WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.339 Good morning, everybody. Welcome back to Food 00:00:02.339 --> 00:00:04.179 for Thought, Thoughts of It Were You, Season 00:00:04.179 --> 00:00:07.440 3. I'm your host, Neogentrix, and we're kicking 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:09.980 off a brand new series today, one that touches 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:12.220 the lives of almost every single person who listens. 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:16.260 Think about your morning routine, okay? What's 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:18.480 the first thing you reach for, for millions and 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:21.179 billions of people around the world? It's a cup 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:24.760 of coffee, a can of soda, an energy drink, a 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:28.570 hot cup of tea. Personally, I love those. It's 00:00:28.570 --> 00:00:31.010 the ritual that signals the start of the day, 00:00:31.109 --> 00:00:35.189 the fuel that powers our late -night work sessions 00:00:35.189 --> 00:00:37.909 and the social lubricant for our conversations. 00:00:39.189 --> 00:00:44.509 But then that now begs the question, what is 00:00:44.509 --> 00:00:47.289 this substance we're so willingly consuming every 00:00:47.289 --> 00:00:50.689 single day? What is it actually doing to our 00:00:50.689 --> 00:00:55.649 bodies, our brains, our well -being? Well, I'll 00:00:55.649 --> 00:00:58.049 tell you. Today, we're taking a deep dive, honest 00:00:58.049 --> 00:01:00.829 dive, into caffeine. We're going to explore the 00:01:00.829 --> 00:01:03.090 science of how it works, the surprising benefits, 00:01:03.350 --> 00:01:06.370 and the significant, often hidden, costs of our 00:01:06.370 --> 00:01:08.730 daily habit. We'll also look at why caffeine 00:01:08.730 --> 00:01:12.069 you get here in the United States might be a 00:01:12.069 --> 00:01:14.650 completely different animal than what is consumed 00:01:14.650 --> 00:01:16.969 in the rest of the world. And we will also explore 00:01:16.969 --> 00:01:19.230 healthier, more beneficial alternatives, like 00:01:19.230 --> 00:01:21.790 the ever -increasing popular mushroom coffee, 00:01:21.909 --> 00:01:26.030 just to give an example. our transition in talking 00:01:26.030 --> 00:01:28.010 about different things today so this essential 00:01:28.010 --> 00:01:30.150 guide is basically to understand the world's 00:01:30.150 --> 00:01:34.469 favorite drug caffeine all right let's get started 00:01:34.469 --> 00:01:37.310 with part one first we'll start with the science 00:01:37.310 --> 00:01:40.209 of coffee what is it really okay this is not 00:01:40.209 --> 00:01:43.230 really a no this is a no -brainer okay we all 00:01:43.230 --> 00:01:45.390 have a pretty good idea or at least a core thought 00:01:45.390 --> 00:01:47.750 of what we think coffee is right so let's start 00:01:47.750 --> 00:01:50.370 with the basics what is caffeine well at its 00:01:50.370 --> 00:01:54.170 core caffeine is a natural Central nervous system 00:01:54.170 --> 00:01:58.469 stimulant. Okay. It's basically found in leaves, 00:01:58.510 --> 00:02:01.810 seeds, fruit of, well, more than 60 different 00:02:01.810 --> 00:02:04.849 plants. And the most common sources are, of course, 00:02:04.870 --> 00:02:06.750 the coffee beans that everyone knows about, right? 00:02:07.290 --> 00:02:09.750 Tea leaves, because tea actually has caffeine 00:02:09.750 --> 00:02:12.990 in it. Cacao pods, which basically gives us chocolate. 00:02:13.090 --> 00:02:16.110 Yeah, you can get caffeine from chocolate. That's 00:02:16.110 --> 00:02:19.819 completely reasonable. It's also classified as 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:23.340 a psychoactive drug, which simply means it's 00:02:23.340 --> 00:02:26.900 a substance that crosses that blood -brain barrier 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:28.740 that we've talked about in previous episodes 00:02:28.740 --> 00:02:32.219 that temporarily alters our mental processes, 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:35.680 how we feel, think, behave, act, things like 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:40.039 that. You know what I mean? But how does it work, 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:44.319 right? The magic, or perhaps the mischief, if 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:46.879 you will, happens at a microscopic level in your 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.280 brain. Throughout the day, as your brain works, 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:52.180 it produces neurotransmitters called adenosine. 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:56.460 Think of adenosine as your brain's natural sleep 00:02:56.460 --> 00:02:59.659 inducer, okay? As adenosine levels build up, 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:02.159 they plug into special receptors in your brain, 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:05.539 which slows down the nerve cell activity and 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:09.199 makes you feel tired, okay? It's your body's 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.900 way of telling you, hey, stupid, it's time to 00:03:11.900 --> 00:03:15.939 rest. It's time to recharge. Hit the hay as it 00:03:15.939 --> 00:03:19.539 will, you know? Now, caffeine has a molecular 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:22.479 structure that's remarkably similar to adenosine, 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:26.080 right? So when you drink coffee, the caffeine 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.819 travels to your brain, fits perfectly into those 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:32.500 same receptors that that goes in there, like 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:34.740 a key fitting into a lock. But instead of slowing 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:38.400 things down like adenosine does, it blocks them. