EFFECT OF THE "CUP" THAT CHEERS"-NEW REVELATIONS

Coffee, by any yardstick, cannot be termed a food as it does not provide any calories or nutrients by itself and often consumed for its beverage properties. If so why is it that Coffee is the second most traded commodity behind petroleum, in the world market? Global production touching 7 million tons can vouchsafe for the popularity of coffee in many parts of the world. Top coffee producers in the world include Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Honduras, Ethiopia and India, accounting for almost 80% of global out put and this commodity happens to be major sustaining economic force for 12 countries who dominate the global trade. Interestingly most of the top coffee consuming countries do not figure in the list of top producers and the per capita consumption in these coffee producing countries is some what insignificant compared to that in many countries in Europe. Why is that coffee has become an important part of the life styles in many western countries?

It is generally agreed that Western countries are more affluent and also generally better informed about nutrition and health. If so is it possible that they have realized the health advantage in consuming coffee regularly? Or is it because of the addiction quality of coffee that has hooked the consumers in these countries to regular consumption of coffee? It may also be due to the stimulating aroma of coffee that is liked by people in the West. Otherwise how one can explain away the high consumption level of coffee in countries like Finland (12 kg per person per year), Norway (9.9 kg), Ireland ( 9 kg ), Denmark (8.7 kg), the Netherlands (8.4 kg), Sweden (8.2 kg) or Switzerland (7.9 kg)? Compare to this, consumption in India is less than 100 gm per year per person! Probably the most compelling factor could be the environment in these countries where cold climates persist most of the year and a cup of coffee is the best "friend" to keep company ( of course next to alcohol)!

Is consumption of coffee really beneficial to the human health? There is no unanimity on this issue with most scientists supporting its health value while a few believe it could be injurious. A random sampling of international opinions on effect of coffee on health would reveal that its consumption can reduce the risk of a plethora of diseases that include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, CVD, Diabetes, Liver Cirrhosis and Gout. However coffee is implicated in acid influx, especially in old age people. Also coffee in implicated in increased LDL proteins and consequent heart problems, attributed to the diterpenes, Kahweol and Cafestol, present in coffee brew made without paper filter. It is universally accepted that roasted coffee can contain more than 1000 different chemical constituents including valuable lipophilic antioxidants which are effective in sweeping off the dangerous oxyradicals generated at the cellular level. Chlorogenic acid lactones, present in coffee, are reported to be effective in protecting neuronal cells.

A recent study, performed by a Harvard Medical School team, using a sample size of 50,000 women in the US over a span on of 10 years has brought out a startling fact that coffee consumption can be very effective in decreasing depression among them significantly. According to them those women not taking coffee regularly tended to have very high level of depression compared to others consuming the beverage regularly. Drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of developing depression and the increase in coffee consumption correlated to a decrease depression risk. Those who drank 2 to 3 cups a day had a 15% decrease in depression risk; drinking 4 or more cups a day decreased the risk by 20%.  Drinking decaffeinated coffee did not have the same effect on depression prevention. This empirical correlation does not seem to have any scientific backing and only further studies can figure out the effects of caffeine on the brain. Scientifically it is established that caffeine, present in coffee does promote feelings of well-being and energy. The ability of Caffeine to block adenosine, a chemical produced by the brain that slows nerve cell activity in the brain and cause drowsiness, is well known. Similarly Caffeine also increases dopamine production which plays an important role in depression. It is also claimed that the tendency to commit suicide is very low among coffee drinkers and these findings can reinforce the basis for coffee's ability to counteract depression. 

Lack of unanimity that is eluding the researchers engaged in coffee related studies can be attributed to the confusion that prevails regarding the understanding of coffee and its processing. Coffee is roasted first before grinding into powders with varying particle size and variations can exist in roasting conditions depending on the type of product desired. The chemicals extracted into the brew can vary enormously depending on whether it is a light roast or medium, medium dark, dark or very dark roast. At 200C the process of caramelization is initiated when starch is broken down to sugars and Maillard reaction also begins giving the darker color. At 205C flavor chemicals like Caffeol start forming. As roasting proceeds many aromatic oils and acids are destroyed changing the composition dramatically. Added to this the powdering operation decides the efficiency of extraction whether by boiling with water or steeping or percolation or pressure extraction. This is borne out by the fact that a cup of coffee can have Caffeine in a wide range from 75 mg to 200 mg depending on how it is made! What role addition of whiteners like milk plays on the health front is not very clear. For comparison of any scientific study the basic material used must have uniformly defined characteristics and probably it may be time such studies are organized by the International Coffee Organization to dispel all doubts about the effect of coffee consumption on human beings. Till such times these studies are organized, consumers will have to go by impartial observers that coffee consumption has more beneficial value than any serious health risks.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

