Caffeine Test

By Kwaak Je-yup

For fans of syrupy love-themed Korean dramas, your dream musical is here once again.

Set in an intimate 359-seat hall, packed with humor and armed with a charismatic cast, “Caffeine” is set for another successful run on its hands, its third in two years.

Odd beverage-themed analogies, overly quick narrative jumps and forgettable opening numbers notwithstanding, the work makes it to the end in one piece, thanks to the easy-to-understand plot and the onstage couple’s inspired acting, singing and chemistry. The result is a light-hearted movie-like spectacle, an entertaining experience to be sure but without lasting impact.

“Caffeine” starts with Kim Se-jin, alternated by Yoon Gong-joo and Kim Ji-hyun, a 30-something female barista unlucky in love – “the perennial second girl from the end,” or the last fling before the guys get married to someone else – who is again turned down by a boyfriend. She avoids facing the music by working 15 hours a day, devoted only to work and sleep – and nothing else. When her boss tries to spice up the joint by serving wine and thus hiring a handsome sommelier Kang Ji-min (played by Kim San-ho and Jung Sang-hoon), Se-jin becomes fixated on protecting her territory.

When Ji-min tampers with her most cherished property, her blackboard writings about the different interpretations of love, she waits for the moment to avenge this wrongdoing. As their shifts do not overlap, the sommelier decides to pull a prank; he shows up during her working hours and seduces her under a fictitious identity Jung-min. When she storms into the cafe during his shift the next day to confront the real Ji-min, he panics and disguises himself. He further develops his joke by becoming her confidant, advising her on a dating strategy with his other self.

Predictably, they fall in love; she falls right into the trap. When his deception is revealed, they briefly part ways. But the sorrow lasts about five minutes before they reunite for the final duet and the curtain call.

This sort of leap within the main plot is too choppy, which is ultimately the biggest problem of “Caffeine.” It is hardly a natural progression, for instance, that Ji-min would go to such lengths to avoid the confrontation with Se-jin because he would not know the great personal significance the blackboard has for her. The audience seemed perfectly happy to overlook these mistakes for the sake of fast-paced entertainment.

The loose chain of events comes as a surprise for a piece of work by local musical theater stars, lyricist Seong Jae-joon and composer Kim Hye-in. Seong also served as director. It must be said that the opening numbers by the two stars, separately, left something to be desired. Ji-min’s comparisons of women’s body shapes to a bottle of Bordeaux wine probably topped the list of cringe-worthy lines because it is a forced symbolism that just does not work. One could not imagine a less flattering compliment for a woman than being compared to a rather flat-shaped bottle.

Members of the particular audience at last Saturday’s matinee show, the great majority of which were women in Se-jin’s age group, did not mind at all, however, because the lead actors, Yoon (Mimi in “RENT,” and Ophelia in “Hamlet”) and Kim San-ho (Danny in “Grease”) were able to fill the cozy room with ample charm.

Especially Kim, who has built his fame and box-office power on a low-brow cable-TV reality series “Rude Miss Young Ae,” is a hidden gem, with uncanny magnetism and panache to develop a great career. His nimble movements, despite a very tall stature, were impressive and his singing, which has room to grow, was adequate. Yoon, with many leading roles under her belt, shone with her vocal ability and dramatic acting. It was a pity that her mostly one-dimensional character did not allow her to show off her true depth – of which there were a few, greatly appreciated glimpses.

Veteran actor Jung Sang-hoon and promising actress Kim Ji-hyun play Ji-min and Se-jin, respectively, on alternate nights.

This is the third time the local production has been staged, this time by CJ EM. After the first two well-received runs in 2010, it toured Japan. In previous promotions, it used the different English, spelling “Cafe-in.”

“Caffeine” continues through April 8 at the Culture Space NU in Daehangno central Seoul, Tickets cost 40,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363.

Feel like crap? Try one of these.The Super Bowl was amazing. The Giants won, Madonna pouted, and you partied…and partied…and partied.

Now its Monday morning and youre feeling like something fished out of a drain. You overindulged and now youre paying the price. You could call in sick but your sadistic boss set up a sales meeting for today – just to make sure everyone makes it into the office. Buck up and keep your brains from oozing out of your skull with one of these remedies:

10. Vitamins
When you drink, your body loses electrolytes and your liver and kidneys start to work overtime. According to the Life Extension Foundation, downing vitamins, especially Vitamins B1, B6 and C, helps your liver process the toxins in alcohol.

9. Greasy Foods
Contrary to popular belief, greasy foods do not absorb alcohol. The fat and salt in most greasy foods (like eggs, bacon, french fries) does help replenish salt in your body, while the fat is turned into some much needed energy. If you can keep food down, this wont hurt.

