Do We Need Caffeine?

October 23, 2010 by wpautoblog
Filed under Health And Fitness

Rahmat Dermawan Gulo asked:

Caffeine is alkaloid drug known as central nervous system and stimulant metabolic, also it can be used medically as a cardiac stimulant or as a diuretic. In the medical terms we called as trimethyl xanthine. As a mild stimulant, the caffeine also mildly addictive, usually it will just make us feel better, but however it can actually make us feel worse when we don’t get it than we would have normally.

Caffeine occurs naturally in over 60 different types of plants. But the most commonly used caffeine containing plants are coffee, tea leaves, cocoa beans, herba mate, guarana and kola nuts. When we found in tea caffeine also called theine, mateine when found in mate, guaranine when found in guaran and of course caffeine when found in coffee; all of these names are synonyms for the same chemical compound.

In the coffee world there are two important coffee plants: Robusta/Coffea Canephora and Arabica/Coffea Arabica. Robusta coffee has historically been less expensive to grow and contains the highest caffeine content. Roasting masters of old have developed closely guarded blends of Arabica over hundreds of years. Coffee connoisseurs consider Arabica the better bean for a superior coffee. Espresso blends primarily use Arabica. However some roast masters will blend in some Robusta as a crema enhancer. Espresso is also pressured brewed with just a small amount of water per shot. Drip coffee uses the less expensive Robusta coffee, which accounts for part of its higher caffeine content. It is also exposed to a large amount of water dripping through a screen or filter. In general, the more water used for brewing, the more caffeine the drink will contain.

Some studies seem to say that caffeine acts like drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine or nicotine. These studies suggest that caffeine affects the part of the brain that triggering functional activity in the shell of the nucleus accumbens. It can be used to promote wakefulness and increase mental activity. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system first at the higher levels, resulting increase alertness and wakefulness, faster and clearer flow of thought, increase focus and better general body coordination, and letter at the spinal cord level at high doses. Once inside the body it has a complex chemistry and acts through several mechanism as described below.

Caffeine is one of the fastest acting drugs known to man. When we drink it, almost every cell in the body, including the brain, absorbs it within minutes. There, caffeine works it is magic as an adenosine-receptor blocker. Adenosine is a chemical which modulates sleep and by blocking this effect, caffeine inhibits sleep and therefore improves alertness. But adenosine also has other effects – it also can slow the heart rate. Thus caffeine can increase the heart rate, which may not be good for some people. In fact, for patients with a disorder called “paroxysmal atrial tachycardia”, adenosine is used by emergency room doctors to slow the heart rate down.

As we know caffeine have a good side like it can increase alertness and short-term memory, and even alters your mood. The caffeine in a cup of coffee stimulates the central system as it simultaneously lowers the blood sugar and increases the brain’s demand for sugar: The result is a temporary lift. Primary among caffeine’s benefits is its effect on free fatty acid metabolism. When frees fatty acids are used for fuel they spare glycogen, glucose and amino acids which would otherwise be metabolized at a faster rate. This is also why coffee is popular among students. The brain functions exclusively on glucose, and higher blood sugar levels facilitate thinking. The most popular effect of caffeine is not physical, but mental.

But unfortunately the bad side of caffeine is more unequal with the good side. Caffeine consumption may lead to insomnia. Drinking coffee with meals in known to inhibited the absorption of iron and calcium from food. Dehydration is a major drawback of caffeine consumption, and results from the drugs ability to increase urine production. Caffeine also has a diuretic effect and just one cup before exercise will trigger unwanted fluid loss. Within half an hour of drinking one or two cups, the flow of the blood to the brain is reduced by 10% to 20%. Combine that with the low blood sugar, in those who haven’t eaten for a while, and you can start having pulpitations, feelings of anxiety or blurred vision. Withdrawal symptoms can occur after regular consumption of just one-to-two cups a day. Caffeinism, as it is sometimes called, shows up as migraine headaches and sickness. Consuming caffeine all day long – this suggests that you probably have a serious sleep disorder (insufficient hours of sleep, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, etc). If you have insomnia, do not consume caffeine – it will make insomnia worse. In fact, stopping caffeine can relieve insomnia in some people. Some of the most common symptoms of excessive caffeine intake are chronic insomnia, persistent anxiety, depressions, restlessness, heart palpitations, upset stomach, headaches when caffeine is not present.

A Finish study found that the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis increases in people drinking several cups or more of coffee daily. Unfiltered coffee can raise blood cholesterol. Coffee does not make a drunk person sober up, it just makes them wide awake. Excess caffeine can increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Caffeine may increase the symptoms of fibrocystic breast lumps in some women. For some, a cup of coffee in the morning replaces a healthy breakfast as it tends to curb the appetite. Increased caffeine consumption has been associated with elevated cholesterol, fibrocystic breast disease, rapid heart beat, and some cancers. You can also theoretically “overdose” on caffeine by drink that much coffee. An obvious drawback to any drug is the withdrawal symptoms that accompany its abuse. For caffeine, this includes primarily headache, and nausea and vomiting are more severe side effects of withdrawal.

