Stimulating Beverages

I. Introduction

-Caffeine

• How much caffeine?
• structure
• CNS
• nerve transmission animation
• neurotransmitters
• mechanism of action 

-caffeine is structurally similar to neurotransmitter adenosine

-adenosine promotes sleep 

-when present caffeine binds to adenosine receptor

-at the same time, another neurotransmitter, dopamine stimulates pleasure centers in brain

• effects

II. Examples of Stimulating Beverages

A. Coffee

-Family Rubiaceae

• Coffea genus: C. arabica or C. robusta
• Old World crop

-Plant Characteristics

• vegetative
• white flowers in leaf axils (C. robusta)
• fruit; seeds
• climate for growth: preservation of biodiversity marketing

-Coffee processing 1  Coffee Processing2

-Is coffee drinking harmful or beneficial?

B. Cacao

-Family Sterculiaceae

• Theobroma cacao 
• New World Crop

-Plant Characteristics

• vegetative
• fruits  fruits/seeds seeds

-Cacao Processing

-Is chocolate good for you?

C. Tea

-Family Theaceae (Camelliaceae)

• Camellia sinensis
• Old World Crop
• tea party

-Plant Characteristics

• vegetative

-Tea Processing: green , black, etc. tea

-Is tea harmful or beneficial?

D. Other Stimulating Beverages

1. Mate

• Ilex paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae)
• plant characteristics
• processing
• consumption

2. Guaranį

• Paullinia cupana (Sapindaceae)
• plant characteristics: climbing shrub caffeine-rich seeds borne in capsule
• seeds processing
• products products2 products3

3. Kola

• Cola nitida (Sterculiaceae)
• plant characteristics: evergreen trees fruit with 8 seeds kola nut dried
• Fred Kilmer of Johnson and Johnson: Kola nut sherry wine
• Remove cellulite? research study?