CAFFEINE "EFFECT"-SOME NEW FINDINGS

Coffee fans will have to pause and think whether their level of consumption of this famous beverage day in and day out can bring them any harm in the light of recent reports from a group of food scientists from the down under. If the recommendations from these pundits are taken seriously, coffee consumption may have to be severely curtailed by those who are known coffee-addicts. For a typical South Indian family drinking coffee at least 2-4 times a day is a must and often such attachment to coffee has been described as addiction. May studies have brought out the fact those who consume coffee do not experience any withdrawal symptoms though craving for a cup of coffee can be experienced when it is not available readily.

The undesirable constituent in coffee that has been blamed for all the ill-effects attributed to it is caffeine. Caffeine is easily metabolized by the human liver using the hepatic microsomal enzymatic system, the metabolic end products being harmless. It is true that a typical cola beverage may contain much less caffeine compared to a cup of coffee. While a cup of coffee prepared using a brew by percolation may contain up to 135 mg of caffeine, drip brew derived coffee can have higher levels of caffeine, up to 175 mg per cup.

Coffee also contains some diterpene compounds like Kahweol and Cafestol which have been implicated in cardiovascular disease through their role in increasing the LDL concentration in blood. But coffee brew made with paper filter does not contain these harmful chemicals while metal filters allow them to pass through into the brew. In India good coffee beverage is made in metal filters but no data is available regarding the fate of these diterpenes when hot water is used for percolation.

The latest scare comes from New Zealand when the food authorities have sent out a warning to their citizens cautioning them against consuming coffee in high doses. According to the agency caffeine contained in coffee can cause irritability, anxiety, tremors, dizziness and insomnia. More alarming is the assertion that some people may experience short-term anxiety effects by consuming more than 3 mg of caffeine/kg body weight/day. This means that an adult should not drink more than two standard cups a day and for most healthy adults, up to 400mg of caffeine in total in a day. In case of children and old age population, with decreased liver function, the effect could be worse though reliable data is yet to emerge.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

VITAMIN D AND CAFFEINE-WHAT IS COMMON?

People suffering from respiratory problems like asthma can find some relief by generating more Vitamin D within the body as one of its analogs, calcitriol was found to slow down airway modification that causes breathing difficulties. Similarly caffeine consumption in moderate amounts is claimed to reduce discomforts associated with asthma. These two distinctly different chemical moieties act in different ways in bringing relief to asthmatics but can be brought to gether in a single delivery system convenient to the consumer.

Calcitriol is a form of Vitamin D3 synthesized in the body and is involved in some critical functions like increased calcium absorption, stimulation of osteoclastic resorption from bone, facilitation of the effect of para thyroid hormone( PTH) on bone resorption and increase of renal tubular absorption of calcium. Cells of the proximate tubule of the nephron in the kidney are stimulated by hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and PTH for production of calcitriol. Recent finding that calcitriol has good anti-inflammatory property and is involved in inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation has made this vitamin more useful to tackle inflammation related ailments. Calcitriol is the preferred therapy against psoriasis and it could be effective therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) also as it reduces pro-inflammatory cytokinin secretions in COPD. Many studies have been able to bring out the inverse relationship between Vit D content in the blood and severity of asthma symptoms indicating the role of this vitamin in manifestation of asthma. Lower the level of Vit D, more severe will be the asthmatic symptoms.

Calcitriol, which is available in synthetic form, has been found to slow down the progressive decline in the lung function of asthmatics and their ability to breathe as a result of human airway smooth muscle (HASM) proliferation. In vitro studies have demonstrated the ability of calcitriol to reduce the growth factor induced HASM proliferation in cells isolated from persons suffering from this ailment. Airway remodeling takes place as a result of asthma which causes reduced lung function progressively. Vit D therapy can slow down such remodeling of the airway and consequently arrest the decline in breathing ability avoiding dangerous asthmatic attacks.

Caffeine which is often derided as a villain for many unsubstantiated health problems appears as a savior for asthmatics since it was found to exert beneficial influence on asthma symptoms. In fact caffeine was as effective as the commonly used medication, albuterol inhaler. Caffeine at levels of 3-9 mg per kg body weight significantly reduced wheezing, coughing and other symptoms of some forms of asthma. Some believe that due to similarity in structure between caffeine and theophylline used by asthma patients, the mode of action could be same. Caffeine is known to decrease bronchoconstriction and the relief due to its consumption could be on account of this property. Two cups of strong coffee or hot cocoa or 2 chocolate bars can be expected to be helpful in getting short term relief from asthma symptoms. How ever this cannot be a substitute to doctor-recommended medication.