8. Hair of the Dog
Yes, it sounds like a great idea, and to be honest if you keep that buzz on you might not feel the pain of a hangover. But its a slippery slope. Drinking too much can land you in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Plus, if a bottle of tequila looks really good about now, you might have a bigger problem — like one that requires a stint in rehab.

7. Coffee
We all reach for coffee after drinking too much the night before. And
caffeine does react against ethanol (which is pure alcohol). Plus,
caffeines added benefits include a shot of energy (since you might have
been up too late or had a restless night of sleep). Just make sure you
drink plenty of water with the coffee, because coffee tends to
dehydrate you – and your body is already dehydrated.

6. Honey
Honey has been touted as a remedy for allergies and fatigue. Now add
hangover cure to its benefits. Eating two teaspoons of honey every 20
minutes is supposed to help metabolize the alcohol in your system. The
secret lies in the potassium and fructose in the honey. Plus it tastes
good and provides you with some much-needed energy.

5. Pickles
The juice in pickles contains high amounts of potassium and sodium,
which help replenish the electrolytes lost after a night of drinking. Vanderbilt University
did an entire study on the benefits of pickle juice on athletes.
Runners swear by it. Like Gatorade without the lemon-lime flavor.

4. Sports Drinks
Gatorade and other sports drinks contain sugar, sodium, and replenish
the electrolytes in your system, much like the pickle juice noted
above. Plus it makes you think that your an athlete instead of a
stinking drunk.

3. Pain Killers
Sure, its OK to pop a few pain killers to stop your head from
exploding. Just remember to take NSAIDS like aspirin, ibuprofen, and
naproxin sodium (not Tylenol). According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,
acetaminophen can cause liver damage when taken after heavy drinking.
Remedies like Excedrin and Alka Seltzer also contain caffeine, which
gives you a boost of energy and clarity.

2. Water
Drink water and plenty of it. Youre dehydrated and your liver and
kidneys are working overtime to pump the toxins out of your body.
Replenish your body with water and lots of it. 16-20 ounces of water
before you go to bed, ideally. Then keep on drinking the day after.

1. Time
Your body needs time to metabolize the alcohol and everything else is
just a band-aid to get you through the day. According to the Mayo Clinic, most hangovers go away on their own, though they can last up to 24 hours.

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 01, 2012

Because of her participation in Isha Foundation’s Inner Engineering meditation program, Los Angeles resident Jennifer Carlson has learned a few uncommon yogic recipes to healthfully boost her energy without stimulants. For Jennifer, these simple recipes in combination with the daily meditation she learned from Isha founder, Sadhguru Vasudev, helped her eliminate a serious caffeine dependency that was robbing her of her health. This meditation and simple dietary additions can provide an alternative method of maintaining high levels of energy throughout the day, especially of interest to those resolving to consume less caffeine for the New Year.

“I am a night-shift nurse, which means I work as long as 12 hours through the night. In an emergency room situation, every moment someone’s life depends on my alertness,” Jennifer emphasized.I used to drink coffee and soda throughout my shift to maintain my effectiveness. When I came home, I was completely drained, nauseous, and jittery, I would have to eat something really heavy just so I could settle my stomach and sleep for a few hours–then I would begin this cycle all over again. The night-shift was taking such a huge toll on my body. Mentally also, I was feeling depressed. I knew I couldn’t survive this much longer, but I value my career.”

Then, Jennifer remembered a dietary tip she learned in the Inner Engineering program. “Sadhguru mentioned a white melon that naturally cools the system and gives a natural energy boost without caffeine or other stimulants,” she said. Desperate for something to replace caffeine, she tried it. “It has helped dramatically. It makes me feel highly energized and alert, but not at all jittery, nervous or agitated like coffee does–there’s no subsequent ‘crash’ after. It gives me a really healthy feeling boost, not an adrenaline rush.”

The white melon Jennifer is referring to is called wintermelon. Eaten mostly in India and China, it is often cubed and added to soups in Asian cooking. However, the yogis of India have long regarded wintermelon as one of the most naturally energizing foods due to its high quotient of what yogic science refers to as ‘prana’ or vital life energy. To retain this vital energy, wintermelon must be eaten raw.

“In yoga, we do not look at foods in terms of vitamins, minerals or proteins. We categorize food in three ways: positive pranic food, negative pranic food, and zero pranic food,” explained Sadhguru in a recent class. “Positive substances are those which, when consumed, add prana to the system. The pranic energy, the vital energy in the body, will increase.” According to Sadhguru, wintermelon, fresh coconut, and lemon are among the most pranic foods available.

