Caffeine Free

[mccoy]

Congratulations for the act of will power!

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Congratulations for the act of will power!

I have quite a lot of faith in the energization exercises, especially as gravity takes its toll on our bodies as they age. But feel that Will strengthened by the practice of those exercises has much to do with a habit that persisted all through my intense work life. If we are retired or semi retired it is easier to work on such persistent grooves of habit dug in our brains. But that is not the only one that provides challenges. And your compliment only reminded me, I still have many others challenging 😥 persistent thoughts and therefore actions that have led to habits.

[mccoy]

One step at a time!

[Jitendra Hydonus]

One step at a time!

Mccoy,

I see it this way. We have a lot of habits and addictions that mask the awareness of our true nature. I’m just attempting to divest myself of as many as I can, while still I have this mortal consciousness. In hopes not to carry them as part of my identity, to come back to this place to fulfill.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Congratulations for the act of will power!

Every once in a while I still feel that desire to get a little kick or energy shot from caffeine. But I’ve noticed over the years from practicing meditation, that I’m eating less addictive and ‘heavy’ foods and drinking stimulants. I stick with a lot of fresh foods now and find a lighter diet suits me better. Free from a heavy dependence on starch and bread as well. Old habits die hard but it is possible to give them up especially if you feel the lightness of spirit attempting to break its way into your life.

Once in awhile I’ll have a soda drink which has some caffeine in it, but usually I’ll go for some chocolate of some sort or an herbal tea.

What Is Cocoa Powder?

Cocoa powder is a food product that adds a deep chocolate flavor to desserts and beverages. It is the fruit of a tropical tree and can be Dutch-processed or natural. Your caffeine intake will naturally vary according to how much cocoa powder you use, but there are roughly 10 milligrams of caffeine per teaspoon, 5­–10 times less than coffee.

Also found out this;

How much caffeine is in a 12 oz can of Pepsi?
In the United States, a 12 oz can of Pepsi contains 38 milligrams of caffeine. This is slightly less than the amount of caffeine found in a similar serving of Coca-Cola,

Root Beer has no caffeine. So I’ll usually go for it. I used to love drinking these drinks….Starbucks
Double shot energy drinks which have 135 milligrams of caffeine in 15 oz. And coffee has about 95 milligrams in a cup. I’ve stopped it completely. Once in a great while I’ll drink a Pepsi but for all practical purposes I’m done with caffeine.

The desire for a clear, focused mind and retention level has become quite a goal of mine at this time of my life. And after reading what Paramahansa Yogananda had to say about caffeine and science is beginning to affirm I’d be better off not indulging.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Caffeine increases cortisol levels.

What is Cortisol?

Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone. It is produced by the adrenal glands, which are located on top of your kidneys. This hormone plays a crucial role in helping you respond to stress.

https://www.soberish.co/cortisol-and-coffee/

[mccoy]

The scientific way to tackle caffeine would be to understand when the benefits are replaced by the deleterious effects. So many plant derived compounds exhibit such so called hormetic effects, by which very small amounts are beneficial, higher amounts are deleterious or even toxic.

What are the concentrations above which rajas, or even some sattva, turns into tamas? It is told 300 mg per day, even though it may change substantially depending on individual metabolism.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

The scientific way to tackle caffeine would be to understand when the benefits are replaced by the deleterious effects. So many plant derived compounds exhibit such so called hormetic effects, by which very small amounts are beneficial, higher amounts are deleterious or even toxic.

What are the concentrations above which rajas, or even some sattva, turns into tamas? It is told 300 mg per day, even though it may change substantially depending on individual metabolism.

You may also question to what extent any plant is deleterious when taken in small amounts. Since people like John Sinclair were thrown into prison 20 years for having two joints (marijuana) at one time here in the states.

[mccoy]

Steve, I do not know the story of John Sinclair, sure 20 years for possessing 2 joints, although illegal, would sound extreme.  Unless the case was perhaps judged as drug pushing.

Here we enter the realm of toxicology. You know well that one variety of mushroom, Amanita Phalloides, is lethal even if ingested in small amounts.

Some mushrooms like psylocibine exhibit hallucinogenic effects and in very small doses may be beneficial to the brain, probably doses which do not trigger hallucinations.

Ayauasca and the like. Do we need the hallucinations? Some people appear to benefit from them, especially those who never explored the metaphysical realm.

To come back to the topic, in your case, I understand that caffeine in the past has been like an addiction, so you perhaps should totally avoid it now, lest you fall back into the same addiction.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Well I occasionally get a pop that has caffeine in it mccoy. I seem to be able to avoid coffee presently. I feel that I am getting more in tune with the spiritual vibration of food and require a higher frequency to what sustains me. It is more obvious to me that consciousness is elevated in people who eat healthy and those that engage in eating lower forms of life and heavier foods it also contributes their behavior, in a detrimental way. I know there are no hard and fast rules here since there will always be someone or something to prove me wrong. I do not believe God created this earth in such a way that we can see things black and white.

I am also recognizing the seesaw effects of certain behaviors. They take you up and then drop you down. I can wake up in the middle of the night - when the world is asleep and spirit is stirring - meditate and drink for instance herbal tea and practice the energization exercises. I remember that some disciples said they would see Paramahansa Yogananda go out on the porch and energize and later return to energize again after a busy day. I see myself doing that now at night, quite often, after sleeping a few hours. But I should be honest and tell you I also take some cat naps during the day. Some what like siesta time in south of the border countries.

Somehow i see you as someone that has a balanced approach to things. Yea it is true that in the past it seems some addictions overwhelmed me. At times I would go totally the opposite way and practice militant discipline . But in my older age i appear to have somewhat of a more balanced attitude. I think in some ways we reflect one another like a mirror; you also having that disciplinary state of mind. It seems to be a good quality. Although like all good qualities there  is occasionally that flip side that plays out in duality, almost like a compensatory act.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Congratulations for the act of will power!

Thanks for the compliment mccoy but I believe I should be honest with you without any seeming regret. I have gone back to drinking occasionally decaf coffee and for instance Starbucks energy drinks which have among other seemingly good ingredients-ginseng root extract, guarana, riboflavin, vitamin B6, D3, vitamin A and Panax.

Panax ginseng is used primarily to improve psychologic function, exercise performance, immune function.

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/1015/p1539.html

I have personally noted that Panax helps in performing energization exercises daily. And do not deny that the caffeine associated with energy drinks is also a factor.

[mccoy]

Steve, decaf coffee has such a low concentration of caffeine to be negligible, unless you during two pints of it.

Guarana contains caffeine, but the exact amount in that specific drink must be ascertained. The usual upper dosage advised is 300 mg/day.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Steve, decaf coffee has such a low concentration of caffeine to be negligible, unless you during two pints of it.

Guarana contains caffeine, but the exact amount in that specific drink must be ascertained. The usual upper dosage advised is 300 mg/day.

Thanks for your interest and feedback. I find that on most such products there is a limited amount of information and it usually favors nutrition favorable to the businesses sales. It is more than common that the public has to rely on their own intelligence to ascertain what our the disadvantages of the products being sold. Which are sometimes offset by the governments warnings as in for instance tobacco and alcohol products.