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Even more caffeine

Aug 10, 2007 08:19

Ritchie et al (2007) reports from a French cohort study that caffeine may be neuroprotective in women, but not in men. Over 7000 men and women (65 years or older) were followed over a period of 4 years, and women drinking 3 or more cups of coffee per day showed less cognitive decline than their uncaffeinated peers. Men showed no effect in Ritchie ( Read more... )

martin jarvis, coffee, cognition, karen ritchie, sex differences, boukje van gelder, caffeine, marilyn johnson-kozlow, gender differences

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Caffeine weakens immune system anonymous August 10 2007, 14:22:39 UTC

Tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks and chocolate share the same nerve toxin (stimulant), caffeine. Caffeine, which is readily released into the blood, triggers a powerful immune response that helps the body to counteract and eliminate this irritant. The toxic irritant stimulates the adrenal glands, and to some extent, the body’s many cells, to release the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol into the blood stream ( ... )

spam from IP 217.132.35.102 differenceblog August 10 2007, 14:29:36 UTC

Normally, I just delete the comments that are obviously keyword directed SPAM, but I thought this was an interesting example of FUD marketing, and thought it might launch a conversation. I'll leave it for now, but I'll probably delete it in a day or two.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system deadkytty9 August 10 2007, 14:41:32 UTC

For every cup of tea or coffee you drink, the body has to mobilize 2-3 cups of water just to remove the stimulants, a luxury it cannot afford.

I'm pretty sure there has to be some sort of diminishing returns working on this one, as I knew several people in college who drank *only* caffeinated soda for extended periods of time (months). I wouldn't call that a terribly healthy practice (when you're sweating Mountain Dew, that's probably a sign that something is wrong, physically), but neither did they get sick or dehydrate and die.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system differenceblog August 10 2007, 14:47:07 UTC

Interestingly, Coca-cola has decided to start fighting these claims with their own. I recently bought a 12-pack of coke which proclaimed that coke is not dehydrating. I think it said "Who knew hydration tasted so good!" Hold onto that market share! It gave me a chuckle.

I don't know if I buy either claim, but I thought it was interesting that Coca-cola was now having to address the dehydration noise.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system dabunny August 10 2007, 15:39:16 UTC

I saw a diet coke bus ad the other day which was promoting diet coke as being "99% pure Water, 1% Pure taste" or something like that. Seems like they're taking the offensive against the coke-dehydrates-you meme.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system hakerh August 10 2007, 17:21:31 UTC

Yeah, I saw something along those lines, too. Something like "Coke contains water! It's a hydrating beverage!" Which made me shake my head. I don't call anything "hydrating" that contains caffeine, namely because for me, the diuretic effect of the caffeine *does* outweigh the water intake of its liquid medium. Sure, it's hydrating in that it does contain water, but not when contains a diuretic on top of that. Plus the concentrated sugar makes me sick, but that's another problem...

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system differenceblog August 10 2007, 14:53:45 UTC

I knew there was more to the Coke thing: they have a website "Make Every Drop Count" that has a specific propaganda page just as full of badly cited science as the spammer's page above.

Check out the Coca-Cola "fact sheet" on caffeine and caffeinated beverages, which says:
Caffeine is safe
Caffeine is important to the "taste and profile" of soft drinks
Caffeine is non-addictive
Caffeine is not-dehydrating

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system deadkytty9 August 10 2007, 15:12:25 UTC

HA! Anyone who's ever tried a caffeine pill knows that it tastes absolutely godawful. So why put it in if it tastes bad, unless it's addictive?

Personally, what I get strong cravings for isn't caffeine, but the caffeine+sugar combination in sodas. Just coffee or a donut alone won't do it for me.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system dabunny August 10 2007, 15:44:44 UTC

Your general point may be mostly ok, but your line of argument is highly suspect. Perception of flavors change dramatically with concentration. Comparing a caffeine pill (not intended to be a flavor delivery device) to a diluted caffeine solution in a soft drink is, in the best light, an unfair comparison. I would venture to say that most flavors you find quite pleasant in various foods would be intolerable in highly concentrated forms.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system deadkytty9 August 10 2007, 15:55:00 UTC

A 200mg caffeine pill is roughly equivalent to about four Mountain Dew cans, which each have 55mgs of caffeine. I'd bet if you dissolve a caffeine pill in the same amount of water, it's still going to taste like ass, unless you cover it with gobs of corn syrup, as the soda companies do.

I still very much doubt that it's being added for flavor.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system differenceblog August 10 2007, 16:17:27 UTC

I would actually say that the best test of this is to compare Caffeine Free Regular Coke to Regular Coke.

There's a definite taste difference, and it's not pleasant. The "bite" help cuts some of the corn syrup sweetness.

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system deadkytty9 August 10 2007, 18:50:54 UTC

I've never tried Caffeine Free Regular Coke (I don't think it's commonly available around here). I wonder if taking out the caffeine was the only change they made in the recipe. *shrug*

Re: Caffeine weakens immune system differenceblog August 10 2007, 18:54:09 UTC

Could be, could be not.
Couldn't say for sure.

However, according to this Johns Hopkins press release (2000), at least one study found that soda drinkers could not taste the difference between caffeine and caffeine free cola.

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