“This one addition to my diet in combination with my daily meditation practice has enabled me to break the unhealthy cycle of ups-and-downs. I drink 2-3 glasses of wintermelon juice while I am at work to stay energized through the night, and then I sit for about 20 minutes of meditation when my shift is over to rest and re-charge my system,” Jennifer explained. “My Shambhavi meditative practice also greatly reduces my need for sleep. So when I come home now, I eat a healthy meal and then sleep for about 5-6 hours.”Together, these simple lifestyle changes have even allowed Jennifer to spend time with her kids after school and make them dinner before she goes off to work again.

The taste of wintermelon is very mild like a cucumber. It has virtually no taste of its own, so it is easy to work into all kinds of salads, smoothies, and juices on hot days. On cold days, you can add either honey or black pepper to the melon to reduce natural cooling qualities in the fruit while retaining its raw energy boost.

Wintermelon may not be stocked by your local supermarket, but in most cities it can be found at Chinese markets, Indian markets, or international farmers’ markets. Look for a melon about the size, shape and color of a watermelon, but with a characteristic white ‘ash-coated’ surface. This white powder that coats the outer rind is where the melon also gets the common name ‘ashgourd’. This powder is harmless to eat, but becomes sticky when it’s wet -it should be rinsed from the surface before slicing the melon open. Uncut, a wintermelon will keep for a month or more in a cool, dry storage area.

Sadhguru will be visiting Houston, TX from May 4-6 to offer a 3-day Inner Engineering program. Sadhguru created Inner Engineering as a powerful antidote to the intense stress of the modern lifestyle. Inner Engineering includes the transmission of the ancient Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya, a powerful 21-minute practice that accelerates inner growth and wellbeing. This 3-day intensive is a rare opportunity to learn from Sadhguru in-person and receive the Shambhavi process directly from him. You need only receive Shambhavi once. As long as you maintain the practice with regularity, it will support your health and inner wellbeing the rest of your life. For more Houston program details, contact houston(at)ishafoundation(dot)org. For more articles and information about Sadhguru and Isha Foundation visit http://www.Sadhguru.org. Media Contact: kathy(dot)c(at)ishafoundation(dot)org.

Wintermelon Recipes to Boost Your Energy without Caffeine:

Wintermelon amp; Watermelon Smoothie: Blend equal parts wintermelon and watermelon in a blender with water or plain yogurt and add honey or agave syrup to taste.

Lime amp; Wintermelon Cooler: Juice 2-3 cups of wintermelon in a juicer, add fresh lime juice and salt to taste. Blend in a sprig of mint or cilantro for a fresh twist.

Wintermelon Raita: Grate wintermelon and mix with plain yogurt, add lemon or lime juice, salt, black pepper, and a sprinkling of roasted cumin seeds. (Raita is a great counterpart to any spicy Indian or Mexican dish.)

###

Humans have sought new caffeine fixes for hundreds of years. But the AeroShot inhaler might be the strangest yet: Compress the tube, and it burps a puff of lime-flavored caffeine powder that instantaneously dissolves on your tongue. We think the future of energy is breathable, says Tom Hadfield, the startups CEO.

Theres rationale–and $8.5 million in venture financing–behind his boast. Caffeine delivery has quickened (and become more portable) with our lives. After coffee, Red Bull, and 5-Hour Energy, AeroShot seemed inevitable. But its inventor, Harvard professor David Edwards (who has made breathable medicine and chocolate), says the real market opportunity isnt just portability. Its transparency.

Food innovations
often come with unknown
edibles–just what is in that energy drink, and how much is too much? Breathable caffeine may sound scary, but it is, in fact, simpler: just caffeine with flavoring, easy to mete out precise servings.

What else benefits from precision? Plenty, say Edwards and Hadfield. Their next target: breathable
vitamins.

Related:
Fresh Squeezed Soda
Meet David Edwards, the Mad Scientist Behind Smokable Chocolate and Plant-Based Air Filters [Slideshow]

A version of this article appears in the February 2012 issue of Fast Company.

Researchers at the UK’s Sheffield Hallam University carried out studies on soccer players fueling up with pre-game drinks containing both caffeine and carbohydrates. Along with improvements in endurance as a result of ingesting carbohydrates, the athletes’ skill level improved by adding caffeine to

Meet Alana, The Most Outrageous, Caffeine-Addicted Toddlers amp; Tiaras Contestant Ever

By Shantà Cosme | Jan 6, 2012 | 1:29 pm | Permalink

Nearly 9 out of 10 American adults use caffeine every day in some form or another, consuming an average of 210 to 240 mg per person a day — roughly equal to two to three cups of coffee.

