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Subject:
Caffeine - Quality and Types
Category: Health > Fitness and Nutrition Asked by: info345-ga List Price: $8.00 |
Posted:
31 Aug 2004 09:36 PDT
Expires: 02 Sep 2004 12:05 PDT Question ID: 395093 |
Are there different qualities or types of caffeine? Does the body handle caffeine from a quality product (say a high quality coffee) differently than it handles caffeine ingested through a low quality product (say a very cheap, low quality chocolate bar)? Does the body react differently or handle differently the caffeine ingested depending on what food/beverage it's ingested with (e.g., regular or diet soda, coffee, tea, chocolate, etc.)? |
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There is no answer at this time. |
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Subject:
Re: Caffeine - Quality and Types
From: ipfan-ga on 31 Aug 2004 10:03 PDT |
Excellent article at http://coffeefaq.com/caffaq.html#Chemically that answers most of your questions. In general, the answers are "no." Caffeine is caffeine (C8H10N4O2), and the body does not know if you are getting it from a Starbucks latte, a chocolate bar, or a Mountain Dew. Of course, it is possible for caffeine, like any drug, to contain impurities that may affect the body's absorption of the chemical, but other than that, it's pretty much the same. |
Subject:
Re: Caffeine - Quality and Types
From: ac67-ga on 01 Sep 2004 09:19 PDT |
While caffeine is caffeine is caffeine, you may notice some different effects due to compounds other than caffeine. Chocolate contains a chemically related compound called theobromine, which, while less potent a stimulant than caffeine, is present in larger amounts. It's effects on the body are also qualitatively different. Amounts of this present may vary more widely than the caffeine, so for something with equal amounts of caffeine, you may get more or less effect from theobromine. Tea can contain another related compound, theophylline, in small amounts. This compound has been used to treat asthma, though it is becoming less used, but again, it can have similar effects and varying levels. Also, when you see statements that coffee or tea or chocolate contain X amount of caffeine, this is an average or estimate. Depending on the type of coffee or tea and how it is processed, this can vary quite a bit. Darker roasted coffee actually contains less caffeine than lighter roasts. (That may be why "Breakfast blends" tend to be lighter - more caffeine, not just milder taste) Likewise, stronger brewed coffees will contain more than weaker coffees brewed from the same beans. |
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