Caffeine withdrawal

[Aidylsun B.]

Careful of decaf. Remember this link earlier in the thread.

Yeah, decaf coffee is worse.

I printed the info from the link to post on my fridge. Caffeine has not been a friend of mine and I'm sure that the coffee I use contains more than trace amounts of it. I was familiar with some of the warnings but I, wow, I'm just not ready to give up coffee all together. Let me see now, health, coffee then coffee or health? Decisions, decisions...

 

[pete02]

Careful of decaf. Remember this link earlier in the thread.

Yeah, decaf coffee is worse.

I printed the info from the link to post on my fridge. Caffeine has not been a friend of mine and I'm sure that the coffee I use contains more than trace amounts of it. I was familiar with some of the warnings but I, wow, I'm just not ready to give up coffee all together. Let me see now, health, coffee then coffee or health? Decisions, decisions...

You might wanna try using some Teeccino to help ween you off coffee. (http://www.teeccino.com/default.aspx) I used it for about 2 to 3 weeks and alternated from Teeccino to tea back and forth. I did have the afternoon headache once or twice but having tea helped with that because there was still caffeine in the tea. Teeccino is naturally decaf because its not really coffee. Theres more info on their website about it but after just a few weeks of using it, I haven't had any cravings for coffee at all. I've been off coffee and Teeccino now for over a month. I'm currently drinking various herbal teas instead but I'm going to try Rooibos tea now. So thats a pretty good step in the right direction in only a couple of months. ;)

PS: I used to drink two large cups of sugar with coffee and cream a day! :P Now I don't even miss it!

 

[Erna]

Okay, I got some green unfermented rooibos.

The packet will explicitly state if it's green unfermented. It has an orange colour, compared to the traditional rich red colour of fermented rooibos. It also tastes quite differently, still nice though. You should really try and get your hands on this one instead, because on the packet it states:

GREEN ROOIBOS. Unfermented rooibos - supplies ten times the antioxidants, flavonoids and aspalathin of fermented Rooibos. Aspalathin plays a crucial role in the rejuvenation process of cells.

Caffeine free, low tannin, rich in minerals, high quality antioxidants.

You might have to go to a speciality store for this one.

********************************************

Also got some stevia! ;D Can't believe you need so little of it! (1 1/2 teaspoons Stevia replaces 1 cup of sugar).

 

[Gaby]

low tannin

Interesting. Hiromi Shinya in the Enzyme Factor talks about tannins and how several antioxidants (in green tea for example) come together to become tannin. He said that tannin gives an astringent flavor to certain fruits and plants, and that tannin is easily oxidized when exposed to hot water or air, turning into tannic acid. He speculates that tannic acid produces stomach problems because it might have a negative effect on the stomach lining, and apparently tannic acid coagulates proteins. He observes that there is a high incidence of stomach problems in Japanese tea instructors who drink lots of green tea as part of their work.

I'm liking rooibos everyday more :)

edit-spelling

 

[Gaby]

Also got some stevia! ;D Can't believe you need so little of it! (1 1/2 teaspoons Stevia replaces 1 cup of sugar).

It is also "medicinal":

http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2009/11/30/stevioside-and-related-compounds-therapeutic-benefits-beyond-sweetness/

Stevioside and related compounds: therapeutic benefits beyond sweetness.

by Teresa Koby

The following review states the added medicinal benefits of stevia, beyond its usefulness as a safe sweetener.

Stevioside, an abundant component of Stevia rebaudiana leaf, has become well-known for its intense sweetness (250-300 times sweeter than sucrose) and is used as a non-caloric sweetener in several countries. A number of studies have suggested that, beside sweetness, stevioside along with related compounds, which include rebaudioside A (second most abundant component of S. rebaudiana leaf), steviol and isosteviol (metabolic components of stevioside) may also offer therapeutic benefits, as they have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions. It is of interest to note that their effects on plasma glucose level and blood pressure are only observed when these parameters are higher than normal. As steviol can interact with drug transporters, its role as a drug modulator is proposed. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the pharmacological actions, therapeutic applications, pharmacokinetics and safety of stevioside and related compounds. Although much progress has been made concerning their biological and pharmacological effects, questions regarding chemical purity and safety remain unsolved. These issues are discussed to help guide future research directions.

PMID: 19000919 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

[Erna]

Thanks Psyche! :)

 

[pete02]

Also got some stevia! ;D Can't believe you need so little of it! (1 1/2 teaspoons Stevia replaces 1 cup of sugar).

