Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site azure.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!tektronix!teklds!azure!eugenez From: eugenez@azure.UUCP (Eugene Zinter) Newsgroups: net.med,net.veg Subject: Caffeine and Theobromide Message-ID: <2700@azure.UUCP> Date: Thu, 12-Apr-84 13:48:47 EST Article-I.D.: azure.2700 Posted: Thu Apr 12 13:48:47 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 15-Apr-84 01:21:08 EST Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 87 ----- **************************************** * * * Caffeine and Theobromide * * * **************************************** ********************************************************************** Coffee contains caffeine, obviously. Caffeine (Websters): A bitter compound C H N O 8 10 4 2 found especially in coffee, tea, and kola nuts and used medicinally as a stimulant and diuretic. ********************************************************************** I have read that Tea contains caffeine and THEOBROMINE (not so obvious). Can anyone backup or refute this? If so, are there tables that list amounts of Theobromine measured for various substances as we have for caffeine? Theobromine (Websters): A bitter alkaloid C H N O 7 8 4 2 closely related to caffeine that occurs especially in cacao beans and has stimulant and diuretic properties. Alkaloid (Websters): Any of numerous usually colorless, complex, and bitter organic bases (as morphine or codeine) containing nitrogen and usually oxygen that occur especially in seed plants. ********************************************************************** My suggestion would be to SLOWLY cut your dosages of caffeine and similar substances. That is, you could drink the same amount of liquids, but by drinking different types of liquids, you can control your dosage. Or drink less. Or mix them. I don't know how gross this would be, but if you could afford it, you could make a 50/50 mix of Pepsi with Pepsi Free and you would have a Pepsi drink with half the Caffeine. I have tasted the Pepsi Free and like it quite fine---no complaints from my taste buds. Anyway, it's just an idea. I imagine that if you cut your caffeine intake 50% (half) every two weeks, soon you will be down to zero with NO withdrawal symptoms. And enjoying a caffeine free life. And watch out for hidden caffeine. Some seemingly innocent drinks may well have plenty of caffeine. I mean, didn't it surprise you to find out that Mountain Dew has 18.4% more caffeine than Coke and 40.6% more caffeine than Pepsi?!! (FDA figures.) I would suggest drinking fluids that have nutritional value. Forget the artificial stuff and you will be much better off. And remember, just because a drink is an "herbal" one, that doesn't automatically imply that it is good for you. Modern pharmacology stems directly from herbology. For instance, the root of the Valerian plant (Valeriana Officinalis) was the first use of the sedative we generally know as Valium. It's just that it was cheaper to examine the Valerian root and synthesize the active components and call it Valium. And yes, I could go to a good herb shop and buy the Valerian root and make my own "Valium" tea. But I would be playing with fire because I would have no idea what dosage I would be getting. Anyway, the point I'm getting at here is that many herbal drinks are "drugging" you and could be as bad or worse for you than coffee or Pepsi. The best drinks I have EVER had have always been raw fresh squeezed fruits (orange, grape, apple, etc.) They are truly incredible and really good for you. ECZ