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:41.379 It's essentially a bouncer at the club door telling 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:44.639 adenosine, yeah. By the way, you can't come in 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:47.560 right now. You're not allowed here. By blocking 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:50.159 these sleepy signals, caffeine allows your brain's 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:52.680 natural stimulants like dopamine and glutamine 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.819 to run wild. This creates a heightened state 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:59.840 of alertness, focus, even improved mood. You're 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:01.759 not actually gaining energy here, by the way. 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.000 I just want to go ahead and set the record straight, 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.930 okay? You're just borrowing it. for uh from later 00:04:07.930 --> 00:04:09.990 by tricking your brain into ignoring its own 00:04:09.990 --> 00:04:12.669 fatigue signs basically you're pulling more energy 00:04:12.669 --> 00:04:15.530 from other parts of your body to do whatever 00:04:15.530 --> 00:04:18.370 it is you want to do for a little bit longer 00:04:18.370 --> 00:04:21.970 and if i'm being perfectly honest that's not 00:04:21.970 --> 00:04:24.189 healthy sure you'll complete whatever task you're 00:04:24.189 --> 00:04:27.250 trying to complete but then that begs the question 00:04:27.250 --> 00:04:32.759 what are the risks you know Next, we're going 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:34.740 to go ahead and take a look at the upside, and 00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:36.019 then we're going to go ahead and look at the 00:04:36.019 --> 00:04:38.819 downside of that, too, while we're at it. Sounds 00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:41.060 like fun, doesn't it? Alright, let's start on 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:44.699 part two, the upside, and why we love coffee. 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:47.199 I'm speaking about people in general, not me. 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.439 Believe it or not, if I'm being perfectly fair, 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:51.980 I don't like coffee. I've never liked the way 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:53.779 it tastes, I've never liked the way it functions, 00:04:53.980 --> 00:04:57.279 because unlike tea, which is a gradual increase, 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:59.459 allowing your body to still produce some energy, 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:03.480 coffee doesn't do that. But we'll cover that 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:05.860 in a second. First, here's the reasons why people 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:08.259 seem to love coffee, okay? Now, the reason caffeine 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:10.980 is the most popular drug on the planet, when 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:13.240 used correctly and in moderation, of course, 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:18.819 it has some undeniable benefits. First off, right, 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:22.639 it increases alertness and concentration. This 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:25.750 is the biggest one, right? The morning cup clears 00:05:25.750 --> 00:05:28.709 the cobwebs, sharpens your focus, helps you power 00:05:28.709 --> 00:05:31.029 through tasks that require sustained mental effort. 00:05:31.170 --> 00:05:33.850 It's a powerful tool for productivity. You need 00:05:33.850 --> 00:05:36.189 to stay up a little bit longer. You need to be 00:05:36.189 --> 00:05:38.389 able to complete that extra assignment for class 00:05:38.389 --> 00:05:42.189 or get that job done for your boss so you're 00:05:42.189 --> 00:05:43.970 not in trouble the next morning or running the 00:05:43.970 --> 00:05:46.970 risk of being fired. It's perfect for that. The 00:05:46.970 --> 00:05:50.250 second reason is it improves physical performance. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:53.500 Caffeine is one of the most studied and effective 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:56.720 performance enhancing supplements. It stimulates 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:59.180 your nervous system and increases adrenaline 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:02.899 and helps your body mobilize fatty acids to use 00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:05.699 as fuel, which can improve both endurance and 00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:09.019 high intensity exercises. It's wonderful for 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:12.980 that. Hell, even the third thing, it even improves 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:17.300 a mood elevation, which being perfectly fair. 00:06:18.009 --> 00:06:20.769 You know, is great for people who are just kind 00:06:20.769 --> 00:06:23.230 of like sad, depressed, mean for whatever reason 00:06:23.230 --> 00:06:26.730 when they wake up. By improving or influencing 00:06:26.730 --> 00:06:28.930 the dopamine levels in your body, caffeine can 00:06:28.930 --> 00:06:32.069 have a mild but noticeable mood boosting effect. 00:06:34.029 --> 00:06:37.889 Feeling of being well -being motivated after 00:06:37.889 --> 00:06:39.730 your first cup of coffee isn't in your head. 00:06:39.810 --> 00:06:43.430 There's a real neurochemical basis and explanation 00:06:43.430 --> 00:06:45.910 for that, which I will not go into because that 00:06:45.910 --> 00:06:49.350 would be. lengthy and boring, and y 'all didn't 00:06:49.350 --> 00:06:50.769 come here for that, right? Y 'all came here for 00:06:50.769 --> 00:06:53.670 the basic core facts, so you know why you're 00:06:53.670 --> 00:06:55.310 even drinking coffee in the first place, right? 