The risk of asthma symptoms fell by 28% when patients drank three or more cups of coffee every day.

In 1992, Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) examined over twenty thousand Americans. The study found that risk of symptoms from patients with asthma going into study fell dramatically (over 29%) when patients who regularly drank coffee were compared with patients who did not drink coffee on a regular basis.

In addition, risk of patients suffering from wheeze fell almost 13%. A relationship was also found between amount of coffee consumed and effects gained by asthma patients. Those who drank more coffee had fewer symptoms; those who drank less coffee had more symptoms.

Another smaller coffee and asthma study was performed on nine adult asthmatics using four daily doses of caffeine similar to doses contained in coffee. This study showed a dose response effect of caffeine on forced expiratory volume (FEV), forced expiratory flow (FEF) and specific airway conductance (Gaw/VL). This data also suggests that caffeine is an effective tool to use in opening airways during an onset of asthma.

While doctors will never advise drinking coffee as sole treatment for asthma as they did hundreds of years ago, they do agree that caffeine found in coffee is particularly beneficial in an emergency situation. Anecdotal evidence shows that people have used coffee in situations where inhalers were completely unavailable, such as when on vacations and on an airplane. Coffees are particularly useful in these situations, as patients might otherwise suffer serious consequences due to their inability to breathe properly.

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Broth fondues are similar to hot oil fondue except they are cooked in broth instead of oil. The benefit of cooking in broth is that it takes on flavors of ingredients dunked in it and you can eat it. Often broth fondue (or Shabu Shabu) is followed by a course of noodle or rice soup that is made with leftover broth.

Start your broth fondue with low sodium chicken or beef broth. Like hot oil fondue you should use lean cuts of meat, small portions and limit use of dipping sauces. Broth fondues add vegetables to mix. Try adding mushrooms, green onions, carrots and celery to broth. Loading up on vegetables will not only fill you but they’re healthy for you.

When running low on ingredients, add remainder to fondue pot along with some noodles or rice. Let simmer for a few minutes and serve this wonderfully flavored soup as an after dinner treat to your guests.

Chocolate fondue is delicious but fattening. Cheese fondue is not something you should eat every day. When dieting you should probably skip them both and stick to broth and hot oil fondues. If some care is taken while gathering ingredients, fondue can become a healthy meal.