AWeber - FOHAC Caffeine #321

Published: Sun, 09/27/15

Fair Oaks Health News

Welcome

September 27, 2015

Caffeine

Hi ,

Ninety percent of adults in North America consume caffeine daily. It is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant found in over 60 different South American and Asian plants, but we are most familiar with just three sources: coffee, tea, and to a small extent, chocolate.

Caffeine seems to get both bad press and good press largely because, like most physiologic substances, it has a “safe” dose and as you increase the amount you use, it becomes unsafe. This is true of water, food, salt, sunlight, most everything. And like many such things, because it makes us feel good we tend to over use it and that produces damage.

The most popular beverage containing caffeine is coffee, which contains 80 to 135mg of caffeine per cup. Tea is less concentrated at 25 to 75 mg per cup, while one bar of Hershey’s dark chocolate has about 30mg. Of course we also have our favorite energy drinks like Red Bull with 80mg per serving or classic Coca cola at 34mg per can.

So what is the “safe” dose for caffeine? For most humans about 500mg per day is the safe and tolerable amount that is associated with positive health outcomes, or about 3 to 5 eight ounce cups of coffee a day. The maximum tolerable dose without serious side effects is 1200mg per day. Beyond that and you start showing signs of caffeinism symptoms including nervousness, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, headaches, and palpitations. Ten grams of caffeine, which is about 5 teaspoons is deadly.

Caffeine is actually made by plants as an insecticide to keep bugs from munching on them. It also inhibits the growth of weeds and young plants around the mother plant when the leaves containing the caffeine fall to the ground and the ground becomes full of caffeine. Honeybees seem to like the buzz they get from the caffeine.

What does caffeine do inside us? Its primary mode of action seems to be to block the effects of a brain substance called adenosine, which makes us drowsy. With this blocked, our levels of dopamine and glutamate increase, which are stimulatory neurotransmitters. These make us feel more awake and happy. Too much glutamate makes our brain explode (yes brain cells literally explode), so too much caffeine is a bad thing.

That being said, caffeine in the safe amounts have been associated with lower death rates from various cancers and from heart disease. Medically caffeine is actually administered for certain diseases like low blood pressure that makes you dizzy when you get up from lying down, and certain breathing conditions in premature infants. Caffeine increases our metabolic rate and improves our ability to think, focus, and improve coordination. The best dose to achieve these effects varies from one person to the next, so caffeine is a “trial and error” drug. It takes time to find out if it benefits you and how much you need to use for that benefit. Just keep your total daily dose below the 500mg per day and you should be good. If you consume more than then recommended maximum dose, it starts having negative effects on all the positive outcomes studies have reported.

A close cousin to caffeine is theobromine; the stimulant primarily found in chocolate. The word literally translated means “food of the Gods.” Theobromine is a heart stimulant, diuretic, and vasodilator. It acts on the brain in a similar fashion to caffeine, although the stimulatory effect rises more slowly and lasts longer, so it is a gentler lift than caffeine.

Tea, especially green tea, moderates the effect of the caffeine through the health properties of the polyphenols in the green tea. The caffeine in coffee can feel harsh to many folks, but the lift from green tea feels cleaner and clearer. The idea here is that the benefits of caffeine can be enhanced and moderated by what the caffeine is consumed with.

Personally I have avoided coffee my entire life, both because I don’t like the bitterness in most coffee, plus I don’t like drinking hot beverages. But my recent experiments in making cold brew for Ellen prompted me to try some cold brew myself. I was pleasantly surprised and have since been enjoying some cold brew with Ellen in the morning.

A while back I was also introduced to the idea of adding coconut oil – particularly the MCT portion of coconut oil to coffee – as an added source of brain support. MCT oil serves as a direct brain food. In fact I offer it in the office for that very purpose. I call it Brain Power Food. It is the stuff that looks like moonshine at the front desk. Someone gave the combination of MCT and coffee the name Bullet proof coffee as part of a promotional ad campaign.

Naturally I figured I could improve on the concept, so I did. I created a new product I am calling “Wakeup Call.” I designed it as an additive to coffee, but found I also liked it added just straight to hot water – once I let the water cool down a bit. I took the Brain Power Food MCT oil and combined it with green tea extract and raw cocao powder. This produces a nice syrup similar to Hershey’s chocolate syrup, but with the benefit of the MCT oil, the polyphenols in the cacao and green tea, the theobromine from the chocolate, and the extra caffeine from the green tea extract. Each teaspoon of Wakeup Call gives you an extra 60mg of caffeine, with the moderating qualities of the chocolate and green tea. To take the bitter edge off the raw cacao and green tea, I added a tiny bit of stevia. The touch of sweet takes the bitterness down quite a bit.

