Healthy highs

Natural Health, July-August, 1998 by Mark Mayell

MOST OF US LOVE THE BOOST THAT COMES FROM A JOLT OF JAVA OR A SIP OF SODA. WHAT IF YOU COULD GET THAT SAME BOOST AND REDUCE YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND CANCER? READ ON.

Recently my 7-year-old son came to me with a strange complaint. "Everything seems like it's going too fast," he said.

"In what way?" I asked, doubtful that at his tender age he was ready to voice philosophical reservations about the hurried nature of modern society. He wasn't.

"Last night when I slept over at Billy's house," he said, "I couldn't fall asleep. And now this morning I can't sit still and when I do things it's like I'm rushing."

"Did you drink some Coca-Cola over at Billy's?"

"No."

"What about Pepsi?"

"Oh yeah, I had some of that."

Welcome to the world of mind-altering substances, little guy. Because we don't give him caffeinated beverages at home, when he does consume a cola the effects are clear to him: He feels juiced, hyped up, speedy. It's the same feeling experienced by the eight out of 10 Americans over the age of 12 who use caffeine regularly. Yet, at 7, my son is now aware of something that millions of other kids, and plenty of adults, don't know or refuse to recognize: Caffeine is a drug.

Throughout recorded history people have used drugs to alter consciousness, largely in spiritual contexts. Recent scholarly books on the topic have referred to mind-alterants as "essential substances" and to humanity's pursuit of them as "the fourth drive" (after hunger, thirst, and sex).

Certainly the use of mind-alterants is deeply ingrained in modern America. Every day the average American drinks 3 1/2 cups of coffee and more than 20 ounces of (usually caffeinated) soft drinks. Americans annually consume more than 22 billion gallons of beer and another 2 billion gallons of other alcoholic beverages. Coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks are staples of popular culture.

There are alternatives, however, many of which offer similar psychoactive experiences and benefits, but with far fewer drawbacks in terms of adverse health effects and addiction potential. The mind-alterants discussed here are relatively safe and effective stimulants. In a number of them, such as green tea, the mind-altering properties are accompanied not by health risks but by potential health benefits, such as an increase in immunity and a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

When using these natural mind-alterants, remember that the relative safety of any natural substance will vary from one individual to another (see "Better Safe than Sorry").

GREEN TEA

WHAT IT IS: Tea is the most widely consumed man-made beverage; it's estimated that half the world's population drinks it. Its principal active ingredient, caffeine, rivals alcohol for the title of the most commonly used and socially accepted mind-altering drug in much of the world, particularly in North America, Great Britain, and the Far East. Tea is valued for its ability to elevate mood, increase energy levels, prevent fatigue, and improve work capacity. Like alcohol, tea may also be beneficial to health when used in moderation. Certain compounds found in high percentages in green tea may someday make doctors recommend not "an apple a day" but "a few cups of green tea a day" for health and longevity.

Tea is derived from the leaves and delicate leaf buds of an evergreen with fragrant white flowers (Camellia sinensis). Tea plants are hardy, capable of growing in tropical and subtropical climates. Unlike the more familiar black tea, green tea is processed in a way that prevents oxidation and fermentation, allowing the leaves to remain green and fresh. All teas have the same amount of caffeine in the final product, though differences in brewing can affect average caffeine levels.

MIND-ALTERING EFFECTS: A well-brewed cup of green tea is a pleasure to imbibe. Its pale yellow-green color and clean, fresh fragrance nudge the senses rather than clobber them. Green tea awakens the mind and refreshes the spirit. Successive cups have a cumulative benign effect, rather than greater and greater stimulation. Green tea can lift mood gently, providing the drinker with a positive and even optimistic outlook. "The spirit of the man who drinks tea will become clear and lively," as an ancient Chinese author put it.

As the Japanese have discovered, green tea is the perfect complement for meditation or quiet contemplation. It keeps the mind alert without pumping the body too full of energy. It is widely appreciated by students because it improves concentration and alertness and seems to stimulate mental activity.

HOW IT'S USED: The two factors that determine the levels of caffeine in green tea are the length of brewing and the grade of tea. To avoid bitterness and reduce the level of caffeine, green tea is traditionally brewed for only two to three minutes. It should be a pale yellow-green color. High-grade green teas contain choice tea leaves and are devoid of the woody parts of the plant, such as the twigs and stems, which contain lower levels of caffeine.