00:06:55.769 --> 00:06:58.389 So those are the first three. The last one is 00:06:58.389 --> 00:07:01.449 it's packed with antioxidants, or at least it 00:07:01.449 --> 00:07:03.529 used to be, but we'll get to that in a minute. 00:07:03.889 --> 00:07:07.930 This is often overlooked as a benefit. The natural 00:07:07.930 --> 00:07:10.269 sources of caffeine, especially high -quality 00:07:10.269 --> 00:07:13.069 caffeine, and tea, particularly green tea, but 00:07:13.069 --> 00:07:15.959 still tea. are loaded with antioxidants. These 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:18.800 are compounds that fight against cellular damage 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:22.480 and inflammation in your body. In fact, in fact, 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:25.699 for many people in the Western world, coffee 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:28.759 is the single largest source of antioxidants 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:31.699 in their diet. Even though they may not drink 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:34.600 as huge amount of it, it's processed differently. 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:37.800 So it's handled a little bit differently in other 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:41.250 countries versus here. Some long -term studies 00:07:41.250 --> 00:07:43.850 have even linked moderate, regular coffee and 00:07:43.850 --> 00:07:46.250 tea consumption to lower risks of certain diseases. 00:07:47.730 --> 00:07:50.629 That being said, you know, because people here 00:07:50.629 --> 00:07:52.990 in America can't be normal by any sense of the 00:07:52.990 --> 00:07:56.209 word, the key words here are always moderate 00:07:56.209 --> 00:07:59.490 and regular. This is where the dark side of this 00:07:59.490 --> 00:08:03.790 starts to emerge in, you know, like I said, the 00:08:03.790 --> 00:08:07.410 downside of this. So, let's get on with part 00:08:07.410 --> 00:08:11.220 three, the downside. The hidden costs of your 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:14.759 habit, okay? I know I keep slightly hinting at 00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:17.959 this and that about how coffee isn't as great 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:20.040 as it should be, but there's a reason behind 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:24.000 that, right? Like, it has a lot of good potential. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:27.740 It has a lot of good benefits. It's a great aesthetic 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:30.259 to your everyday life. And since it's a drug 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:32.480 that just anyone can basically go to the store 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:35.379 and buy, it's almost free. Hell, you can grow 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:38.049 it in your backyard if you know how. There's 00:08:38.049 --> 00:08:39.929 something wrong with that. Although, considering 00:08:39.929 --> 00:08:41.690 the type of coffee that you're trying to grow, 00:08:41.889 --> 00:08:44.669 keep in mind that different coffees come from 00:08:44.669 --> 00:08:46.590 different places, and while it may seem disgusting 00:08:46.590 --> 00:08:51.789 as to how they grow and raise it, it still gets 00:08:51.789 --> 00:08:55.529 cleaned, washed, roasted, if it's roasted, or 00:08:55.529 --> 00:08:57.490 smoked, because apparently smoked coffee beans 00:08:57.490 --> 00:09:01.049 is a thing, before it's ever ground up, put in 00:09:01.049 --> 00:09:03.230 a package, and served to you, okay? If you want 00:09:03.230 --> 00:09:05.490 to know the history of select specific coffees, 00:09:05.509 --> 00:09:07.710 I can... I'll gladly do an episode on that if 00:09:07.710 --> 00:09:10.029 y 'all want to hear it. But for the most part, 00:09:10.129 --> 00:09:12.129 like I said, there is a downside. There are hidden 00:09:12.129 --> 00:09:14.789 costs to your habit of drinking coffee. For all 00:09:14.789 --> 00:09:16.549 its benefits, our relationship with caffeine 00:09:16.549 --> 00:09:18.809 often comes with significant hidden costs, like 00:09:18.809 --> 00:09:21.169 everything, everything in moderation, right? 00:09:21.470 --> 00:09:23.929 First things first. Like I said, it makes you 00:09:23.929 --> 00:09:27.169 energetic. However, the first downside is sleep 00:09:27.169 --> 00:09:29.649 disruption, okay? This is without a doubt the 00:09:29.649 --> 00:09:32.210 most significant and damaging downside. Caffeine 00:09:32.210 --> 00:09:36.519 has an average half -life of about 5 -6 hours 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:38.679 in your body. This means if you drink a cup of 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:41.259 coffee at around 3pm, half of that caffeine will 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:43.279 still be circulating in your system up until 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.600 at least at the latest 9pm. While you might be 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:48.460 able to fall asleep, that lingering caffeine 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:50.940 will prevent you from entering the deepest sleep 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:53.120 for your body to enter what's known as the most 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:55.620 restorative stages of sleep to actually do anything. