Eating Well - Beaming with Health

The Food We Eat: Bllt S&ould We2 135
are particularly sensitive to caffeine, then even this small
amount will have negative results.
Caffefne withdrawal - cold turkey
If you think caffeine may have a negative effect on your
health, the best way to test your theory is to eliminate
caffeine (including tea, cola and chocolate) for one week.
The chemical caffeine does not accumulate in the body
and has a half life (the time taken to reduce the level in
the body to half its initial value) of around four hours.
Peak concentration of caffeine occurs within one hour of
consumption. At around 18 hours aAer your last cup of
coffee, the levels of caffeine are very low and this is the
time to be wary of caffeine withdrawal. Lock yourself
away for the next 24 to 48 hours. You will probably
experience throbbing headaches, irritab'iltty and extreme
fatigue, which wiIl help you develop the convincing argument
that in order to feel better, all you need Is a cup
of coffee. Don't do it.
Tea
From the tea ceremony in Japan to the Australian tradition
of a cup of tea with a lamington, tea has had symbolic and
cultural significance for over 2000 years.
Green tea has risen in popularity since the discovery of its
cancer-protective qualities, mainly due to a tannin called E$igallocatechin
gallate, which helps in liver detoxification and
strengthening the immune system. Black tea also contains
some of these antioxidants, although the fermenting process
which turns green tea into black diminishes the quantity a
little.