Caffine trick

Over 15 years ago an obscure "letter to the editor" of 2600 suggested chasing coffee with grapefruit juice to extend the benefit of the caffine.

It works really well; I've been doing it, from time to time, for over 15 years when I need to stay up (such as driving late at night, etc). A chemist explained to me that the reason it works is that the grapefruit juice citrifies the caffine and inhibits the body's ability to eliminate the caffine in the urine.

Here's my observations.

-- The caffine effect will be extended 2.5 hrs.
-- Repeating the coffee/grapefruit at the end of the extended 2.5 hrs does NOT work.
-- Sweeting the coffee with sweet-n-low (pink envelope) is okay.
-- Use of sugar or nutrasweet* nullifies the desired effect completely.
-- Minimize cream or don't use any.
-- Orange juice is a weak substitute for grapefruit juice.

Disclaimer: I don't own stock in any grapefruit orchards, nor do I own any coffee stock.

Hope this info is useful.

Adonsa

* Besides, nutrasweet turns to formalihyde when heated.

[edit on 17/3/05 by Adonsa]

Very cool, I have a project due and alot of late nights coming, I will definitly try thanks for the info.

.
citrifies?

interacts with citric acid?

does that mean any strong source of citric acid will do?

[sometimes caffeine freak here]
.

Slank,


I work with a phd chemist, and I'll ask him to explain when I see him tomorrow. The other guy who originally explained it to me stated that grapefruit juice works much better than other forms of citrus fruit juices such as Orange juice. So, I'm speculating that there's something more at the molecular level.

Again, big caution to avoid nutrasweet or plain sugar, he said that both will diddle with the molecules and shut down the whole caffine benefit process. Just use sweet-n-low or no sweetner; I haven't tried using Splenda, so I dunno about that.

Comment about Nutrasweet, if I may. It was explained to me that Nutrasweet, when heated above a certain temperature for over a minute turns to formaldahyde (embalming fluid ingredient). So, if you leave a case of diet Pepsi, for example, out in the sun for a while, well, you get the drift.

On airline flights, I always make sure to carry sweet-n-low packets (pink envelopes) 'cause most flight attendants expect you to use their nutrasweet in the hot coffee. Well, it's ok if you drink the entire cup within a minute of pouring in the nutrasweet. Amazing the food industry doesn't warn people that nutrasweet is for cold drinks only.

Verify all this with any chemist anywhere, and IOU more info on why grapefruit juice works better (hopefully I can find out). My own experience - when driving late at night and I feel the need for caffine I'll stop at the nearest "Stop-n-Steal" and they won't have grapefruit juice, so I have to settle for orange juice. It works, sort of, but the lasting effect of the caffine is way less than half that of chasing the coffee with grapefruit juice. Oh yeah, don't expect lattes and other high cream stuff to work, 1/2 teaspoon MAX cream, if you must.

Apologies for taking so long to post a reply.

Hopes all this verbose stuff helps you stay awake. And let me know what you think after you try it. Don't be surprised if you get kind of bug eyed and jumpy.

Cheers,
Adonsa

hey that is pretty useful, I really like discoveries like this. Last one I heard about was how you can use your head as a transmitter (let me explain)

If you have a central locking system for you car with a key fob to activate/de-activate the central locking you will know that it will only work a certain distance from the car. however, you can increase the distancefrom which you can unlock you car by activating the fob whilst it is pressed against your head..

sounds stupid..? try it out.

Klepto: Far too much Top-Gear for you!


thats a great trick I will be sure to use that...I am a caffine freak and stay up lots on CM4 and ATS.

Regards

Boondog

[edit on 22-3-2005 by Boon_Dog]

Klepto, you're even more right and here's why:
www.taipeitimes.com...
Lots of interesting medical questions may arise, such as effects of 802.11 RF radiation. And what if the radiating antenna element is considered to be in the vicinity of the crotch? No doubt the idea will catch on all over the world.

Thanks for your reply,
Adonsa

caffine also does another trick. It increeses the effectiveness of asprin. Medically proven!

that nasty grapefruit taste? I guess I would have to chase my grapefruit juice with coffee...

Or....

Just take instant coffee, and mix it with Coca Cola...


mmmm..... what a rush!

I loved Pepsi-Kona! Why'd they take it off the market?

Hey Nathraq, have you played both EQ 1 and EQ 2? Which one do you like better? I'm still sticking with the EQ 1.

This is very usefull information.
Thank you for the heads up on the nutrasweet 'formaldahyde' yuckyness......
Feel free to share any information you want!!! Interesting stuff....

I will try the coke and instant coffee. Wow!

It's too soon for me to report back on my own personal experiences with these products;
first impressions are all I can provide at this time.
www.thinkgeek.com...
Kinda expensive, but yeah, it does tend to kind of increase the alert level w/in about 10 minutes with some nervousness.

IOU an eval on this one, It's a caffinated hand lotion
www.thinkgeek.com...
I guess it probably works ok, I bought some but have yet to try it out.

I have tried the Shower Shock a couple of times, and it does seem to work pretty good. It's kind of expensive, but
the soap bar last a lot longer than the manufacturer says it will. IOU more on how long the caffine effect lasts.
www.thinkgeek.com...

Looks like they expanded their caffine products line a bit.
www.thinkgeek.com...
Hmmm, the caffine hot sauce looks like it would be pretty good in case of emergency.

Disclaimer - I'm just a customer of Think Geek, nothing more

Thinking back on the "IOUs" to those who graciously replied.

I just talked to a chemist. He told me,
"Look, you want to stay awake? Just eat the instant coffee!"
Me, "That works?"
Chemist, "Damn right, the awful taste in your mouth will keep you awake for a long time!"

Interesting post

Looking forward to finding at more info on why grapefruit juice intensifies the caffeine affect.

LOL . Ah boy... very nice...

Infinite8, I only have a partial answer so far. I personally believe it intensifies the caffine affect, but it probably does not. What it does do is extend the time by about 2.5 hrs. I don't do long distance driving unless I have to, but late at night on Interstate 10 the difference is really noticable. For all I know it may have saved my life by keeping me from falling asleep at the wheel.

All I have so far is that, when done properly, the citric acid does inhibit the body's ability to urinate the caffine. Of course, you'll still urinate, just the caffine stays around. Now why Grapefruit works better than Orange juice raises the question that it must be something more than pH, which is supposed to be about the same. The molecular activity, whatever that is, is where the best answer to your question lies, and I don't have the answer yet. The [chemistry] answer is out there, I just need to ask the right person.

Grapefruit actually changes the interaction of a number of drugs. Sometimes it can complicate things. My husband can't have grapefruit or the juice because he takes cholesterol controlling drugs and high blood pressure drugs.

Oh yeah... and it's bad news for the Viagra users as well. Here's a quickie page (not mine) with a list of types of drugs it interacts with.
www.ppsinc.org...

...and a bit more.
www.tga.gov.au...

Grapefruit actually changes the interaction of a number of drugs. Sometimes it can complicate things. My husband can't have grapefruit or the juice because he takes cholesterol controlling drugs and high blood pressure drugs.

Oh yeah... and it's bad news for the Viagra users as well. Here's a quickie page (not mine) with a list of types of drugs it interacts with.
www.ppsinc.org...

...and a bit more.
www.tga.gov.au...

This is right up Nathraq's alley

www.rpgexpert.com...



So Nathraq, whaddya say we load up on coffee and grapefruit juice and go kill Kerafyrm? (the sleeper... har har)