Alcohol and Coffee are fine and which one is better?

[boilermaker75]

On 3/19/2025 at 3:46 AM, Charlie said:

+1

 

Sugar and ultra processed foods are probably far more dangerous than Coffee.

There are a lot of positve effects of a few Coffees a day.

And a lot of Alcohol over a long time is probably worse than Cigarettes.

 

 

[sleepydragon]

On 3/10/2025 at 3:44 PM, Ulti said:

I’m surprised no one has mentioned green tea….much better than coffee and alcohol  

I get 1st cut shincha green tea sent from Japan .. not that expensive.. Taste great

and , been doing it for years .. Also have been using an Oura rings since they came out/ tea has no effect on deep sleep / rem readings 

I also buy online from a Japanese farm called Hibiki. Where do you buy from?

I try to buy from the area as far as possible from the nuclear reactor who got into problems a few years ago.

[no_free_lunch]

There are these people who live in Italy and routinely hit 100.  I am distantly related.  They drink daily.  I dont think they smoke very much but could be wrong on that too.  The main thing is to not be an idiot and live a balanced lifestyle.

[Ulti]

10 minutes ago, sleepydragon said:

I also buy online from a Japanese farm called Hibiki. Where do you buy from?

I try to buy from the area as far as possible from the nuclear reactor who got into problems a few years ago.

Last couple of years have gotten 1st cut shincha from Ocha … not to be confused with O-cha .. whom I’ve ordered from the past … I’ve always been partial to the shincha because of the taste and the high concentration ( I think ) of catechins… but I’m finding it much harder to find especially the organic… before that I bounced around to different spots like ikkyu .. and again they would probably call me a “ Jane you ignorant slut” green tea drinker because I take a pinch or two of tea out in my containers add the 130’ water and Manuka honey.. is there a particular tea you like from Hibiki?

[Ulti]

29 minutes ago, no_free_lunch said:

There are these people who live in Italy and routinely hit 100.  I am distantly related.  They drink daily.  I dont think they smoke very much but could be wrong on that too.  The main thing is to not be an idiot and live a balanced lifestyle.

https://www.bluezones.com/explorations/sardinia-italy/
 

Thats awesome… I hope you hit some of that genetic lottery…

[sleepydragon]

4 minutes ago, Ulti said:

Last couple of years have gotten 1st cut shincha from Ocha … not to be confused with O-cha .. whom I’ve ordered from the past … I’ve always been partial to the shincha because of the taste and the high concentration ( I think ) of catechins… but I’m finding it much harder to find especially the organic… before that I bounced around to different spots like ikkyu .. and again they would probably call me a “ Jane you ignorant slut” green tea drinker because I take a pinch or two of tea out in my containers add the 130’ water and Manuka honey.. is there a particular tea you like from Hibiki?

I buy their Sensha and Sencha Karigane. it's shipped directly from the tea farm. I think this one is better than Ocha because you know which tea farms you get the tea from. The teas from certain area of Japan could have radiation and can be bought for very low prices.

The thing about organic teas is that they often do not taste as good as the none-organic ones.  I just buy the none-organic one because Japan has very strict rules about pesticides usage.   Where do you get Manuka honey?

[Ulti]

49 minutes ago, sleepydragon said:

honey?

I get it thru Costco when they have it on sale … Comvita

 

Its occasionally on sale for $99 for a 2 pack .. And I’ll try the tea.. I agree about Ocha but again have a hard time finding 1st cut shincha 

[flesh]

On 3/30/2025 at 9:08 AM, Ulti said:

https://www.bluezones.com/explorations/sardinia-italy/
 

Thats awesome… I hope you hit some of that genetic lottery…

Wonder if it’s that staple of high polyphenol olive oil consumed daily in large doses. I spend summers in Barcelona and it always amazes me. Also, if other countries use butter tallow etc, that’s a big contrast. Personally I have 3 tbsp a day of 800mg olive oil from Cali along with açaí powder 3x daily. 
 

” Let’s dive into the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value of high-polyphenol olive oil and the regions where the olives that produce it are typically grown.

ORAC Value of High-Polyphenol Olive Oil

The ORAC value measures an antioxidant’s ability to neutralize free radicals, expressed in micromoles of Trolox equivalents (µmol TE) per 100 grams. For olive oil, this value varies widely depending on its polyphenol content, which is influenced by olive variety, harvest timing, and processing methods. High-polyphenol olive oils are defined as having at least 250 mg/kg of polyphenols, with some premium oils exceeding 1000 mg/kg or more.

