Posted by linkadge on July 8, 2010, at 16:24:39
In reply to Re: Caffeine and Bipolar?, posted by morgan miller on July 8, 2010, at 15:17:43
>I'm not opposed to coffee drinking, I just think >that it is an addictive substance like many >others that people can grow dependent on.
Define addictive. Most people I know who consume coffee have a fixed amount they consume per day. Its not like crack cocaine where people just do more and more. Animal models of addiction do not readily distinguish caffiene as an addictive substance.
Sure, there is withdrawl, but there is withdrawl from most of the psychiatric medications we ingest every day.
>I also think it can interfere with healthy >metabolism and contribute to weight gain for >some people.
I don't think there is any evidence to suggest this. There is evidence to the contrary. That is, studies show coffee consumption is linked to lower rates of type II diabetes. The dopaminergic neuroprotective effects of caffiene too, might insure that people don't develop symptoms of subclinical dopaminergic neurodistruction (i.e. pre-parkinsons). I am just generally more active too when I consume moderate amounts of caffinated coffee.
>There are healthy antioxidants in coffee, but I >believe you can get the same antioxidants in a >good decaf. I could be wrong about that.
Yes, there are still antioxidants in decaf, but some of the health benefits (diabetes prevention, neuroprotection, suicide prevention) appear to not extend to decaf.
>Like Scott, I drink caffeinated beverages only >on special occasions when I really feel like it >might help. Even then though, it seems to make >it harder for me to focus after a few hours and >destabilizes me physiologically. But that is >just me of course.
Just know yourself, thats all I'm saying. Caffiene is a drug, and drugs affect people differently.
>There are caffeine alternatives in some drinks >from sources like guarana and yerba mate that >are thought to have a smoother longer-lasting >less jittery effect than the caffeine in coffee. >I think the same goes for green tea.
Coffee doesn't usually make me jittery, unless I swig the whole cup at once. Usually I consume a cup over the course of a few hours.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:953654
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100628/msgs/953796.html