Caffeine

Hahahaha, Guest. Such wit! We English (note the use of the capital E, moron.) have bad teeth and only bathe twice a year!
Who would have thought that a colonial would have such a sense of humour?
Please stop it or surely my sides will split!

January, there have been quite a few long term studies into the relationship between diet and health. Some have been running for decades and so far none have found any credible evidence that caffeine or coffee does any serious harm. Indeed there is some evidence that coffee provides some health benefits such as reducing the incidence of some cancers and improving cognitive function in people with senile dementia.
Of more relevence to your mental health is the consumption of trans-fatty acids. According to U.S. government scientists there is no safe level of intake, yet the stuff is in a vast number of everyday foods.
Your brain is mostly fat and depends on a regular intake of essential fatty acids (primarily omega-3) but consumption of trans-fatty acids blocks the absorbtion of omega-3's.
Americans annually consume the largest amount of "junk Food" per capita in the world, so perhaps this is more likely to be behind the rise in mental health problems?

The english don't deserve a "E". They're has been's, just look at you cricket team.

How did we go from caffeine to omega 3 and junk food? I can come up with a very large list on possible causes for mental illness ranging from technology to gluten but we are talking caffeine! Don't think because your getting you arse kicked and wish to change the threads agenda that we don't realise this. Caffeine is the thread and don't you forget it :lol

Bottom line. Psychiatry hasn't got a clue what causes any mental illness period! It's all hypothesis.

So Guest, you think that the English do not deserve a capital E? Well, from reading your posts I realise that you are barely literate, but there are books available called dictionaries. I suggest that you purchase one.
I am curious though, when did it become acceptable to insult someone because of their race? Perhaps, if you can not engage in an open debate without resorting to insults, you should find another forum or stop hiding behind your "guest" status.

I will answer your question though, as engaging in a battle of wits with an unarmed man is rather tedious.

The reason I brought up trans-fatty acids is because their consumption has increased in direct correlation with the rise in mental health problems over the last century. There are many other possible dietary causes of mental health problems, but this synthetic fat is a likely culprit.
As there have been no links found so far between caffeine consumption and mental illness, but numerous benefits have been found, I thought I would open the debate a little. How you equate this to me "getting my arse kicked" I do not know.

100% of americans drink coffee ("They all drink coffee") was a stupid generalisation to make. I did however alert me to your arrogant personality

Moreover, you're the anal retentive that started the whole "E" debate followed with the attached insult "moron", you ###$ hypocrite. If you cant handle insults don't give them out. And if you going to worry abour grammer and spelling on a mental illness support site I suggest you piss off, it's not what its about.

WTF is a username applicable? quiet-loner means FA to me. Any username means FA to me. I really don't care who you are and I really don't wish to get to know you! Above all I wish to avoid spam, this is a commercial site sponsored by drug companies. I don't want their $#%^ on my PC. Or maybe I'm paranoid????

It you want to good read on EFA's and Madness, read DR David Horrobin, The Madness of Adam and Eve, How Schizophrenia Shaped Humanity. It's on Bantam Press I believe.

I’m out of here you boring whining pommy twat. YUK!

Please guest and quient loner, do not fight on the open forum.

If something someone says bothers another person please do not even respond to them.

Just ignore it and move on.

Yer, stop picking on me loner you big bully. You're upsetting me with your brilliant wit and logic.

CAFFEINE ALLERGY: Past Disorder or Present Epidemic?
by Ruth Whalen, Medical Laboratory Technician
Cape Cod, MA USA.

With the upswing of "chemical imbalance" disorders that surfaced in the latter twentieth century, many researchers frantically attempt to unravel the brain's intricate clockworks. In turn, as the number of persons suffering with mental issues mount, it seems that doctors, pressed for time, are quick to refer patients to psychiatrists. Failing to request a medical physical, many psychiatrists hand out medications, often masking the underlying physical problem.

People have overlooked two simple but deleterious factors: 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine and allergy. Simply put: caffeine allergy. It is medical knowledge that the longer a person is exposed to a drug, the higher the chances are for developing a tolerance, and an allergy to the substance. Once this happens, caffeine allergic persons can't properly metabolize caffeine, which is rapidly absorbed by all organs, and distributed into intracellular compartments, and extracellular water.

Mentioned in a 1936 article by Drs. McManamy and Schube, a young woman, allergic to caffeine, presented with alternating states of delirium and mania, resembling schizophrenia (1). After the recorded case, allergy documentation becomes rare. And not surprisingly.

The drug's stimulating properties masks its allergic symptoms. Circulating adrenaline (epinephrine) increases in caffeine consuming persons (2,3). In its synthetic form, epinephrine is the drug of choice for anaphylactic reactions, halting allergic reactions. But added to a stimulant reaction, excess adrenaline may induce delusions. And the breakdown of some adrenaline byproducts mimics symptoms of schizophrenia (4).

Brain levels increase proportionately with dosage (5). In allergic persons, each cup of coffee, cola, tea, every piece of chocolate, and any ingested caffeine products, intensifies toxic psychosis. Half-life increases. Subsequent doses, including minute amounts, act as a bolus. Cells are poisoned, including neurons.

