Caffeine: Where It Comes From (not beans!) and Effects on the Body

Posted on May 21, 2011 by admin

Many of us enjoy at least one cup of coffee every day, but don’t really think about where it comes from, or the effects of caffeine on our body, other than the fact that it makes us feel more alert.

Coffee beans are actually seeds!

Coffee beans are actually the seed of a ripened cherry rather than beans. Most coffee is made from the robusta and arabica seeds, which are from a number of different regions including South America, Africa, and Central America.  The cherry trees need a lot of rain and sunshine, so are generally from tropical regions. Robusta coffee is easier to cultivate than the arabica beans, but the arabica beans are thought to produce better quality coffee.

Caffeine can also come from sources other than the coffee ‘bean’, including the Cassina plant from North American and the cocoa bean from Mexico.

 How caffeine affects the body

Caffeine lasts in the human body for between 3 to 7 hours. It increases metabolic rate by around 10%, and females metabolise caffeine 20-30% more quickly than males. In the brain it constricts the cerebral blood vessels and can therefore help a hangover, as too much alcohol can cause the blood vessels to enlarge. Caffeine is also a strong diuretic, making you urinate more than usual. This is apparently due to increasing the blood flow through the kidneys.  If a person has too much caffeine, it can cause shaking due to over-activation of the central nervous system and insomnia by delaying feelings of sleepiness.

How much caffeine is in different drink/food?

Listed below are approximate levels of caffeine in different beverages and food .

Coffee

Filtered coffee (250ml) 200 – 250mg of caffeine
Percolated coffee (250ml) 100 – 150mg of caffeine
Instant coffee (250ml) 80 – 150mg of caffeine
Decaffeinated coffee (250ml) 4 – 8mg of caffeine

Tea

Tea (250ml) 20 – 200mg of caffeine (usually 20 – 50mg)
Iced Tea (350ml) 12 – 28mg of caffeine

Other drinks and chocolate

Cola drinks (375ml) 30 – 75mg of caffeine (High caffeine drinks will have more caffeine, check the label!).
‘Energy’ drinks (375ml) 150mg or more
Hot chocolate (250ml) about 10mg of caffeine
Chocolate bar (200gms) 60mg of caffeine

So keep enjoying your coffee or hot chocoloate, but perhaps not too much!

http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/caffeine/caffeine.htm

 http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=301&id=2346

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Benefits of Manuka

Posted on March 26, 2011 by admin

Honey has been used medicinally for many years, but with modern antibacterial creams and antibiotics, the benefits of honey are now often overlooked.

Honey, and a particular type of honey, manuka honey, speeds up the healing process of a wound and has anti-bacterial properties (when eaten as well) which can reduce infection. There are now products such as hand cream, facial cleansers and other moisturisers which incorporate manuka honey as an ingredient. I have found it works best and lasts the longest simply using the honey directly from the jar. It can then be used for any cuts/bites/scratches/ or other skin irritations by directly applying it.

Manuka honey is also meant to eaten, and is a great substitute for sugar. It can be good for your general health – for instance it can help with digestion or an upset stomach.

You can buy different strengths of manuka honey, which determines the antibacterial power of the honey– it is worth noting that the stronger it is the more expensive it is but also the more effective.

http://www.manukahoneyinfo.com/
http://health.ninemsn.com.au/whatsgoodforyou/theshow/694197/does-honey-have-healing-benefit
http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/pdf/cmec/honeysr.pdf

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Health tip of the week: which fruit can lower blood pressure?

Posted on February 19, 2011 by admin

You may have seen a previous post in Everyday Reviewer about the benefits of beetroot for  lowering blood pressure:

http://www.everydayreviewer.com/health-tip-of-the-week-beetroot-lowers-blood-pressure/

 Now another recent study has suggested that watermelon can also lower blood pressure.

This is because watermelon is a rich natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, the amino acid which assists in the regulation of vascular tone and healthy blood pressure. Of course the benefit is greatest when it is eaten in large quantities, however watermelon does have natural sugar so you don’t want to overdose on the sugar. The best idea is to eat it regularly in reasonable sized portions, and discuss any significant diet changes with your doctor if you are on medication or have health issues.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101013173847.htm
http://www.smh.com.au/news/science/watermelon-its-viagra-the-natural-way/2008/07/04/1214951001969.html

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5 easy tips to prevent hangovers you may not be aware of

Posted on January 5, 2011 by admin

Hangovers can sometimes hit you harder than you think, and even when you have the luxury of taking it easy the next day, it’s not great for your body. Below are some tips you may not be using to reduce the severity of the hangover, but also look after your body.


1. Have an electrolyte drink to rehydrate your body - one of the reasons we get a headache is that alcohol really does dehydrate you. Another similar idea is sports drinks, however these tend to have more sugar so the electroyte drink is better for you (especially if you had sugary drinks the night before!). Alternating water and alcohol is also a good idea to reduce dehydration in the first place.

 
2. Have some milk thistle (either in tablet or liquid form)

Milk thistle originally comes from the  Mediterranean region, but is now grown in many other regions in dry, sunny areas. It gets its name from the milky white fluid that comes from the leaves when they are crushed.  Studies have found that a substance in milk thistle known as silymarin helps to repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. As with any alternative health remedy be careful if you are taking other medication or have a health condition (you may need to check with your doctor), and stick to the recommended dosage.

3. Eat a satisfying meal beforehand that will release energy slowly, such as wholegrains, lean meat, eggs, or dairy products, rather than meals such as white bread or sugary food which causes a greater fluctuation in blood sugar levels.

4. If drinking spirits/mixed drinks, choose lighter liquors such as vodka or gin rather than brandy, whisky or tequilia.

5. Of course, the best idea is not to drink more than 2 standard drinks a day, have at least a few days per week without alcohol and don’t drink without food but you probably already know that!

Please share any good tips you know of in the comments below.

References:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm
http://www.herbal-supplements-guide.com/milk-thistle-benefits.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1342065/Eat-bagel-stop-New-Year-hangover-The-pre-party-meals-save-morning-feeling.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-hangovers-occur

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Laptops, computers, iPhones… and eye strain

Posted on December 17, 2010 by admin

With iPhones and tablet computers as well as laptops we’re looking at screens a lot more than we used to, which means we’re using our eyes in a particular way that can cause problems.  Some of the visible impacts of this are headaches (in particular tension headaches), tired/red eyes and of course reduced vision. Eye exercises are important to balance the concentrated use of the eyes when you look at a screen,  particularly as most of us do this every day!

The best eye exercise I know of is to hold your index figure in front of your face and move it left, right, up and down to use your peripheral vision. Stretching the neck is also important as it can cause headaches -  so moving your  neck up down,  and to the side is a good idea.  Another one referenced in the site below is to hold your thumb six inches from your nose and focus on it, and then focus on an object 10 feet away.

It is also a good idea to get your eyes checked for glaucoma after you reach the age of 40 which involves checking the pressure of the eyes.

References:

http://www.naturaleyecare.com/eyestrain/default.htm
http://www.glaucoma.org.au/what.htm

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