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:10:01.200 Thus, you'll wake up not so refreshed, which 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.139 makes you what's the word i'm looking for want 00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:07.159 to reach for more caffeine the next morning creating 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:10.240 a very vicious self -perpetuating cycle of poor 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.879 sleep and dependency you know like in those old 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:15.679 cartoons where the parents get up they're groggy 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:17.019 don't want to be bothered don't want to be talked 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:18.539 to until they have their first cup of coffee 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:21.100 that type of thing because you started you put 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:22.919 your body into a position where it's dependent 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:26.019 on that not something it should have had like 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:27.799 a little bit here a little bit there no it's 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:29.799 like i gotta have it or i can't function type 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:32.730 of thing you know second anxiety and drip jitters 00:10:32.730 --> 00:10:36.509 sorry caffeine triggers the fight or flight response 00:10:36.509 --> 00:10:38.909 by stimulating the release of adrenaline adrenaline 00:10:38.909 --> 00:10:43.629 who lord have mercy adrenaline and cortisol for 00:10:43.629 --> 00:10:45.309 individuals who are sensitive to its effects 00:10:45.309 --> 00:10:47.970 or for anyone who consumes way too much of it 00:10:47.970 --> 00:10:50.509 this can lead to feelings of anxiety nervousness 00:10:50.509 --> 00:10:53.940 heart palpulations or the uncomfortable jitters, 00:10:54.019 --> 00:10:56.460 as it's called. And when I say heart palpitations, 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:58.620 it means you've pushed yourself to the point 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:01.159 where if you slow down for like a second and 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:03.620 just take a breath, you can feel your heart racing 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:06.580 in your chest, beating like crazy, and you're 00:11:06.580 --> 00:11:09.000 not doing anything. That means your body is exhausted. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.440 It has way too much caffeine in it, and it's 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.539 trying to process it, and it can't. It's basically 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:17.379 just your body being in a state of high alert 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:20.340 with absolutely no threat to fight or flee from, 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:23.610 and trying to figure out what to do. With all 00:11:23.610 --> 00:11:25.429 that extra energy and everything else it has 00:11:25.429 --> 00:11:27.509 now circulating through it that it should not 00:11:27.509 --> 00:11:31.090 have, it should not be there, you know? And on 00:11:31.090 --> 00:11:35.070 that note, for some people who have so much of 00:11:35.070 --> 00:11:37.710 it, it also creates another issue, which brings 00:11:37.710 --> 00:11:40.149 us to my third point. Dependency and withdrawal. 00:11:41.409 --> 00:11:43.429 Yeah, you wouldn't think too much of that, right? 00:11:44.450 --> 00:11:46.690 You wouldn't think, but it's just something I 00:11:46.690 --> 00:11:48.830 buy over the counter. I can't become dependent 00:11:48.830 --> 00:11:51.529 on it. I can't have withdrawal symptoms. Yes, 00:11:51.570 --> 00:11:54.419 you can. Because at the end of the day, this 00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:56.960 is where this drugs aspect becomes undeniable. 00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:59.759 When you're consistently blocking those adenosine 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:02.919 receptors with caffeine, your brain adapts. It 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.600 says, okay, if you're going to block those sleepy 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.100 signals and you're not going to listen to me, 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:12.120 I'm just going to build up more of them. Just 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:14.500 so I can catch up and get what I need since you 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:16.860 won't give it to me. It turns up the volume on 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:19.399 the fatigue signals. It basically says that, 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:21.860 okay, now... Since you want to drink so much 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:23.820 of it, and I need you to actually be able to 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:26.779 sleep at a certain point, when you skip your 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:29.139 morning coffee, all those receptors are suddenly 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:31.919 open all at once. And the adenosine that you 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:35.179 have comes flooding in from what you have built 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:37.980 up overnight. This is what causes those brutal 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:40.980 symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. And when I say 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:42.220 caffeine withdrawal, I'm not talking about like 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.580 drug withdrawal where you gotta have it, gotta 00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:45.279 have it, gotta have it. No, no. Something different 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:50.179 entirely. More on the side of like... What's 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:54.279 it called? Splitting headaches, for one. Crushing 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:56.320 fatigue, being just worn out for no reason and 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.840 you haven't done anything. Brain fog, not being 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:01.740 able to think straight, right? Or, and I've seen 00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:04.700 this happen very often, intense irritability, 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:10.740 okay? At this point, at this point, you're not 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.919 even drinking coffee to get ahead anymore. You're, 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:16.159 you're, you're, what's the word I'm looking for? 