Symptoms of cerebral allergy can range from minimal reactions, such as lack of comprehension and inability to focus, to severe psychotic states, such as delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations (6). It's known that amphetamine psychosis can't be distinguished from schizophrenia (7,8). With a caffeine allergic person's inability to eliminate, continually ingesting caffeine, neurotransmitter levels, including dopamine and adrenaline, quickly increase. Cells rapidly absorb the drug.

Dopamine increases proportionately to the amount of stress (9). The higher the adrenaline level, the greater the increase in dopamine. Serotonin also increases. Dopamine and serotonin decrease during partial, toxic withdrawal states. But as long as caffeine remains in the toxic body, neurotransmitters never adjust to the victim's natural state.

Toxicity is known to cause excitement, agitation, restlessness, shifting states of consciousness, and toxic psychosis (10), mimicking amphetamine psychosis. Allergic individuals may be erroneously diagnosed, medicated, and lost in a dark disturbed world, until death.

Adenosine receptors are blocked by caffeine (11,16), maintaining neuronal firing. Persons remain excited and often euphoric.

Caffeine toxicity may be mistaken for bipolar disorder (1,12). Symptoms include: chattiness, repetitive thought and action (resembling obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD), restlessness, psychomotor agitation, alternating moods, anger, impulsiveness, aggression, omnipotence, delirium, buying sprees, lack of sexual inhibition, and loss of values.

Allergy can mimic Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (13). As far back as 1902, T. D. Crothers noted that many caffeine consuming children "exhibit precocity" and "functional exaltation" (14).

Caffeine poisoning may also resemble schizophrenia. One woman's conversational topics wandered from subject to subject. She screamed, and believed that she was in prison. Natural judgement was impaired (1). In 1931, a truck driver brought to the hospital in a confused and irritable condition, complained of being attacked by flies. Flies were never present. Examination revealed that he'd consumed large amounts of cola (15). One gentleman ended his political speech with predictions and threats, out of the ordinary for his personality, stunning the audience (14). Another case describes a man, who imagined himself very wealthy, and assumed that his mental state was normal (14).

Caffeine toxicity may also masquerade as depression, and anxiety. In 1925, Powers described nervousness, visual problems, and dizziness, in patients he discovered suffered from caffeine toxicity (16). In 1974, caffeine toxic patients, experiencing the same symptoms, were erroneously admitted to a psychiatric hospital, for treatment of anxiety (16,17). In other studies, depression and anxiety are also correlated with caffeine intake (18,19,20,21).

In several reports, patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder experienced panic attacks with ingestion of caffeine (18,19,20). One study reveals that six persons improved with caffeine cessation and remained improved for at least six months (21). Other reports reveal that some persons not afflicted with panic disorder, experienced panic attacks with intravenously administered caffeine (22, 23).

Written materials on panic disorder symptoms and anaphylactic symptoms do not clearly differentiate between the two. Parasthesia (pins and needle sensations), a feeling of choking, hyperactive symptoms, chest pains, and hyperventilation, amongst other symptoms, are common in both conditions. They're also common in many caffeine consuming persons.

This suggests that caffeine allergy may be responsible for many cases of panic disorder. In which case, panic attacks in allergic individuals are suppressed anaphylactic reactions - mimicking ADHD, and panic disorder. They're "have to get up and run" and "I think I'm losing my mind" feelings, brought about by increased neurotransmitter levels, associated with the "fight or flight" syndrome.

Dr. William Walsh connected anxiety and severe allergic reactions. Dr.Walsh maintains that allergic anxiety stems from a choking sense, and loss of air; not a psychological deficit (24).

Caffeine converts into many byproducts, including theophylline. Theophylline keeps the bronchial tubes open. Allergic individuals are less likely to suffer respiratory collapse, during an anaphylactic reaction.

A proficient Boston neurologist mentions that sixty-six percent of elevated CPK MM (creatine phosphokinase of muscle) levels are of an "unknown origin" (25). Innumerable mid to late twentieth century studies reveal that a high number of persons diagnosed with mental disorders, including personality disorder, mania, BPD, depression, catatonia, and schizophrenia, exhibit elevated CPK MM levels (26,27,28-38,39,40-50).

The high majority of these studies, and others, attribute elevated CPK levels to a commonality between patients with mental disorders. Not one focuses on caffeine allergy as a contributing factor of mental disorders.

CPK MM, a muscle enzyme, increases with severe muscle trauma, burns, inflammatory states, and poisoning. This may stem from drugs (36,37,38,39), including cocaine, alcohol, amphetamines, heroin, and stimulants (37,40). Antihistamines, salicylates, cyclic antidepressants, theophylline, and others also cause this disorder (37).

This condition, called rhabdomyolysis, stresses and inflames tissues, including brain cells, breaking down muscle fibers, and discharging potentially toxic cellular matter into the bloodstream (37). Caffeine poisoning can cause rhabdomyolysis (10,37,41).

Myoglobinuria is a symptom of rhabdomyolysis, but often urine myoglobin disappears early in the course of the disorder, or is absent altogether (37). Generalized muscle cramping (associated with rhabdomyolysis) (14,37) may also be absent, or subside early on. Accumulation of caffeine acts as morphine, alleviating pain and discomfort, often inducing muscle rigidity.

