/oss/taxonomy/term/2902/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/elixir-life-really <p>Prior to the buoyant accounts of the study with the alluring title “Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging,” it was mostly people who read the list of ingredients on the label of the “energy drink,” Red Bull, who were familiar with the chemical. Why does the beverage contain taurine? That is somewhat of a mystery. The only information provided on Red Bull’s website is that “taurine is an amino acid, naturally occurring in the human body and present in the daily diet.” No argument with that. Well, maybe a little one.</p> Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:50:23 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9546 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-you-asked/what-khat-and-why-are-we-warned-about-it <p>Cathinone’s molecular structure resembles amphetamine which accounts for its mild stimulant effect. Historically, cathinone has not cause much concern, at least not until clandestine chemists began to tinker with its molecular structure, trying to increase its stimulant effect. Attaching a methyl group (consisting of a single carbon atom and three hydrogens) to cathinone turned out to be a simple laboratory procedure. The resulting “methcathinone” was far more potent as a stimulant and found a ready market.</p> Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:18:19 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9054 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition-you-asked/what-guarana <p>The Amazon is a dangerous place, with jaguars, anacondas and piranhas in constant search for their next meal, but you would not have anything to fear from guarana. It isn’t a predator, it’s a woody vine that climbs through the trees, growing up to 30 feet long. It produces bright red berries that split open when ripe, revealing a shiny black seed partially embedded in a thin white pulp. From a distance, the split berries look disturbingly like eyes staring down from the leafy canopy. The name “guarana” reflects this connection, deriving from the native words “guara” for “human,” and “na” fo</p> Thu, 30 Sep 2021 18:00:48 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8883 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/khat-and-not-fuzzy-kind <p>Khat is a plant native to Africa that when chewed produces a stimulant effect, similar to amphetamines. It’s regulated in several countries (including Canada) and its use actually predates the drinking of coffee. In Yemen khat is chewed in a way similar to chewing tobacco, in social settings, and is so popular that 40% of the country’s water supply goes to irrigating its growth.</p> <hr /> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/AdaMcVean">@AdaMcVean</a></p> Wed, 10 Jan 2018 00:02:32 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6877 at /oss