Caffeine should be avoided by those with any of the following clinical conditions such are irritable bowel syndrome, iron deficiency, chronic fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, kidney stones, osteoporosis, ulcers, PMS. Many people who are used to having caffeine experience side effects like headaches and drowsiness when they suddenly stop taking it. Here are some tips to cut back slowly, mix your regular coffee with half decaffeinated coffee, try caffeine-free herbal teas or apple cider for a hot drink, choose a latte or caf

Does Green Tea Lower Heart Disease Risk?

October 14, 2010 by wpautoblog
Filed under Health And Fitness

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Lisa Nelson asked:

All right, this green tea article has been hanging over my head for too long. I just couldn’t get motivated to wade through all the research to determine if yes, this is an effective way to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, or no, it’s just a lot of hype.

Well, I sat down and sorted it all out and here’s what I found.

Health Claim

The proposed health claim for green tea is that drinking at least 5 fluid ounces as a source of catechins may reduce risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

What are catchins?

Catechins are a type of flavenoid with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants slow the oxidation process. The oxidation of LDL molecules is what results in plaque formation. Therefore, increasing antioxidant intake should slow oxidation of LDL, resulting in less arterial plaque formation.

Also, when molecules are oxidized, free radicals are released that damage cells. These free radicals can increase inflammatory issues associated with cardiovascular disease. If oxidation slows down, fewer free radicals are released.

How flavenoids work

The body recognizes flavenoids as foreign particles and works to eliminate them from the body. Flavenoids themselves do not act as an antioxidant and they are poorly absorbed by the body. However, the proposed benefit of extra flavenoids is that as the body eliminates the unwanted flavenoids, damaging free radicals are also eliminated.

Tea production

The various types of tea are produced differently. The leaves of oolong tea and black tea are allowed to oxidize (enzymes in the tea change catechins to larger molecules). Green tea is not oxidized, but produced by steaming fresh-cut leaves whereby enzymes are inactivated and little oxidation occurs. The least processed tea is white tea, which contains the highest levels of catechins. Green tea contains the second highest catechin level, approximately 125 mg catechins per serving (or ~25% dry weight of fresh tea leaves).

Here’s a little breakdown on tea oxidation:

Black tea – Highest oxidation; also, highest caffeine content and strongest flavor; 90% of all tea served in the West is black tea
Oolong tea – 10-70% oxidized
Green tea – Low oxidation
White tea – Minimal oxidation; Uncured, unfermented; Lower caffeine content that other teas

FDA Review

In 2005, the FDA did not approve the health claim, because the link between green tea and reduced cardiovascular disease risk was too weak and more conclusive evidence was needed.

Recent Research

This past June, 2008, a study was published that links green tea to reduced flow-mediated dilation of brachial arteries (major blood vessels in the upper arms). Flow-mediated dilation is related to coronary endothelial function and is an indicator for cardiovascular disease risk. Increased dilation is good. It means the heart has to do less work to move blood throughout circulation. (The endothelium is the inner layer of an artery, which blood flows against.)

This was a study of 14 healthy individuals that consumed 6 grams of green tea, followed by a measure of flow-mediated dilation. The results showed an increased flow-mediated dilation with tea (peak at 30 minutes post consumption). There was no change to antioxidant status after consumption. It’s proposed that the improved flow-mediated dilation is how the tea reduces cardiovascular disease risk.

The Hype

I came across multiple articles with headlines screaming “Green Tea Protects Against Heart Disease” since this study was published in June. I think there is significant research that still needs to be completed before it can be determined for sure how tea works to prevent heart disease. A study of 14 individuals is a small study.

Drinking 6 grams of green tea, would equal about three – 6 ounce cups of green tea each day. (Based on making 1 six ounce cup of tea with 1 teaspoon or 2.25 grams of green tea.) However, the study results are based on consuming 6 grams of tea in one setting followed by improved flow-mediated dilation at peak levels 30 minutes after consumption. How likely is it for you to drink three cups of tea quickly, back-to-back to reproduce the short-term benefit shown in this study?

To me, that is not a very effective way to reduce your risk for heart disease. But, I will say that if you like green tea – drink it. Many studies are showing that green tea is beneficial to heart disease. The what, how, and how much is yet to be determined. Who knows what future studies will find?

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Why Coffee Can Cause You to Have Panic Attacks

October 8, 2010 by wpautoblog
Filed under Health And Fitness

Do We Need Caffeine?

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