The Truth About Caffeine (Paperback)

by Marina Kushner (Author) "Millions of people are hooked on caffeine, putting themselves at risk for dozens of health hazards many of them fatal..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, New York, March of Dimes (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: SCR, Inc; 1st edition (2006)
• ISBN-10: 0974758213
• ISBN-13: 978-0974758244
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,046,937 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kushner has a regimen that works to minimize the headaches, June 28, 2006

By	Jesus Lopez (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Truth About Caffeine : How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do About It (Paperback)

I gave up coffee completely three years ago (having been a 4 or 5 cup-a-day man) but not on these grounds, on the grounds of an
excess of stomach problems. Coffee definitely aggravated these in me, and nowadays I never drink it.



The two times I gave up coffee cold turkey I had awful headaches. I wonder if gradual reduction in caffeine would bypass the headaches. I haven't had any caffeine since starting Atkins and I'm afraid to have any now -- those headaches just aren't worth it.

Reading the description of withdrawal and personal experience
demonstrates that the caffeine withdrawal is more pronounced with caffeine than with marijuana. Myself has never noticed anything that I would consider any withdrawal from pot.



You can kick coffee by easing off slowly. Kushner has a regimen that works to minimize the headaches. I found a great coffee substitute in her book that tasted just like coffee. It even helped me lower my cholesterol. Those caffeine headaches can be brutal.



If headaches persist for more than a week after quitting, or you need something stronger to relieve headache, ask a doctor. There are specialist headache doctors that can help. It might be something else complicating things.



Again, this is not really necessary...it's well-known that
caffeine-withdrawal headaches can last up to a whole month.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Book is NOT My Cup of TEA...or COFFEE, October 12, 2006

By	Dawn Fine - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Truth About Caffeine : How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do About It (Paperback)

I did not like the tone of this book at all. I found it bias and condescending and I am asking for a refund.

The important word to remember while reading Kushner's book about CAFFEINE is the word "CAN" ...CAFFEINE "CAN" effect the heart of a new born child (what is the % of births that studies prove that statement? Nope...not in the book.)

CAFFEINE "CAN" be the sole cause of a migrane...but Kushner writes Caffeine causes migraines... (again in what % of headache patients studied no longer have their headaches due to removing just the caffeine?...What % of the headache patients studied no longer have their headaches by eliminating another single food from the diet or by using other interventions?) Nope..not in the book.

The text points out that caffeine is THE CAUSE of many ailments, simply because a proven relationship exists between caffeine and the symptom...such as caffeine and a rise in cortisol...or caffeine and a rise in blood pressure,etc...

...and that may not be TRUE for imbibing ANY AMOUNT of caffeine for ALL HUMAN BEINGS and each and every symptom she mentions in the book.

I am in complete agreement that if you drink a lethal poison, you will indeed suffer the serious/fatal consequences soon...

...If you have a cup of coffee, the book frightened me to believe that "poison" and "caffeine" are synonyms.

There is no denying that Kushner clearly brings the awareness of a variety of caffeine's serious/fatal consequences...(what she leaves out is)...that you may NOT suffer from at all.

The book is not objective in the presentation of many of the facts and that is the main reason I can not recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved my life. It's simply priceless, August 5, 2007

By	Kathryn Ivan (Beverly Hills, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us And What We Can Do About It (Mass Market Paperback)

To be honest, I really did not believe to get such excellent results from reading this book. I had hoped for a modest improvement. For 22 years I suffered from acid reflux disease and persistent heartburn. I took acid inhibitors and chewed antacids by the boxful.

At times, the burning sensation was so bad that I had trouble sleeping. It was especially difficult to handle during long commutes home from work; being hungry and tired led to carsickness and nausea, on top of the heartburn.

It was difficult to give up some of my favorite highly-caffeinated beverages and acidic things like tomatoes, but I knew if I didn't, I'd suffer for it later that day. After suffering with this condition for so many years, I didn't expect a miracle. Call me a skeptic.

My doctor suggested that removing caffeine, especially coffee, tea, and soft drinks from my diet might help the problem. He recommended this book to help provide me an insight about my caffeine dependency.

I had been a long-time coffee drinker, morning and afternoon, so I cut down on coffee slowly to avoid the nasty side effects such as headaches. Eventually I was able to virtually eliminate caffeine and acidic beverages from my diet.

Much to my surprise after switching from coffee to a coffee substitute recommended in this book, my problem is about 95% improved. I imagine in about several weeks I should not have any problems at all.

I found that not only did the heartburn clear up and my stomach settle down, but I was able to handle periods of hunger without overwhelming acidic, nauseated feelings.

I no longer use some of the medications I regularly took. I sleep better and my commutes are much more pleasant. In fact, I feel so good that I rarely miss my old beverages at all! For me, this book was simply priceless!