With toxins leaking into the bloodstream, the CPK increases. The higher the CPK, the higher the neurotransmitters, and the deeper into psychosis a person spirals.

In the late 1960's, Bengzon et al proposed that the leakage of CPK and aldolase might explain schizophrenia (26). Studies on patients with non-restrictive diets, concentrated on various factors, including medication, but failed to include caffeine as a possible factor (26). More recent studies have also overlooked caffeine allergy as a factor in any mental disorders, including schizophrenia.

A study theorized caffeine as a possible, psychosis inducing agent. Researchers eliminated patients' caffeine for a short duration. It was decided that caffeine aggravates symptoms of thought disorder and psychosis (42). Caffeine was reintroduced-never allowing for sufficient withdrawal times-and significant improvements.

Proportionate to toxicity, physical withdrawal may take up to 12 months, or longer. Recovery symptoms include memory loss, confusion, tremors, agitated states, insomnia or somnolence, and nightmares associated with amphetamine withdrawal. Following physical recovery, residual mental symptoms, primarily confusion and mood alterations, may exist for several months.

Evidence suggests that caffeine, and synthetic neurotransmitter altering medications, merely balance one another, and that upon cessation of caffeine, medication is no longer needed. Several reports indicate that upon caffeine cessation, tremors increased in lithium consuming individuals (43). In some patients, caffeine withdrawal increased lithium levels (44). After experiencing a 10-year course of seasonal BPD, a woman eliminated caffeine from her diet. She no longer needed BPD medication (45).

Caffeine may compete for benzodiazepine receptors (5). In which case, benzodiazepines reduce caffeine's effects and vice versa; balancing each other.

Chronic toxicity may affect functional aspects of every organ (14). Allergic persons may become sensitive to bright light, and resort to sunglasses. It's not uncommon to find dilated but reactive pupils on examination (14). Toxic persons usually present with a whitish, or grayish coated tongue (14, 46). Other findings imply that caffeine inhibits anaphylaxis, by suppressing histamine release (47,48). Due to caffeine's antihistamine properties, a skin test for caffeine allergy may be negative.

Several laboratory tests may be used as markers for allergic toxicity. A detectable Theophylline level in a patient not receiving Theophylline therapy, and an elevated CPK level are indicative of caffeine toxicity. Along with these, an increased glucose level (10,49) and an elevated white blood count (1,49) may also be significant of toxicity, as many patients assumed afflicted with mental disorders present with elevation of these (1,50). An elevated sedimentation rate, indicative of inflammatory processes, might signify rhabdomyolysis.

It's highly probable, that millions of consumers developed an allergy to caffeine, especially since availability and production increased rapidly mid- twentieth century. In which case, natural insights, and physical and mental health, have been sacrificed to chronic toxicity, resulting in organic brain, silently posing as ADD, ADHD, anxiety, BPD, depression, OCD, panic, and schizophrenia. Physical ailments resemble amphetamine poisoning, and include drug eruptions, masquerading as "rosacea."

Back in 1936, McManamy and Schube maintained that in all probability, many people of that era might have already been erroneously diagnosed with some form of mental illness. The doctors further predicted, that in the future, with lack of time, and proper medical insight, many doctors would not be able to diagnose simple disorders such as caffeine allergy, and would label many patients as psychotic (1).

Well, here we are. Welcome to the future.

http://www.hiddenmysteries.org/health/e ... feine.html

quiet-loner wrote:there have been quite a few long term studies into the relationship between diet and health. Some have been running for decades and so far none have found any credible evidence that caffeine or coffee does any serious harm. Indeed there is some evidence that coffee provides some health benefits such as reducing the incidence of some cancers and improving cognitive function in people with senile dementia.

As you can see from the above post quiet-loner there has been a load of studies showing caffeine is a major contributing factor to symptoms of mental illness as far back as 1936.

You really should do your homework.

thank you.

Guest, the reason I suggested that you stop hiding behind your "guest" status is so that insults could be exchanged privately. There are many "guests" using this site, so a pseudonym allows one to know that you are dealing with a particular individual. I have never had any problems with spam from any company related to this site.

You are correct I did refer to you as a moron. This was in response to your initial insult to my nationality. Your poorly constructed, misspelled, profanity laced diatribe only helps to confirm my opinion. I have never objected to insults directed at my intellect, my clothes or even my haircut as these are subjective views. I will not tolerate the insulting of my nationalty however as this is something beyond my control.

If you wish to insult me in future please insult things that I am responsible for and, if you can manage it, try to make it entertaining.

To return to the subject of coffee and caffeine. Despite the interesting research posted my argument still stands. With caffeine so widely used there would be incontrovertible evidence for its harmful effect by now.
There may well be a case for arguing that some people suffer from a caffeine allergy or toxicity, but so far the evidence is inconclusive. The evidence for the health benfits of coffee is equally inconclusive. However with the drug being so widely used I suspect that the balance of probabilty lies with caffeine being relatively safe in comparison to many other foods consumed daily.