While those looking to improve their health may know that exercise can increase their quality of life, concerns over conditions like asthma may limit their ability to take advantage of the alternative to common medicines.

Researchers say that a new study may help provide another option to those who commonly have to use inhalers following exercise because of asthma, in the form of caffeine supplementation.

At Indiana University, scientists tested amounts roughly equal to 275 to 800 mg of caffeine for a 200-pound American on participants who had asthma and were then asked to run on a treadmill.

They found that the 800 mg, or about 4 mg per pound of bodyweight, was as effective as an albuterol inhaler in those who received the caffeine, and in lower doses it still reduced coughing and wheezing caused by asthma.

Smaller amounts of caffeine may benefit those looking for a quick mental boost, according to researchers at the University of Alberta.

"If you need a boost coffee improves your mental alertness and can have a calming affect on your heart rate," said lead author and exercise physiologist Michael Kennedy in describing the results of a study linking one large cup of coffee to increased ability to perform mental tasks.