While there’s no universal ORAC standard for all olive oils (since testing isn’t mandatory and results depend on specific batches), studies provide some benchmarks. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) generally ranges from 300 to 2500 µmol TE/100g, with high-polyphenol varieties trending toward the upper end. For comparison:

• Regular EVOO (low to moderate polyphenols, ~50-200 mg/kg) might score around 300-700 µmol TE/100g.
• High-polyphenol EVOO (250-1000+ mg/kg) can reach 1000-2500 µmol TE/100g or higher, depending on the phenolic compounds like oleocanthal, oleacein, and hydroxytyrosol.

A 2010 study on Mediterranean EVOOs found ORAC values averaging 1800 µmol TE/100g for oils with moderate polyphenol levels (~300 mg/kg). Oils with exceptional polyphenol counts—like those exceeding 1000 mg/kg (e.g., from Koroneiki or Coratina olives)—could push beyond 2500 µmol TE/100g, though exact figures require lab testing per batch. The antioxidant punch comes from polyphenols, which are more concentrated in early-harvest, unripe olives pressed into EVOO. Cooking or refining strips these away, so high-polyphenol oils are always extra virgin.

Regions Where High-Polyphenol Olives Grow

High-polyphenol olive oils come from specific cultivars and regions where climate, soil, and farming practices stress the trees just enough to boost polyphenol production without compromising yield. Here are the key regions and varieties:

1. Greece (e.g., Crete, Peloponnese, Laconia)
   • Variety: Koroneiki
   • Why: This small, hardy olive dominates Greek production and is prized for its high polyphenol content (often 500-1000+ mg/kg). Crete’s rugged terrain and Mediterranean climate—hot, dry summers and mild winters—enhance phenolic compounds. Oils like those from Malavra or Laconia can hit 1500+ mg/kg in early harvests.
   • ORAC Potential: Up to 2000-2500 µmol TE/100g in premium batches.
2. Italy (e.g., Tuscany, Puglia, Lazio)
   • Varieties: Coratina, Frantoio, Moraiolo
   • Why: Coratina from Puglia is a standout, often exceeding 1000 mg/kg due to its thick skin and early harvesting in hilly, temperate zones. Tuscany’s Frantoio and Lazio’s Moraiolo also deliver robust oils (500-800 mg/kg) thanks to volcanic soils and cooler microclimates.
   • ORAC Potential: 1500-2500 µmol TE/100g, especially from Coratina.
3. Spain (e.g., Andalusia, Jaén)
   • Variety: Picual
   • Why: The most planted olive in Spain, Picual thrives in Jaén’s high-altitude groves (500+ meters), producing oils with 500-800 mg/kg polyphenols. The region’s dry summers and rocky soils stress the trees, boosting antioxidants.
   • ORAC Potential: 1500-2000 µmol TE/100g in high-quality EVOOs.
4. Morocco (e.g., Atlas Mountains)
   • Variety: Picholine Marocaine
   • Why: Grown in arid, high-elevation areas, these olives face heat and water stress, yielding oils with 600-1000 mg/kg polyphenols. Morocco’s desert-adjacent climate is often hyped (e.g., by brands like Morocco Gold), though evidence doesn’t consistently rank it above Mediterranean peers.
   • ORAC Potential: 1200-2000 µmol TE/100g, depending on harvest.
5. Other Notable Regions:
   • Cyprus: Oils like Oleaphan (1600+ mg/kg) from local cultivars show exceptional polyphenol levels, aided by island microclimates.
   • Turkey: Native varieties in temperate zones can hit 500-700 mg/kg, though less documented.
   • California (e.g., McEvoy Ranch): Mission or Tuscan blends can reach 400-700 mg/kg, though rarely match Mediterranean extremes.

Key Insights

• Climate Matters: Temperate Mediterranean climates (not deserts) with mild water stress—like rain-fed orchards in Greece or Spain—often outperform harsher desert conditions (e.g., Morocco) in polyphenol consistency. Desert olives ripen faster, potentially lowering phenolic content.
• Harvest Timing: Early harvests (October-November, when olives are green) maximize polyphenols across all regions.
• Variety is King: Koroneiki, Coratina, and Picual are the heavy hitters globally, regardless of exact locale.

Bottom Line

High-polyphenol olive oil’s ORAC value likely ranges from 1000-2500+ µmol TE/100g, with top-tier oils from Greece (Koroneiki), Italy (Coratina), and Spain (Picual) often leading the pack. Regions like Crete, Puglia, and Jaén are hotspots due to their ideal mix of cultivar, climate, and tradition. Morocco’s oils are strong contenders, but the “highest” claim is more marketing than science—polyphenol levels vary more by variety and process than geography alone. Want the best? Look for early-harvest EVOO from these regions with lab-verified polyphenol counts.