Since you only need a teaspoon at a time, a single 4 ounce bottle gives you 24 servings. So at $12 a bottle it is like getting 24 extra cups of coffee in terms of lift and improved performance. You are getting the health benefits of an equivalent number of cups of green tea and you are getting the brain boost from the MCT oil.

I am going to set some up for you to try in the office next week, so if you feel like it, swing on by for a free cup of cold brew coffee with a boost of Wakeup Call added to it. Let me know what you think!

Take care,

David

Wakeup Call taste testing in the office this week - come by and get a lift to your morning.

Each bottle provides 24 servings of added fun to your favorite beverage. 60 mg of caffeine per serving plus polyphenols, antioxidants, theobromine, and Brain Power MCTs to nourish your noggin.

Flax Lignans - Now in the office!

Extracted from organic flaxseed grown in South Dakota. Each 1/3rd container has approximately 75 teaspoons of flax lignan. Each teaspoon provides the lignan benefit of 100 teaspoons of flax flour. Sprinkle it on your yogurt, salads, into stew, almost anything. It has very little taste but a ton of health benefit!

New Product Announcement - Root Beer!

I have been making a healthy root beer for myself for several years using root beer extract and my super sweet drops made from stevia used to flavor Club Soda. Sugar is terrible for us and artificial sweeteners are even worse. Both are key causes in our obesity epidemic. But stevia as a sweetener actually improves our blood sugar. My Root Beer Nectar makes it super easy to make delicious Root Beer at home. Just add 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of nectar (depending on how sweet you like your soda) to a two liter Club Soda. That's it!
Finally a soda without guilt or poison. Only $18 for 4 ounces - enough to make 36 to 48 liters.

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What is this contraption at the office?

Facial Rejuvenation under construction?

On the Wire

Is retirement dangerous for your health?

Seniors who retire are almost three times more likely to report their health as poor compared to seniors who continue working into their retirement years. When tested for health and activities like taking care of themselves retired seniors were six times more likely to have a low score than seniors who continued in a white collar type job.

Retire .
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"Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.."

~ Abraham Lincoln

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Tai Chi - the right prescription for health

A recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine says Tai Chi is beneficial for treating arthritis as well as the lung condition COPD. It is being considered as a prescription for many aging related health conditions.

Tai Chi

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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

~ Abraham Lincoln
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The spice of life?

In a seven year study of half a million Chinese adults, it was found that those who regularly consumed hot spicy foods lived longer - reducing their risk of premature death by 14%. Regular consumption didn't require every day use but just a few times per week. The focus of the study was on chili peppers and the capsaicin the contain, although the belief was that black pepper, garlic, horseradish, and ginger may offer similar health benefits.

Spice

"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend."

- Abraham Lincoln

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Our address is 9725 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Our hours are M - F 9 to 1 and M, Tu, & Th 3 to 6

Finding the new location is very easy. Coming from highway 50 up Sunrise Blvd, you turn left and go up a block. We are on the right hand side - the building just past the Subway Sandwich shop. If you are coming down Sunrise from the Mall area then just turn right on Fair Oaks Blvd and up a block on the right.

If you are coming from the Roseville area you could come down Sunrise Blvd, but that is a long trek. It is probably shorter time wise to come down Auburn Blvd - San Juan Ave like you have been for the Sunset office, but instead of turning left at Sunset, keep going straight 3 more lights to Fair Oaks Blvd and turn left. Go down 2 lights to New York Ave, go through the intersection, and immediately turn into the turn lane once the center divider ends. We are on the left.

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"This article appears courtesy of Fair Oaks Health News, offering natural and healthy solutions for body, mind and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.fairoakshealth.com"

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About Dr. DeLapp

Dr. DeLapp has been a philosopher, non-force Chiropractor, medical intuitive, and health innovator for over 30 years. He began experimenting with medical intuition in 1972 while studying physics at UC Davis. In addition to physics he designed and completed an individual major in the philosophy and psychology of education. Shortly after he choose to pursue a career in the only truly health oriented profession available at that time, Chiropractic. He graduated with honors in 1981 with his doctorate and opened a private practice.
Since that time he has continued his research into the effects of consciousness and learning on health.
He developed the Biomagnetic Retraining system for correcting movement abnormalities.
Since 1991 he has focused on developing a powerful system for uncovering and assisting the mind-body connection in health and personal growth. The in-depth coaching, guided by the subconscious direction from the body, is called Heartflow and the simpler mind-body retraining for health and unfoldment he has named Gracework. Both are available at Fair Oaks Health.

Fair Oaks Healing
& Arts Center
Staff