Blog

3

Does anyone have an answer to the following question(s): the above caffeine metabolites (acc. to wikipedia) come from different sources but can be found combined in others. I am wondering if they have different effects in terms of ergogenics, lipolysis, vasodilation, etc. and if one cycles these metabolites(By cycling different sources, eg. green tea, cocoa, yerba mate)if they could avoid caffeinism or reduce adaptation to the effects(assuming one adapts at moderate doses). I would like to reap the benefits of these substances but don't want caffeinism or tachycardia, etc. Any ideas?

flag
2 
As in all things, moderation. – DudleyP Mar 14 2011 at 11:20
Paraxanthine is only available via caffeine metabolism. If you want to avoid tachycardia, don't take stimulants. Caffeine is a stimulant, you can't avoid the tachycardia. Unless, of course, you build up a tolerance, and that will reduce the stimulant effect. And cycling is pointless since tea, cocoa and yerba mate all contain caffeine and hence, will produce the same metabolites. Nevermind that yerba mate most certainly will cause tachycardia on its own. – RG73 Apr 4 2011 at 3:31
@DudleyP - ... even moderation! – greymouser Apr 10 2012 at 14:17

4 Answers

1

There are metabolic differences. If I recall correctly, mate is supposed to cause more smooth muscle and increases heart rate more and the central nervous system less than coffee or caffeine alone. Cocoa, containing theobromine, also stimulates the heart more and central nervous system more. Cocoa also comes with other health benefits, of course, separate to the stimulant as, of course, does green tea. My suspicion is that theobromine, despite the benefits, is more of a health danger than caffeine alone, insofar that theobromine poisoning (chronic as well as acute) is easier than caffeine.

Also cycling these drinks won't help you avoid caffeinism, since the bulk of these effects will be the same, since they all contain caffeine (unless you can find isolated theobromine supplements somewhere). Don't believe the assorted commercially minded people who will insist that their stimulant doesn't contain any caffeine (I've heard the word 'mateine' used before...), but some new substance that science hasn't caught up enough to differentiate yet.

Also my two cents are that despite the practical benefits of stimulants (I use them all the time), they are probably a net health ill (whether or not this is more than made up for by the assorted polyphenols I don't know, but it's not as though you can't get your plant chemicals from some non-stimulant source). Hence, if there's no practical reason why your life will go better with these stimulants I wouldn't undertake to add them to your diet for the sake of it.


Looks like Mark posted about Mate today.

link|flag
If I add cocoa + cinnamon powders to my hot coffee in the morning, am I losing antioxidant value do to the heat? Am I benefiting at all by adding these two substances to my coffee? – BAMBAM Jul 7 2011 at 21:31
Inevitably a bit, but both of those foods are normally eaten after being heated and both have still been shown to have high antioxidant content in that state. – David Moss Jul 8 2011 at 5:59
0

I fear you'll find that the caffeine metabolites are the stimulating factor that the body is responding to... http://www.biology-online.org/articles/actions_caffeine_brain_special/consumption_metabolism_caffeine.html

You may just have to stick to moderate use if you want to avoid becoming hooked.

link|flag
0

Stick to just one cup a day of any of those and you won't have a problem, unless you are caffeine sensitive.

link|flag
0

I've been taking Theobromine and green tea extract tablet for over a year and I've been happy with the mental and physical results. I'll usually feel the effects for 6+ hours and depending on other factors (ie. rest). These guys use something called supercritical extraction to get only the Theobromine out of 600+ mg of raw cocoa, resulting in about 275mg of theobromine.. Anyhow, the green tea is about 20 mg per tablet.

I'd like expert thoughts on this if anyone has any http://www.vavalertusa.com

link|flag

Your Answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.