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:19.700 You're thinking. I'm sorry, you're drinking just 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:23.600 to feel normal, just to go back to what you consider 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:27.659 to be your normal everyday life. But this isn't 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:31.159 normal. This isn't you. I know we all laugh. 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:33.379 It was like, no, that's not normal. People don't 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:35.440 do that. And then we laugh and say, you know, 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:38.500 but what is normal? Think about this for a minute, 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:41.649 okay? People in the past. Let's use the Bible, 00:13:41.690 --> 00:13:42.970 for example. It's probably the easiest example 00:13:42.970 --> 00:13:44.490 I can do. You know, we all have read the story 00:13:44.490 --> 00:13:46.289 about the children of Israel, the exodus from 00:13:46.289 --> 00:13:50.350 Egypt, all that stuff, right? Think about this 00:13:50.350 --> 00:13:53.950 for a minute. Caffeine wasn't a thing back then. 00:13:54.190 --> 00:13:55.950 These people had to get up early in the morning 00:13:55.950 --> 00:13:58.490 to tend to sheep, their lands, take care of everything. 00:13:58.929 --> 00:14:00.309 They had to do this throughout the day. If they 00:14:00.309 --> 00:14:01.629 had crops, they had to take care of their land. 00:14:01.669 --> 00:14:03.649 They had to do the crops, turn the crops to cook, 00:14:03.730 --> 00:14:06.370 take care of their families, do a whole bunch 00:14:06.370 --> 00:14:08.409 of different things throughout the day. Coffee 00:14:08.409 --> 00:14:12.649 wasn't a thing. Tea, maybe. I won't put that 00:14:12.649 --> 00:14:15.190 past them, unless we're talking about them wandering 00:14:15.190 --> 00:14:16.690 in the wilderness, and of course, you know, it's 00:14:16.690 --> 00:14:19.710 whatever it was there. But, I mean, in the rest 00:14:19.710 --> 00:14:21.389 of the Bible, most of them lived in well -to 00:14:21.389 --> 00:14:23.509 -do areas where there was access to sea, fish, 00:14:23.570 --> 00:14:25.190 and a whole bunch of other stuff, but caffeine 00:14:25.190 --> 00:14:28.350 wasn't a mainstay. They didn't drink this to 00:14:28.350 --> 00:14:29.830 get up in the morning. They didn't drink this 00:14:29.830 --> 00:14:32.809 to keep going. Life was a lot simpler back then, 00:14:32.830 --> 00:14:35.379 even now. You can go about your normal everyday 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:37.259 doing everything you need to do. Get up in the 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:39.659 morning, go to bed in the evening. If you plan 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:42.019 your life around this, you don't need this. This 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:45.200 is not a necessity. Yet, people feel the need 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:49.659 that they have to have coffee to function. Especially 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:53.799 here in America. And that's, you know what? Let's 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:56.919 talk about that. Alright, so part four. This 00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:59.600 is going to be a quick segment, okay? The American 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:04.259 coffee machine. You can hear the irritability 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:07.820 in my voice. Now, it's important to understand 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:10.039 that not all caffeine is created equal, and the 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:11.919 way caffeine is delivered and consumed here in 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.940 the United States is often fundamentally different 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:16.559 from the rest of the world. The issue isn't just 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:20.500 caffeine. It's the package it comes in. The United 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:23.879 States market is absolutely dominated by what 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:28.879 I would like to call caffeine delivery systems, 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:35.100 if you will. energy drinks massive sodas i mean 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:43.419 you name it it's here like how how do i uh how 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:46.460 do i put it these products don't just contain 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:52.340 caffeine they combine it with like artificial 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:55.840 sugars staggering well status staggering amounts 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.059 of sugars but still artificial sugars high fructose 00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:01.820 corn syrup which we've learned is not good for 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:04.740 you. I'll do an episode on stuff like that a 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:07.360 little bit later to contribute to what we covered 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.919 in Season 2 about it in Season 1, but artificial 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:12.559 flavors, a cocktail of other stimulants like 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:17.840 tuorin and guana. I'm pretty sure I butchered 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:23.259 that, but my point is that, you know, it's not 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:26.799 exactly great. As far as the body's concerned, 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:30.039 this chemical combination creates a much more 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:32.580 intense and addictive spike in energy, followed 00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:36.659 by an even more dramatic crash. Like, it just 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:40.120 seems like it's... How do I put it? Let's contrast 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.580 it with the rest of the world first off, okay? 