Whether its alcohol, caffeine, chocolate or nicotine, most of us will have set ourselves a new years resolution to give something up.

You might start out with good intentions but lets face it, once youre addicted to something, giving it up isnt easy. There are the withdrawal symptoms, the cravings and the amount of willpower needed to banish unwanted addiction from your life. Even when you succeed, you might still suffer with headaches and feel anxious, depressed and shaky.

lsquo;When giving up addictive substances, there is often a period of psychological and physical withdrawal, says Dr Andrew Parker, consultant psychiatrist at Capio Nightingale Hospital, central London.

lsquo;The pleasure may have gone but the drive to use remains high. Evidence from neuroscience suggests this is because all addictive substances partially hijack the brains motivational reward system, so you stop producing your own feel-good neurotransmitters and become dependent on the addictive chemical to feel good. Things such as alcohol, sugar and caffeine potently influence this system.

In his book, How To Quit Without Feeling S**T, nutritionist Patrick Holford talks us through the reasons why we feel so bad when we try to cut out certain addictive substances. The book contains 12 key ways to lsquo;unaddict your brain so you dont crave these things or feel lousy without them and explains how the right combination of nutrients can prevent or end withdrawal symptoms.

lsquo;The essential neurotransmitters are part of the brains reward system, which is what motivates our typical behaviour, says Holford. lsquo;So psychologically we feel we need the addictive drug and cant live without it. Blood sugar levels dip, leading to chronic tiredness, and the nervous system cant function correctly, so you get headaches and feel shaky and depressed.

Most of us say we cant function without our morning caffeine fix and Holford explains caffeine promotes the release of adrenalin, which makes you feel motivated and more energetic.

lsquo;However, it can also make you feel on edge, he says. lsquo;With continued use, the brain shuts down receptors for adrenalin, making you deaf to your own adrenalin, so you need caffeine more to feel energised.

To quit your coffee fix, Holford says we shouldnt skip breakfast and that we should eat little and often. He also suggests eating protein with carbohydrates. lsquo;Eating in this manner ensures you feel satisfied, therefore reducing your craving for any stimulant, he says.

lsquo;Caffeine increases inflammation in the body, raises blood pressure, stops you absorbing essential minerals and raises blood homocysteine (an amino acid) levels, which are associated with increased risk for birth defects in pregnancy, heart disease and Alzheimers later in life. Try supplementing the amino acid tyrosine, from which the body makes its own stimulants, plus adaptogenic herbs (claimed to increase resistance to stress, anxiety and fatigue) such as gingseng or reishi mushrooms.

There was notable buzz when the favorite bartenders of many a drink enthusiast decided to open their own coffee and cocktail lounge.

Double Trouble Caffeine Cocktails at 3622 Main, near the Continental Club and Sigs Lagoon, opened Dec. 1, approximately a year after Whalan and Berwick…

MANILA, Philippines — One of the more interesting factoids that comes to mind whenever I see a coffee shop is the picture of groggy looking office-types lining up for their first coffee fix of the day…to be repeated often enough depending on the amount of caffeine needed to feel perky or reasonably intelligent. On the other hand, I get a perennial caffeine high from a rather liberal intake of Coke Zero or Pepsi Max, so a morning or afternoon coffee just provides an occasion for sharing company and ideas.

We have a coffee grinder and machine at home that only my elder son seems to know how to operate. So, the other day, I went off to my favorite high-end shopping mecca (Rustan’s) to peruse their different lines of coffee machines offered for sale. My prescription to the sales girls was very clear: Show me an idiot-proof machine that will not get me confused or making the wrong type of coffee. Wonders of wonders, there was one such machine (de Longhi) that came in slightly different shades of idiot-proofing. Here, finally, was a machine that could make the basic coffees that one could want: Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte. What more can a relatively ignorant coffee drinker want?

Unfortunately, this nice idiot-proof coffee machine also costs about four times more than the one we have at home presently.

Then, I also saw this series of articles trumpeting a less well-known or proven technology involving bath soap, of all things! It seems that some people actually want to get their caffeine highs while taking their morning or evening baths – using soap laced with caffeine! Some people say the technology is not very good, while others swear by it. There is only one solution to this, and this is for me to hunt down a source of this intriguing coffee-soap and try it for myself.

In the meantime, I will have to be content with getting my daily dose of caffeine through my diet-cola drinks and (horrors!) 3-in-1 sugar free coffee until I find the means to get that wonderful idiot-proof coffee machine!