It is also "medicinal":

http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2009/11/30/stevioside-and-related-compounds-therapeutic-benefits-beyond-sweetness/

Stevioside and related compounds: therapeutic benefits beyond sweetness.

by Teresa Koby

The following review states the added medicinal benefits of stevia, beyond its usefulness as a safe sweetener.

Stevioside, an abundant component of Stevia rebaudiana leaf, has become well-known for its intense sweetness (250-300 times sweeter than sucrose) and is used as a non-caloric sweetener in several countries. A number of studies have suggested that, beside sweetness, stevioside along with related compounds, which include rebaudioside A (second most abundant component of S. rebaudiana leaf), steviol and isosteviol (metabolic components of stevioside) may also offer therapeutic benefits, as they have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions. It is of interest to note that their effects on plasma glucose level and blood pressure are only observed when these parameters are higher than normal. As steviol can interact with drug transporters, its role as a drug modulator is proposed. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the pharmacological actions, therapeutic applications, pharmacokinetics and safety of stevioside and related compounds. Although much progress has been made concerning their biological and pharmacological effects, questions regarding chemical purity and safety remain unsolved. These issues are discussed to help guide future research directions.

PMID: 19000919 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A quick question.. some time ago I came across a thread on orange juice http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=103.msg698#msg698 and in it Vulcan found a website that has a general listing on what foods are good for you depending on what blood type you are. Even tho he does say he can't vouch for their accuracy I did find it interesting. My question is that on that listing (http://www.curezone.com/ER4YT/herb_spice.asp) they say people with a 'B' blood type should avoid Stevia. Being a 'B' blood type myself do you think I should try Stevia anyway for the benefits or maybe I should stay with Xylitol just to be on the safe side?

 

[Jacques]

My question is that on that listing (http://www.curezone.com/ER4YT/herb_spice.asp) they say people with a 'B' blood type should avoid Stevia. Being a 'B' blood type myself do you think I should try Stevia anyway for the benefits or maybe I should stay with Xylitol just to be on the safe side?

I am no expert but have you tested both and how is your body reacting ?

The blood type diet is good but it should be tested and adapted for each person according to the way that our body reacts to different products.

As Psyche said in that post : http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=15688.msg130301;topicseen#msg130301

The blood type is a guide, but I think that an elimination diet is the safest way to make sure if one tolerates a food or not.

my 2 pennies

 

[Gaby]

I think that if you are starting the diet, perhaps it will be better to test stevia down the road and stay in the mean time with xylitol. In that way, when you are more experienced with how your body reacts and when you are better detoxed, you'll be able to tell better if the stevia is okay or not.

My 2 cents.

 

[pete02]

Thank you both Gandalf and Psyche :)

I had used Xylitol in the past but found it left a bit of an after-taste in my mouth so I thought about Stevia instead. I went out and picked up some Rooibos tea that is sweetened with peach flavor so I opted not to get any sweetener this time around. As it turns out, the sweetening used in the tea comes from Stevia leaf that is added to the mix so I indirectly am getting small amounts of Stevia in my tea after all. The stuff tastes fantastic tho. I have to say its the best tea I've tried so far. Here's a link to the tea I bought.. http://www.yogiproducts.com/products/details/rooibos-sweet-peach/

Thankfully I am getting very familiar with what foods my body likes and what it doesn't, so I'll be on the lookout for any changes.

 

[Erna]

[quote author=Pete02]
I have to say its the best tea I've tried so far.
[/quote]

Cheers! :) This green one is going to take some getting used to. I'll keep drinking it, cause it's so good for me...if only it tasted like the red one... :/

 

[anart]

[quote author=Pete02]
I have to say its the best tea I've tried so far.

Cheers! :) This green one is going to take some getting used to. I'll keep drinking it, cause it's so good for me...if only it tasted like the red one... :/
[/quote]

Can you describe the taste difference?

 

[Erna]

Well, firstly, here's the colour difference:

Fermented left and unfermented right obviously.

There is something very distinctive and unique about the red one that people just love. You're drinking that one, so you know what I mean. The green one hasn't got that distinctive 'rooibosness' about it. Much less taste and flavour, and maybe ever so slightly lemony maybe.

 

[anart]

Interesting. I'll see if the green one grows on your before I try it. ;)

 

[Erna]

I think you should just have it anyway, since you'll have to have ten cups of the red to get the same goodness of one green cup. ;)