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Kola
Relieves
drowsiness, temporarily increase stamina, enhances the pain-relieving effects
of aspirin
Colas account for more
than half of the enormous U.S. soft drink market, and possibly even more
abroad. Yet few consumers know that the tropical nut that flavors cola has
several medicinal benefits.
West Africans have used
kola since prehistoric times for its stimulant effect, and no wonder — kola
contains caffeine. In one 12-ounce can of cola, you'll find about 40
milligrams. For comparison, a 6-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains about 100
milligrams of caffeine, and a cup of instant coffee contains about 60.
When slaves brought kola
to the New World, its stimulant action was adopted medicinally as an
antidepressant pick-me-up. Pharmacists stocked it, including John Pemberton of
Atlanta, who aspired to developing a kola-based "nerve tonic." Legend has it
that in 1886, Pemberton mixed some sugar with extracts of kola and coca (the
source of cocaine) in a three-legged brass pot in his backyard. He added
carbonated water to his sweet syrup and created a refreshing drink that his
bookkeeper dubbed Coca-Cola. Today, Coca-Cola is one of the best-known brand
names in the world. Its formula has always been a closely guarded secret, but
regardless of whether Coke ever contained cocaine, you can be sure that today
its kick comes entirely from caffeine.
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