Caffeine in moderation changes DNA, Sugar habits of parents affect children
2020 Publication Highlights on Caffeine and Neurotoxicity and Infants
“7. Caffeine induces neurotoxicity effects
In addition to the beneficial effects, exposure to high dose of caffeine can lead to neurotoxicity (Gepdiremen et al., 1998, Kang et al., 2002). Neurotoxicity has been observed in cerebellar granular cell isolated from rat pups (Gepdiremen et al., 1998). This study found that this effect was abolished following pre-treatment (45 min prior to caffeine treatment) with nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker. The study concluded that newborn apneas due to neurotoxicity, which is induced by high dose of caffeine, could be prevented by nimodipine (Gepdiremen et al., 1998). Another study found that intraperitoneal administration of caffeine, at dose of 50 mg/kg 3 times daily, induced marked neuronal death in different brain regions in neonatal rats (Kang et al., 2002). This study also investigated the effect of caffeine exposure through in vitro assay using in murine cortical cell. Kang et al., study reported significant neurotoxicological effects in murine cortical cell exposed to more than 300 μM of caffeine. The authors reported that these neurotoxicity effects of caffeine using in vivo and in vitro experiments could be occurred through activation of pro-apoptotic protease caspase-3 pathway (Kang et al., 2002). Together, caffeine at high doses may induce neuronal death through modulating various pathways.
Additionally, acute caffeine exposure has been found to increase the risk of development of seizures or epilepsy due to development of neurotoxicity (Yasuhara and Levy, 1988, Vesoulis et al., 2016). For instance, theophylline at lower doses showed ability to produce seizures following acute caffeine exposure as compared to rats received theophylline alone (Yasuhara and Levy, 1988). It is important to note that a recent systematic review found that caffeine can increase or decrease the susceptibility of seizures depending on several factors, including the dose, duration of treatment (acute or chronic) and the time at which caffeine treatments start (van Koert et al., 2018). For example, long term exposure to a low dose of caffeine was associated with low seizures susceptibility in young and adult pre-clinical models. However, clinical studies showed that preterm infants exhibited high incidence of seizures with high doses of caffeine (Vesoulis et al., 2016). The potency of antiepileptic drugs was reduced in animals exposed to caffeine indicating the potential interaction between caffeine and antiepileptic drugs (van Koert et al., 2018). These findings provide evidence about the ability of caffeine to produce positive and negative effects on the brain based on different factors.” Read Publication
How we affect our children
“Tea, coffee, and flesh meats produce an immediate effect. Under the influence of these poisons the nervous system is excited, and, in some cases, for the time being, the intellect seems to be invigorated and the imagination to be more vivid. Because these stimulants produce for the time being such agreeable results, many conclude that they really need them and continue their use. But there is always a reaction. The nervous system, having been unduly excited, borrowed power for present use from its future resources of strength. All this temporary invigoration of the system is followed by depression.”
“But the present generation have less power of self-control than had those who lived then. Those who have indulged the appetite for these stimulants have transmitted their depraved appetites and passions to their children, and greater moral power is required to resist intemperance in all its forms. The only perfectly safe course to pursue is to stand firmly on the side of temperance and not venture in the path of danger.” —Testimonies for the Church 3:487.2 - 488.1.
”Parents sin not only against themselves in swallowing drug poisons, but they sin against their children. The vitiated state of the blood, the poison distributed throughout the system, the broken constitution, and various diseases, as the result of drug poisons, are transmitted to their offspring, and left to them a wretched inheritance, which is another great cause of the degeneracy of the race.” —How to Live 3:50.
MATCHA Myth
MATCHA is marketed as a healthful drink. Yet it contains a high amount of caffeine. Just like coffee and chocolate, it has health benefits along with neurotoxicity.
It starts with “just a little”
“In proportion as these stimulants temporarily invigorate the system will be the letting down of the power of the excited organs after the stimulus has lost its force. The appetite is educated to crave something stronger which will have a tendency to keep up and increase the agreeable excitement, until indulgence becomes habit, and there is a continual craving for stronger stimulus, as tobacco, wines, and liquors. The more the appetite is indulged, the more frequent will be its demands and the more difficult of control. The more debilitated the system becomes and the less able to do without unnatural stimulus, the more the passion for these things increases, until the will is overborne, and there seems to be no power to deny the unnatural craving for these indulgences.
The only safe course is to touch not, taste not, handle not, tea, coffee, wines, tobacco, opium, and alcoholic drinks. The necessity for the men of this generation to call to their aid the power of the will, strengthened by the grace of God, in order to withstand the temptations of Satan and resist the least indulgence of perverted appetite is twice as great as it was several generations ago. But the present generation have less power of self-control than had those who lived then. Those who have indulged the appetite for these stimulants have transmitted their depraved appetites and passions to their children…” —Testimonies for the Church 3:487.2 - 488.1.
Solutions
“The only safe course is to touch not, taste not, handle not, tea, coffee, wines, tobacco, opium, and alcoholic drinks.“ —Testimonies for the Church 3:488.1.
“If the moral sensibilities of Christians were aroused upon the subject of temperance in all things, they could, by their example, commencing at their tables, help those who are weak in self-control, who are almost powerless to resist the cravings of appetite. If we could realize that the habits we form in this life will affect our eternal interests, that our eternal destiny depends upon strictly temperate habits, we would work to the point of strict temperance in eating and drinking. By our example and personal effort we may be the means of saving many souls from the degradation of intemperance, crime, and death. Our sisters can do much in the great work for the salvation of others by spreading their tables with only healthful, nourishing food. They may employ their precious time in educating the tastes and appetites of their children, in forming habits of temperance in all things, and in encouraging self-denial and benevolence for the good of others.” —Testimonies for the Church 3:489.1.
“Men who are engaged in giving the last message of warning to the world, a message which is to decide the destiny of souls, should make a practical application in their own lives of the truths they preach to others. They should be examples to the people in their eating, in their drinking, and in their chaste conversation and deportment. Gluttony, indulgence of the baser passions, and grievous sins are hidden under the garb of sanctity by many professed representatives of Christ throughout our world. There are men of excellent natural ability whose labor does not accomplish half what it might if they were temperate in all things. Indulgence of appetite and passion beclouds the mind, lessens physical strength, and weakens moral power. Their thoughts are not clear. Their words are not spoken in power, are not vitalized by the Spirit of God so as to reach the hearts of the hearers.” —Testimonies for the Church 3:490.3.
”Human cells are constantly exposed to environmental and endogenous agents which can induce damage to DNA.” Read Publication
”A genotoxin is a chemical or agent that can cause DNA or chromosomal damage…DNA damage in a somatic cell may result in a somatic mutation, which may lead to malignant transformation (cancer)……Many cancer chemotherapeutic agents have this property, and it is widely held that interstrand crosslinks are cytotoxic (accounting for the therapeutic properties of the drugs), while the monoadducts and intrastrand crosslinks are potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic…the majority of known human carcinogens are genotoxic.” Read Publication or Full Text
“…some strains of Escherichia coli produce the genotoxin colibactin…colibactin has been positively associated with progression of human colorectal cancer…” Read Publication
Genotoxicity of Theobromine and Caffeine Read Publication
“The toxic effect of caffeine appears to be through a mechanism of DNA damage (genotoxic effect)…” Read Publication
