The Art of Manliness #608: How Caffeine Hooks, Hurts, and Helps Us
May 6, 2020
Murray Carpenter, author of "Caffeinated," dives deep into our daily habit of caffeine consumption. He unpacks how caffeine impacts our brain, enhances alertness, and even how we often underestimate our daily intake. The conversation explores the rich history of caffeine from ancient rituals to the modern coffee culture, and the rise of energy drinks. Carpenter also discusses caffeine's role in sports performance and the delicate balance of its benefits and potential downsides, leaving listeners rethinking their morning coffee.
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Caffeine's Origins
- Caffeine is a natural alkaloid drug found in various plants worldwide.
- Humans have independently discovered and utilized it for millennia.
Early Caffeine Consumption
- The earliest evidence of caffeine use dates back 3,000 years to cacao consumption in Mexico.
- Tea drinking in China and coffee use in Africa emerged independently around the same time.
Coffee in America
- Coffee became popular in America, possibly due to patriotic associations during the Boston Tea Party era.
- Coffee consumption peaked around World War II, with Americans drinking twice as much as today.
