Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Aww......
Caffeine & My Thoughts
What I think of Caffeine
Do you roll out of bed and go straight for the coffee? Find it hard to stay awake studying without caffeine? Do you find it hard to start the day without a cup of coffee? Did you know that caffeine is even found in some pain relievers too!!
Well, I think that it's time to make some lifestyle changes. Although you might have no problems with caffeine, it is still bad for you.
I encourage everyone to avoid caffeine as much as possible by considering their own health. It is worth it to be rid of caffeine once and for all.
Well, I think that it's time to make some lifestyle changes. Although you might have no problems with caffeine, it is still bad for you.
I encourage everyone to avoid caffeine as much as possible by considering their own health. It is worth it to be rid of caffeine once and for all.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Affects Of Caffeinated Cola On Children
Kids Behave Badly After Drinking Cola
Health
June 15, 2005
June 15, 2005
Less than one can causes significant worsening of behaviour among first graders Young children can become hyperactive after drinking an average of less than one can of caffeinated cola, according to a small U.S. study.
In the study, 20 first-graders with normal attention span were presented with caffeine-free cola over a three-hour session followed a week later by regular caffeinated cola over the same time span. All children were initially given two ounces of the caffeinated or caffeine-free cola to drink, and were allowed to consume up to a maximum of 12 ounces (one can). After each session, behaviour was assessed using a special test for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Findings showed the children favoured regular cola, with the average consumption of caffeinated cola at about nine ounces versus seven for the caffeine-free cola.
However, there was a 352 per cent increase in hyperactivity scores when the children had caffeinated cola.
In the study, 20 first-graders with normal attention span were presented with caffeine-free cola over a three-hour session followed a week later by regular caffeinated cola over the same time span. All children were initially given two ounces of the caffeinated or caffeine-free cola to drink, and were allowed to consume up to a maximum of 12 ounces (one can). After each session, behaviour was assessed using a special test for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Findings showed the children favoured regular cola, with the average consumption of caffeinated cola at about nine ounces versus seven for the caffeine-free cola.
However, there was a 352 per cent increase in hyperactivity scores when the children had caffeinated cola.
Scores increased in 60 per cent of kids after caffeine consumption, but in only 15 per cent after they drank caffeine-free cola.
"These kids are experiencing escalated increases in hyperactivity disorders over three-quarters of a can of Coke," says Dr. Alan Hirsch, the study's lead author and the neurological director at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.
He points out that manufacturers continue to add caffeine to cola -- purportedly as a flavouring agent -- and target children for marketing despite the fact that the effects of caffeinated cola in this age group have not been reported.
Conservative estimates suggest children ages six to 11 drink an average of seven to eight ounces of carbonated soda each day.
"Why are we adding more caffeine to cola?" Hirsch asks, noting that Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain 44 milligrams and 38 milligrams per can, respectively.
"These kids are experiencing escalated increases in hyperactivity disorders over three-quarters of a can of Coke," says Dr. Alan Hirsch, the study's lead author and the neurological director at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.
He points out that manufacturers continue to add caffeine to cola -- purportedly as a flavouring agent -- and target children for marketing despite the fact that the effects of caffeinated cola in this age group have not been reported.
Conservative estimates suggest children ages six to 11 drink an average of seven to eight ounces of carbonated soda each day.
"Why are we adding more caffeine to cola?" Hirsch asks, noting that Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain 44 milligrams and 38 milligrams per can, respectively.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Did you know?
The "Discovery" of Coffee Legend has it that coffee was "discovered" around 850 AD in upper Egypt by a goat herded named Khaldi. One night, Khaldi's goats did not return home. When he found his goats, Khaldi saw them dancing around a shrub with red berries (coffee beans). After Khaldi tried some of the berries, he started to dance too. Khaldi spoke with some monks who used the berries to make a drink and....coffee was born!
Friday, July 01, 2005
Coffee & Weight??????? How do they go together???
Perricon, Nicholas. The Perricone Prescription. New York Times.
Do I really have to give up my morning coffee? What role does coffee play in weight gain or weight loss?
The simple fact is that coffee raises your body's levelsof cortisol one of the "stress hormones." Cortisol is essential formaintaining homeostasis during acute forms of stress, like fear,physical trauma, and extreme physical exertion. But a problem ariseswhen cortisol is present for a long period of time and in excessquantities. When we measure a young person's cortisol levels, thelevels rapidly elevate under stress, but return to normal within a fewhours. But when we measure cortisol levels in older people, the levelsrise rapidly during stress… but take days to return to normal. And,Since cortisol levels increase with age, a 45 year old person has farhigher levels of cortisol in his body than does a 25-year-old.Cortisol is also known as the "death hormone" because it is catabolic.That means it breaks tissue down. When coritsol levels are high, ourbody breaks down muscle to convert it to amino acids. And, as part ofthe body's "fight or flight" mechanism, high cortisol levels causeother portions of the body to break down in an effort to produce bloodsugar.
Simply put, cortisol is not a good thing. High levels of cortisol(which may be triggered simply by drinking your morning coffee) willincrease body fat, think thin the skin, cause depression of the immunesystem, elevate blood suger, cause bon loss, and kill brain cells.Further, cortisol raises blood sugar, which insulin, resulting in thestorage of fat in the abdominal region. This fat hypertension andcardiovascular disease. So, instead of coffee, drinking green tea. Itcontains many antioxidants called polyphenols which have great healthand beauty benefits, and has been proven to stimulate weight loss.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Caffeine Levels
Caffeine Levels in Foods and Drinks
Levels of caffeine typically found in drinks and foods are listed in the following table obtained from the IFIC website (IFIC August 2002)
Is Caffeine a Choice or Addiction????
Caffeine – The Drug of Choice
Every society in existence today has its own drugs. People have given almost as many reasons for using drugs, as there are the drugs themselves. One of the reasons, the most basic human impulse, for pleasure; is found in a variety of ways. Some of us find it in relationships, in our work, in our material gains, in our drugs. This is inherent within the human make-up. Today in the twenty-first century, drugs are everywhere. Cups of coffee, alcohol, and prescribed medicine are just some of the legal kinds.
Approximately 90% of the Americans consume caffeine in one form or another every single day. More than half of all American young adults consume more than 300 milligrams (mg) of caffeine every day, making it America's most popular drug by far. Some people debate the issue of whether or not caffeine is addictive and harmful to your health.