Industry should be looking for appropriate product formulations that contain calcitriol and caffeine targeted at those consumers vulnerable to asthma symptoms regularly. Consumption of such products can give relief up to 4 hours after ingestion. Regular consumption of fresh food materials like citrus fruits, broccoli, squash, brussel sprouts, wheat germ, raw onion, salmon, Brazil nuts, spinach containing Vit C, Beta carotene and/or omega-3 fatty acids also provide good relief to lung diseases like asthma. More attention to food by those vulnerable to breathing difficulties due to lung related problems can bring rich rewards in terms of alleviation of the undesirable symptoms.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/

COLA INDUSTRY, THE PROVERBIAL CAT WITH 9 LIVES!

With a staggering annual world production of 552 billion liters and a global average per capita annual consumption of 83 liters, cola beverages refuse to be cowed down by incessant campaign against its consumption by an assortment of groups with different interests. Health freaks frown upon cola because it can potentially cause tooth decay, bone demineralization, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Added to this is the implication of HFS, the corn based sweetener used in the manufacture of the product in many countries, in obesity epidemic being witnessed across the world. The pesticide controversy that raged in India some time back really shook the soft drink industry and just when it was coming out of the shock, there was the direction from the Supreme Court of the country to declare the recipe on each bottle. How this can be accomplished on every bottle and who will be benefited by this are moot questions in a country where 'industry' is a dirty word deserving no consideration. It is the sheer will power and sagacity of the industry that it is able to survive under such an hostile environment.

Now comes another 'googly' that aims at tarring the industry further. A new charge sheet has been prepared against cola drinks blaming it for a fancy health disorder with a nice sounding name, "hypokalaemia". It is supposed to mean that cola drinks deplete the body of the vital mineral potassium when taken in 'excess'. No one knows what is moderate and what is excess when it comes to consumption of cola! In the US the average per capita annual consumption is estimated at 212 liters while in India it is less than 10. Probably one will think that the US consumer is indulging in excessive intake of this product and can be right candidates for hypokalaemia while Indians will never be able to catch up with them in the foreseeable future, probably because of economic reasons.

Hypokalaemia is manifested when the potassium level in the blood falls alarmingly, which normally does not happen in healthy individuals. But if a recent report from a university in Greece is to be believed, 'excessive' intake of any cola drink can cause the above situation and low potassium in blood can adversely affect vital muscle functions. Symptoms can range from mild weakness to eventual paralysis under extreme conditions. Though much details are not available regarding this 'discovery', what is known is that the findings were based on 9 patients who visited one hospital with symptoms of hypokalaemia and they were found to be taking 3-9 liters of cola drink every day! It is beyond any body's comprehension as to how a sane person can take 9 liters of a drink in a day regularly, unless he is on a starvation diet! Each liter of the drink provides about 400 kC of energy and 9 liters can deliver a whopping 3600 kC in a day! It is no wonder that such a person can have a plethora of health problems including hypokalaemia and by no stretch of imagination this can be considered a real life situation warranting international out cry to warn on cola consumption.

The protagonists of hypokalaemia cite the effect of caffeine on potassium depletion to support their case against cola. Stray reports do suggest that 180-360 mg of caffeine can cause potassium drain from the body. Since each liter of cola is supposed to contain about 130 mg of caffeine, a logical deduction seems to have been made regarding possible effect of cola consumption in causing hypokalaemia. Effect of caffeine on potassium depletion is attributed to redistribution of this mineral into the cells, release of catecholamine, increase in renal excretion of potassium and/or hyper ventilation with respiratory alkalosis. Some even believe, without any substance, that combination of glucose, fructose and caffeine found in cola drinks is causing depletion of potassium.

Of course the soft drink industry will weather this storm also because the findings are based on flimsy grounds and prepare for the next round in this war of attrition, probably about the supposed ill-effects of caramel which gives cola the typical brown color or other ingredients that go in the making of the product. There may even be demand for including in the label a warning that it is injurious to health! However such reports, from where ever they emanate, should not be rubbished and the industry must engage with its critics, provide credible evidence regarding the safety of their products and gain consumer confidence on its ability to ensure their safety without any compromise.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/