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:46.379 The... In many countries, regulations on coffee 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:48.879 and sugar are far stricter. Standard Italian 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:51.659 espresso is about one ounce. A large American 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:54.679 coffee canteens about 20 ounces or more. We've... 00:16:54.909 --> 00:16:57.690 Not only supersized our addiction, we made it, 00:16:57.690 --> 00:17:02.370 as we say here in Texas, Texas -sized. For no 00:17:02.370 --> 00:17:12.329 reason. Have we gained in this? Like, it just 00:17:12.329 --> 00:17:16.750 seems like, I don't know. Anyway, part of this 00:17:16.750 --> 00:17:20.730 is due to a regulatory loophole in the FDA. Okay? 00:17:21.069 --> 00:17:27.079 It basically... states that the FDA regulates 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:30.559 caffeine as a food additive in sodas. Not something 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:33.160 your body may need. It's just an additive. You 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:34.579 can put caffeine in this. You can put caffeine 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.920 in this. You can put caffeine in this. You can 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.740 put it on the label. But they can put it in pretty 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.700 much whatever they want, which is why a can of 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:41.839 Coke has a relatively modest amount of it because 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.920 they're like, oh, it's just an additive. It's 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:47.819 not an additive. And then on top of that, you 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:49.819 know, many energy drinks classify them as a dietary 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:52.210 supplement. which allows them to bypass these 00:17:52.210 --> 00:17:54.549 regulations and pack about two or three times 00:17:54.549 --> 00:17:58.569 or four or five times as much in caffeine. It's 00:17:58.569 --> 00:18:04.329 not okay. It's just, how do I, I don't know. 00:18:04.730 --> 00:18:06.849 It's not something that a lot of people should 00:18:06.849 --> 00:18:08.670 be getting a lot of. Let's just put it that way. 00:18:08.730 --> 00:18:12.230 All right. Let's go ahead and finish up with 00:18:12.230 --> 00:18:17.269 the last section. Part five of the stuff I have 00:18:17.269 --> 00:18:20.420 listed here. Healthy alternatives, okay? The 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:23.819 search for basically a better buzz, right? We're 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:26.740 all looking for a better buzz, druggies specifically. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.819 But I mean, if you look at it from the perspective 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:31.720 of caffeine being a drug, I mean, it's so different, 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.400 right? So what's the solution? Is the only answer 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:38.579 to quit entirely? Well, no, you don't have to 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:42.220 quit, not necessarily. The goal is to move from 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:45.079 just mindless consumption to mindful energy. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:47.700 You know, if you know you need it, get it, but 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:54.000 don't just chug like, two or three or 15, 20 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:57.299 shots of caffeine. I know a guy who was working 00:18:57.299 --> 00:19:00.180 overnight as a pharmacist, and he had a cup of 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:04.019 coffee with him. That's one of those sealed cylinders, 00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:06.339 and he had about 15 shots of caffeine in there. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:09.480 And I'm looking at him like, you're a pharmacist, 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:11.960 dude. Are you trying to kill yourself? Like, 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:16.180 for real? You know, anyway. Thankfully, there 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:18.279 are some incredible alternatives that provide 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:20.700 focus and alertness without severe downsides. 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:24.440 First thing on this list is tea. I mentioned 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:26.400 it before, but I'll say it again. The original 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.579 smart drug is tea. Tea is the perfect example 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:31.680 of an intelligent design. Yes, it does contain 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.920 caffeine, but it's in lower doses than coffee. