Introduction
Drowsiness? Headache? Fatigue? A solution to these problems is simple: it's called caffeine.
Few are aware of 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine, but if it is called caffeine everyone understands what it is: a characteristic substance of coffee, normally consumed by people, belonging to the family of alkaloids and contained in fruits, leaves and seeds of many plants.
Sources of caffeine
By definition, plants rich in caffeine are coffee, cocoa and tea, but it should not be forgotten that foods containing caffeine are also others, although little known in our country; we are talking about mate, guarana and cola nuts. The underlying theme of these foods is caffeine: this substance always acts in the same way, and this applies to all nerve foods, even if it can be positively or negatively modulated by the phytocomplex.
Before analyzing the foods that contain caffeine, below are two tables that indicate, respectively, the amount of caffeine in foods (A.) and the amount of caffeine that the raw materials contain (B.)
TO.
FOOD NERVINO | QUANTITY OF CAFFEINE |
Coffee powder | 1000-3000 mg / 100 g |
Espresso | 60-120 mg / cup |
Mocha coffee | 100-150 mg / cup |
Neapolitan coffee | 60-130 mg / cup |
Decaffeinated coffee | 2-5 mg |
Tea (long infusion) | 40-50 mg / 100 g |
Cocoa powder | 100 mg / 100 g |
Chocolate (tablets) | 50 mg / 100 g |
Chocolate (cup) | 10/40 mg / cup |
Cola type drink | 20-30 mg / can (33 cc) |
B.
RAW MATERIAL | QUANTITY OF CAFFEINE |
Coffee - seeds | 1-2% caffeine |
Tea - leaves | 2-3% caffeine, theobromine and theophylline |
Cola - walnut | 3% caffeine |
Cocoa - seeds | Traces of caffeine, 2% theobromine |
Table B also lists other exciting substances (theobromine and theophylline), which act almost identical to caffeine.
Effects and contraindications of caffeine
Foods containing caffeine are classified as powerful vasoconstrictors: from here it is possible to understand why caffeine is not recommended for those suffering from hypertension. Considering that caffeine exerts its action by stimulating the body when awake, people suffering from insomnia should avoid caffeinated foods, to avoid the risk of staying up all night. The recommendation is also valid for individuals with gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastro-oesophageal reflux, arrhythmias, tachycardia and osteoporosis.
Excess caffeine can cause palpitations, nausea, insomnia and loss of appetite. Generally, the side effects of caffeine occur at doses above 200 mg, but there is considerable individual variability in this regard. But why do some individuals not suffer much from the effects of caffeine?
To answer this question, there are those who associate caffeine with alcohol: two substances that are tolerated differently from one subject to another. In general, tolerance is significantly higher in regular coffee drinkers or in those who regularly take caffeine supplements.
The coffee
As we have seen, among the most caffeinated wings, the scepter - at least for notoriety - is for coffee. Caffeine is found in the grains of plants, which are roasted at temperatures above 200 ° C before being ground: during this process, caffeine is partly lost and substances are formed to define the aroma of the coffee.
The coffee we are used to drinking is very flavored, because it undergoes a long roasting process, but it has a relatively low amount of caffeine. Going to the countries of Northern Europe and drinking local coffee, one realizes that the food in question is less flavored, but the amount of caffeine is very high: this is because the roasting process takes place at lower temperatures.
Tea
Tea is also a nerve food; like coffee, it is considered a non-nutritive food component ( non-nutritive dietary component ). Tea provides calories only if it is sweetened or if other foods are added, such as milk.
There are various categories of tea (white, green, oolong and black), which differ from the aromatic and compositional point of view.
As already mentioned, in the tea there are different categories of methylxanthines: theobromine, caffeine theophylline. The quantity of the same varies according to the category of tea that is considered: in fact black tea contains above all caffeine (2.5 - 5.5% of caffeine in the leaves), only in theobromine and theophylline traces.
Cocoa
In cocoa, caffeine is present in much lower quantities than tea and coffee. It is good to know, however, that cocoa is considered an "exciting" food thanks to the presence of theobromine.
Although there are only traces of caffeine in cocoa, it has been shown that the effects of theobromine are practically identical to those of caffeine. This explains the reason why chocolate is recommended to those people who tend to low blood pressure, who feel fatigued and who experience a decrease in attention. For the same reason, it is not recommended to take this food before going to sleep, because it stimulates the nerve centers by inducing the body to wake.
Mate, cola nut and Guarana
Mate, cola nut and guarana are used for the manufacture of food, in particular beverages: even in this case we speak of nervine foods, widely sold especially in America. Furthermore, mate, cola nut and guarana represent the basis for some food supplements known as "tonics and tonics".
Maté stimulates the appetite and contains caffeine in variable amounts ranging from 0.5 to 1.5%; it is good to remember that when preparing a food based on mate, only a part of the caffeine is extracted: the remainder remains in the leaves.
Cola nuts are used for the production of stimulating foods, thanks to the substantial amount of caffeine, which also reaches 5%.
For the extraction of caffeine from guarana, instead, the seeds are used: the extract boasts, also in this case, tonic and exciting properties.
Some energy drinks, better known as energy drinks, contain very high levels of caffeine (even 320 mg / l), although article 15 of Presidential Decree 719/1958 states that in coca, the maximum levels of caffeine allowed are 125 mg / l and 89 mg / l in the pepsi cola. Caffeine reaches 320 mg / l in Red Bull and Burn Energy drinks.
It would be good not to abuse these foods to avoid unpleasant side effects of hyperexcitability, insomnia, nausea and restlessness.
The coffee...
Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
