They’ve got some cool behind-the-scenes photos, too.)

• Sorry, everyone who sits on a stability ball all day at work (*ahem Erica, Simon and Jess ahem*). The New York Times says those bouncy balls probably aren’t doing anything for you health-wise—they’re not burning any extra calories, working your abs any harder or giving you better posture. More here.