Stephen Cherniske - Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of Americas #1 Drug

PUBLISHERS NOTE: This book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in all matters relating to his or her health, particularly in respect of any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Copyright 1998 by Stephen Cherniske, M.S.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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First eBook Edition: December 1998

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ISBN: 978-0-446-55111-3

Contents

DONT LET YOUR MORNING PICK-ME-UP TEAR YOU DOWN

Caffeine cant provide energy, only chemical stimulation, an induced emergency state that can lead to irritability, mood swings, and panic attacks.

Caffeines ultimate mood effect can be letdown, which can lead to depression and chronic fatigue.

Caffeine gives the illusion of heightened alertness by dilating pupils, quickening heart rate, and raising blood pressure. In fact, caffeine does not increase overall mental activity.

LET CAFFEINE BLUES BRING YOU BETTER HEALTH

For the children, who need to be nourished and protected.

I would like to acknowledge my mother for her commitment to health and good nutrition more than fifty years ago, and all of the teachers, researchers, and scientists who over the years instilled in me a love of scientific inquiry. Particularly, I would like to thank Robert Garvin and Allan Watts for showing me that truth is most often found by looking beyond the conventional viewpoint.

I have also benefited tremendously from many scientists who paved the way. Jack E. James and Keryn Stirling produced a valuable analysis of the harmful effects of habitual caffeine use in 1982. Annette MacKay Rossignol and Linda Massey conducted groundbreaking research concerning caffeine and womens health. Roland R. Griffiths was an early researcher into caffeines addictive properties, and Dr. Richard M. Gilbert published Caffeine as a Drug of Abuse in 1976, long before anyone else caught on. Thanks to Dr. Eric Strain and his colleagues who finally proved the existence of a caffeine dependence syndrome.

Thanks also to G. Alan Smith for showing the world that caffeine reduction is a critical step in the treatment of anxiety, headache, sleep disturbance, and abdominal symptoms, and to Dr. Milton Krisiloff for illuminating the caffeine connection to urinary and prostate problems. I am grateful for the inclusion of material concerning caffeine abuse from the clinical experience of Drs. Michael Liepman and Jesse Hanley, and for perspectives gained from the work of Drs. Michael Murray, Dean Ornish, Jeffrey Bland, and Ralph Golan.

In the process of creating this book and program, I was assisted greatly by Caroline MacDougall, a pioneer in the creation of caffeine-free beverages. Her insight, wordsmithing, inspiration, tireless support, and criticism were essential to the project. The editorial and writing assistance of Cynthia Anderson was once again crucial and greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Cindy Latham, Wendy McClure, Robert Gangwer, and research assistants Grace Molonai, Catherine Rhodes, and Elliott MacDougall.

I am grateful for research provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and for the remarkable work of Marcus Colchester and Larry Lohmann exploring the issues of human rights and rain forest destruction.

Warmest gratitude to Robert Stricker, my literary agent, who found the very best home for this manuscript. To Warner Books for having the courage to take a stand at this critical point in time. To Vice President and Hardcover Publisher Jamie Raab, John Aherne, editor, and Heather Kilpatrick, deputy general counsel.

Thanks also to B. William Lee, H. Y. Sung, Stuart Ochiltree, and the staff of Univera Pharmaceuticals for resources, time, encouragement, and the ability to create solutions where others see only problems.

And finally, I am indebted to my wife, Deborah, for holding the family together while Daddy worked late; for her unending support on every level and her many contributions from concept to final draft.

As a physician, I prescribe drugs with great care, because all drugs have effects and side effects. In addition, some can create a state of dependence. Clearly, caffeine is such a drug, and I find that very few people are aware of its side effects and dangers. In fact, most people do not even know how much caffeine they are consuming, and what concerns me is that this information is purposely withheld from consumers.

Caffeine is clearly addictive, completely unregulated, and its presence in our foods and beverages is often hidden! Almost daily I see a patient whose symptoms are made worse by the consumption of caffeine. The drug contributes to palpitations, panic attacks, hypoglycemia, gastritis, fatigue, insomnia, and PMS, to name a few. Some people are so sensitive to caffeine that they dont realize a fruit drink with hidden caffeine can cause their symptoms.

Although I know a few people who use caffeine prudently, most people I meet report drinking what you will discover are dangerous amounts of caffeine. Perhaps an occasional cup is safe, but by the time you realize that you cant make it through the day without caffeine, youre in trouble. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, caffeine-spiked beverages, and the other hidden forms of caffeine are promoted as harmless, energizing treats. I consider this deceptive and false advertising. And what concerns me most is the dramatically increasing use of caffeine by children, accompanied of course by large amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners, which add to beverages deleterious and addictive effects.

I find Caffeine Blues to be an extraordinary and important book. Knowledge is power, and this book will empower you to regain and protect your health. Finally, you have in your hands all the information you need to make an informed choice regarding caffeine use. Everyone needs to know the short- and long-term effects of caffeine. Everyone, including doctors, needs to become more aware of caffeines role in cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, and womens health. Ive looked forward to this expos for years, and Im pleased that it is so well documented and readable. I recommend it to my patients and keep a copy in the waiting room.

Ive known and learned from Stephen Cherniske for many years. His in-depth knowledge, experience, and scientific research on numerous topics in health and nutrition make him a natural to tell this shocking and critical story. I encourage you to trust his information and insight, as I do.

Caffeine Blues will make my job a great deal easier. I suggest that you take the book seriously, and discover the truth thats been hidden from you for far too long. This book not only blows the whistle on the caffeine industry, but it also provides you with a proven strategy to kick the habit without suffering through weeks of withdrawal. For many of my patients, kicking caffeine has been an important step on the road to optimum health. Enjoy the journey.

JESSE LYNN HANLEY, M.D.

Coffee? she intoned. Thank you, I replied, taking a cup from the hostess in the airport lounge. I was waiting for an early-morning flight to Anchorage to give a weekend seminar on clinical nutrition. The flight was delayed, so I had another cup as I read the newspaper. I didnt notice when she refilled my cup.