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:36.440 And more importantly, the tea contains unique 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:39.500 amino acids like L -thiamine. L -thiamine promotes 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:41.880 a state of calm, relaxed alertness. When you 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:44.579 combine the stimulant effect of caffeine... With 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:47.839 a calming effect of alpha, I mean, you get a 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:51.000 smooth, focused energy that comes out as needed 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.160 in little bursts, little here, little there, 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.920 little there, little there, and doesn't burn 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:57.900 you out, okay? It gives it to you without the 00:19:57.900 --> 00:20:00.460 jitters, the anxiety, and it also gives your 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:03.480 body time to try to relax in a state where it 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:07.039 can reproduce some of that energy a little bit 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.220 at a time so you're not so worn out later. This 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:12.579 is why monks have used tea for meditation for 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:16.539 centuries. The other one is one that's a little 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:18.259 more common now. It's becoming more popular. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:21.839 The modern -day challenger, if you will. Mushroom 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:24.019 coffee. It's a newer innovation that's gaining 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:26.299 incredible popularity for a good reason, too. 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:29.460 It's a blend of ground coffee with extracts of 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:33.279 medicinal mushrooms. No. No. First off, it doesn't 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.059 taste like mushrooms. Okay. Let me go ahead and 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:37.299 say that now. It tastes like coffee. It's just 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:40.589 made with mushrooms. But it has a... more smoother, 00:20:40.650 --> 00:20:42.809 less acidic profile. Because sometimes when you 00:20:42.809 --> 00:20:44.309 drink coffee, it makes your stomach acidic and 00:20:44.309 --> 00:20:46.890 you have acid reflux from coffee. This doesn't 00:20:46.890 --> 00:20:50.210 have this effect, okay? The key is that it typically 00:20:50.210 --> 00:20:52.789 contains less caffeine than a regular cup of 00:20:52.789 --> 00:20:54.890 coffee, immediately reducing the risk of jitters. 00:20:54.990 --> 00:21:01.450 And it adds benefits like adaptogens or nootropics. 00:21:01.809 --> 00:21:05.170 These are the most common mushrooms. I'm going 00:21:05.170 --> 00:21:07.390 to list them off right quick that have these 00:21:07.390 --> 00:21:12.670 in here. And they basically help improve how 00:21:12.670 --> 00:21:18.190 your body reacts, how it acts, and helps you 00:21:18.190 --> 00:21:25.150 understand more what it... How do I describe 00:21:25.150 --> 00:21:30.970 this? In context, adaptogens, these are natural 00:21:30.970 --> 00:21:33.309 substances believed to help your body adapt to 00:21:33.309 --> 00:21:36.589 stress, basically exert a normalized effect on 00:21:36.589 --> 00:21:41.279 bodily processes. Cordyceps, for example, is, 00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:46.079 as I'm about to mention, are in a type of adaptogen 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:48.660 that supports physical stamina, energy production 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:52.720 at a cellular level. Nootropics, on the other 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:55.299 hand, these are substances that are believed 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:57.460 to enhance cognitive functions, such as memory, 00:21:57.660 --> 00:22:01.119 creativity, motivation, things of that nature. 00:22:02.349 --> 00:22:05.250 With that being said, the first mushroom that's 00:22:05.250 --> 00:22:08.109 used is lion's mane. First off, lion's mane is 00:22:08.109 --> 00:22:10.529 a powerful nootropic believed to support brain 00:22:10.529 --> 00:22:13.150 health, memory, and focus by stimulating nerve 00:22:13.150 --> 00:22:17.890 growth factor. The next is chaga, an antioxidant 00:22:17.890 --> 00:22:19.670 powerhouse that supports your immune function, 00:22:19.789 --> 00:22:21.950 so an immunity booster. And then, of course, 00:22:21.990 --> 00:22:24.910 the cordyceps I mentioned before for supporting 00:22:24.910 --> 00:22:28.269 physical stamina, energy production, and basically 00:22:28.269 --> 00:22:31.200 at a cellular level, okay? The result of using 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:33.680 these is a more balanced energy, a gentle lift 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:37.160 from the caffeine without the supporting undergrowth 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:39.839 of becoming addicted to it by the cognitive and 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:42.079 physical benefits of the mushrooms. Although 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:44.759 there are other fantastic alternatives, like 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:47.019 matcha, which is basically a powdered green tea 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:49.519 with an exceptionally high level of L -thiamine, 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.279 providing a long -lasting state of calm focus. 00:22:52.829 --> 00:22:55.049 There's also Yerba Mate. I'm not a huge fan of 00:22:55.049 --> 00:22:58.549 it, but it does do pretty good. It's a traditional 00:22:58.549 --> 00:23:01.069 South American tea known for providing a sustained, 00:23:01.190 --> 00:23:05.069 robust energy boost that many describe as being 00:23:05.069 --> 00:23:07.670 a more balanced, less jittery effect than coffee. 