by George E. Meinig, DDS, FACD
Caffeine has a detrimental effect on one's calcium-phosphorus balance and on one's blood sugar. Some people drink weaker tea than coffee so they may not get quite as much caffeine, but most people drink more tea than coffee so it ends up the same. There is 100 to 150 mg. of caffeine in a 6 oz. cup of coffee, while tea is usually 60 to 75 mg. Coke (12 oz.) runs 40 to 72 mg., while 6 oz. of cocoa runs about 50 mg.
Ernie Banks, star baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, was suffering so much from arthritis in his knees that he could barely stand. A nutritionist was consulted on recommendation of his friend, Billy Williams. He soon discovered Ernie was drinking tea in huge quantities. Hot, cold, iced, any way he could get it.
This caused a severe calcium-phosphorus imbalance which is common to rheumatoid arthritis. The tannic acid in tea doesn't help much either. Tannin is used to cure leather and biting on a tea bag is a good way to stop a bleeding tooth extraction wound, but I don't think either of these goodies qualify it for a human beverage. Along with the detrimental effects to the calcium balance is a lowering of blood sugar. Also the University of Hawaii Nutrition Department found a serious depletion of vitamin B1 in tea and coffee consumers.
My report on Ernie Banks didn't say whether he used sugar in his tea but most people use excessive amounts in order to make the stuff likable. Sugar, of course, compounds the calcium-phosphorus problem.
Ernie's knees were well in 60 days with the switch to water instead of tea. Professional teams spare no expense on medical care and all sorts of fancy, expensive physical therapy equipment, but it is rare for them to consult a nutritionist. My observation of the eating habits of many athletes and their coaches makes me wonder why they don't recognize the potential improvement that could be attained in their athletic ability if they paid more attention to better feeding of their muscles and brains. Perhaps they too have fallen for all those television junk food ads by past athletes and think that is the way to become an "All American Boy."
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