4 ms·

I had to greatly reduce my caffeine intake at one point, and I've kept it down since. I'm inclined to agree that it's a garbage drug, but in small amounts and

I had to greatly reduce my caffeine intake at one point, and I've kept it down since. I'm inclined to agree that it's a garbage drug, but in small amounts and strictly in the morning work -like you do- it seems to work for me. Rather than drink 5 cups of decaf I drink one cup of decaf made with 6 parts decaf beans to 1 part caf. Then maybe later in the day I might eat three tiny pieces of 100% chocolate mass, but like you I'm afraid to after 2PM-ish.

jerkstate 2y ago
I’m a big advocate for replacing coffee with cacao. I drink it in the morning instead of coffee. Made from raw cacao paste and hot water, I use an immersion blender to mix it well and then add half and half for flavor. Way more nutrients than coffee and the theobromine is much gentler than caffeine and lasts all day.
- cryptonector 2y ago
  Huh! Gonna have to try that!
  - daydream 2y ago
    Watch out for the lead and heavy metals and cacao https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/a-third-of-chocolate-products-are-high-in-heavy-metals-a4844566398/ https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/a-third-o...
    - cryptonector 2y ago
      Ah yes, there's that. Bah.
    - jerkstate 2y ago
      Excellent to be concerned about heavy metal exposure. Cacao typically contains lead and cadmium; the reference dose (usually defined as: The amount of a chemical a person, including sensitive groups, can be exposed to on a daily basis over an extended period of time (usually a lifetime) without suffering deleterious effects.) of lead according to EPA is 3.5 ug/kg/day and cadmium is 1 ug/kg/day. The cadmium content of cacao nibs/paste is usually 0.5-1 mg/kg and 0.025 mg/kg lead. So cadmium is the one to be concerned about here; for a 100 kg person, the RfD would be 100 ug or 0.1 mg of cadmium per day. The FDA defines the toxicological reference value for cadmium as 0.2-0.3 ug/kg, or 20-30% of the EPA's RfD. 100 grams of cacao at the high side, 1mg/kg would contain 0.1 mg of cadmium. So a daily dose of 1-2 gram of cacao per kg of body weight should be within the RfD, and 0.2-0.6 grams cacao per kg body weight would be within the TRV. It should be noted that root vegetables such as potatoes and beets also tend to contain cadmium at a rate of about 1/10 per weight compared to cacao, but I would find myself just as likely to eat 500 grams of potato or beet vs 50 grams of cacao, which would net the same amount of dietary cadmium. So definitely don't overdo it on the cacao and eat hundreds of grams per day, but IMO no reason to avoid it completely, relative to other vegetables that can accumulate cadmium. This is not medical or dietary advice.
Chris2048 2y ago
> I might eat three tiny pieces of 100% chocolate mass Do you mean choco-nibs? love these, and they are great for adding crunch to things.
- cryptonector 2y ago
  Chips, not nibs, but 100% cocoa mass.

jerkstate 2y ago

I’m a big advocate for replacing coffee with cacao. I drink it in the morning instead of coffee. Made from raw cacao paste and hot water, I use an immersion blender to mix it well and then add half and half for flavor. Way more nutrients than coffee and the theobromine is much gentler than caffeine and lasts all day.

cryptonector 2y ago
Huh! Gonna have to try that!
- daydream 2y ago
  Watch out for the lead and heavy metals and cacao https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/a-third-of-chocolate-products-are-high-in-heavy-metals-a4844566398/ https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/a-third-o...
  - cryptonector 2y ago
    Ah yes, there's that. Bah.
  - jerkstate 2y ago
    Excellent to be concerned about heavy metal exposure. Cacao typically contains lead and cadmium; the reference dose (usually defined as: The amount of a chemical a person, including sensitive groups, can be exposed to on a daily basis over an extended period of time (usually a lifetime) without suffering deleterious effects.) of lead according to EPA is 3.5 ug/kg/day and cadmium is 1 ug/kg/day. The cadmium content of cacao nibs/paste is usually 0.5-1 mg/kg and 0.025 mg/kg lead. So cadmium is the one to be concerned about here; for a 100 kg person, the RfD would be 100 ug or 0.1 mg of cadmium per day. The FDA defines the toxicological reference value for cadmium as 0.2-0.3 ug/kg, or 20-30% of the EPA's RfD. 100 grams of cacao at the high side, 1mg/kg would contain 0.1 mg of cadmium. So a daily dose of 1-2 gram of cacao per kg of body weight should be within the RfD, and 0.2-0.6 grams cacao per kg body weight would be within the TRV. It should be noted that root vegetables such as potatoes and beets also tend to contain cadmium at a rate of about 1/10 per weight compared to cacao, but I would find myself just as likely to eat 500 grams of potato or beet vs 50 grams of cacao, which would net the same amount of dietary cadmium. So definitely don't overdo it on the cacao and eat hundreds of grams per day, but IMO no reason to avoid it completely, relative to other vegetables that can accumulate cadmium. This is not medical or dietary advice.

Chris2048 2y ago

> I might eat three tiny pieces of 100% chocolate mass Do you mean choco-nibs? love these, and they are great for adding crunch to things.

cryptonector 2y ago
Chips, not nibs, but 100% cocoa mass.