00:23:07.750 --> 00:23:10.230 So it's like an in -between between the mushroom 00:23:10.230 --> 00:23:14.130 coffee and regular tea. I'm sorry, the tea, mushroom 00:23:14.130 --> 00:23:17.519 coffee, and regular coffee. And then there's 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:20.680 Chicory Root Coffee. Now, for those who want 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:22.700 to quit caffeine entirely but miss the taste 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:26.119 of the coffee, this is the one for you. It's 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:29.880 caffeine -free as an alternative, and it's made 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:33.240 from roasting chicory root that has a surprisingly 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:36.680 remarkably similar dark, rich flavor and contains 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:39.839 a prebiotic fiber that is also great for your 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:43.279 gut health. So keep that in mind. Like I said 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:45.460 before, not a fan of coffee, wouldn't drink it 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:48.440 to start with, so as far as I'm concerned, I 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:50.259 wouldn't care for chicory root either. I would 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:52.500 probably just stick to tea to start with. But 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:57.180 this is just a me thing, right? But that basically 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:59.799 wraps up my quick run -through of what coffee 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:02.039 is, what it does, and whether or not it's good 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:06.359 for you or not. Long -term answer, no, it's definitely 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:11.700 not good for you. But in the short term... It 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:15.240 could be fine, right? Okay, so with all that 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:18.240 being said in today's episode, what's the takeaway 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:21.660 here? Caffeine is not the enemy. Well, yeah, 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:25.339 that's true. It's not. It's a tool. And like 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:28.460 any tool or any powerful tool, it needs to be 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:31.819 understood, used with respect. The problem here 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:34.619 isn't the substance itself, all right? It's the 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:37.319 culture of mindless overconsumption that surrounds 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:40.339 it. Partially, America is to blame for that, 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.920 because most other countries don't really have 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:44.900 this issue. But, I mean, the giant sugar -laden 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:47.700 drinks that we use to mask our deeper problems, 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:51.500 and then the chronic sleep deprivation issue 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:56.180 that we deal with here, I mean, they have to 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:58.440 be addressed. The goal is to become more conscious, 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:03.099 okay? Ask yourself this. Why am I even reaching 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:06.859 for this in the first place? The next time you 00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:09.380 go out and you want to grab a cup of coffee or 00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:11.359 you think that you need it or you're like, I'm 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:14.019 feeling a little sleepy, let me grab this. Think 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:17.180 about that. Why am I reaching for this? To explore 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:20.480 alternatives that fuel our bodies and brains 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:23.400 in a more susceptible and healthier way would 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:26.319 be the better way to go about it. But most people 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.940 are going to go for the quicker, cheaper option 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:30.509 that they can find. Now, whether it's the ancient 00:25:30.509 --> 00:25:32.910 wisdom of tea or the modern innovation of mushroom 00:25:32.910 --> 00:25:35.230 coffee, there are better ways to find your focus 00:25:35.230 --> 00:25:40.670 and your energy. I mean, this is a call I'm making 00:25:40.670 --> 00:25:43.390 for people to start moving from being a slave 00:25:43.390 --> 00:25:45.930 to your stimulants to being the master of the 00:25:45.930 --> 00:25:49.910 energy that you actually have and need. It's 00:25:49.910 --> 00:25:51.910 just some food for thought, if you will. Anyway, 00:25:52.009 --> 00:25:54.150 this has been Food for Thought by Neogentrix. 00:25:54.210 --> 00:25:57.230 Thank you for listening. I'll see you guys next 00:25:57.230 --> 00:25:59.789 time. Don't forget to look for me on YouTube 00:25:59.789 --> 00:26:04.130 under Evergreen Nexus Media. If you want to leave 00:26:04.130 --> 00:26:06.309 a comment for a suggestion for another video, 00:26:06.410 --> 00:26:09.930 or if you want to listen to me on some other 00:26:09.930 --> 00:26:12.069 platform, feel free to check the description 00:26:12.069 --> 00:26:14.390 of my YouTube channel or the description of this 00:26:14.390 --> 00:26:16.009 audio, depending on where you're listening on, 00:26:16.109 --> 00:26:19.490 whether it's Amazon Music, Pandora, Apple Music, 00:26:19.789 --> 00:26:25.890 iCos, Mania, Deezer, or iHeartRadio. i'll catch 00:26:25.890 --> 00:26:27.650 you guys later peace