The Grind

Some say that if you put the word ‘culture’ in a pod, place the pod into an espresso machine, press the little button - and out comes millennials. The sale of instant coffee has been on a fast decline, from £808m in 2013 and expected to reach lows of £700m by the end of 2020. That’s because younger generations have become coffee snobs, throwing out their tins of sand-like coffee and choosing to settle for the ‘finer tastes’, but what’s all the fuss about? It’s easy to assume that a few properties are lost through the process of instant-coffee processing. Coffee does lose many of its oils that give ground coffee their rich flavor. However, does that also mean that all the health benefits of coffee are lost in the instant-coffee processing too? Dietitian Melanie McGrice notes that the difference between the instant coffee and ground coffee are pretty negligible, however there may be a small difference in terms of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and caffeine levels. It’s in potassium that ground coffee takes the lead by doubling the amount of that in instant. Though the main difference usually lies in the other “c” word - yes caffeine - according to Body Fusion dietitian, Emily Hardman. She further compares that one cup of instant coffee contains 60-80 mg of caffeine vs ground coffee that averages between 60-120 mg. It is true that caffeine improves your physical and cognitive performance, mental alertness and decreases fatigue. That being said, more caffeine is not necessarily a good thing and its impact on your health is dependent on the individual and the dosage. There’s a fine line of indulgence between “maximum benefit” and going “coffee cocoo loco”, why moderation is key. It’s settled then, ground coffee might win this round, but only just. It’s also safe to say that kids these days will do anything for the ‘culture’, (whatever that means). So the next time a 20 year old asks you for a cup of coffee, save yourself the hassle. Give them a cup of Medspresso™ and tell them to chill out.   For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com

  Now we’re sure you’ve heard this before. The mispronunciation of the word espresso with an “x” instead of an “s” is a common one and it’s understandable and generally related to the misconception that the word is some ‘gucci’ Italian word that translates to Express (as in ‘fast’). Italian it is, but more so referring to the process. Espresso, meaning ‘pressed out’ is an explanation of the phenomenon; The passing of almost-boiling-hot water through coffee grounds using pressure, pouring out a rich cup of coffee filled with aroma and flavor. The second myth buster to this tale is understanding the ‘espresso experience’. ​The appreciation of a good cup of coffee is bound by its flavor, which is accentuated by a tango of taste and aroma, rather than just a solo of taste.  Don’t believe it? Block your nose the next time you sip on an espresso. You will be rushed with the bitterness of caffeine but you will not experience the full flavor of the coffee. That said, the cup is only as good as it’s maker. A coffee connoisseur or an espresso expert knows to use great quality coffee beans, ground to the perfect consistency like that of the Medspresso™ pods, which would truly make the Italian, Luigi Berrazza, who patented the process in the late 1900s, proud. But if you are still having trouble with the pronunciation and coffee just isn’t for you, you can use the coffee grounds as DIY face scrubs according to beauty lab chemist Danuisa Wnek, “coffee grounds are physical exfoliators that can lift off dead skin cells”, or you can just order an exquisite cup of hot chocolate.   For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com

  Coffee is a wonderful complex beverage with more than 1,000 aroma compounds. How our body metabolizes coffee is still to be fully understood as many of its interacting mechanisms are yet to be discovered.   The cannabis compound, CBD, which doesn't cause a high, has been shown to reduce anxiety, help you sleep, reduce inflammation, and many more positive health effects. Dr. Richard Kaufman, Chief Science Officer of NanoSphere Health Sciences and Evolve Formulas, explains how CBD “binds and activates receptors in the brain called ‘cannabinoid receptors 2’ (CB2) and selectively blocks other receptors in the brain – the CB1 receptors. The underlying function of these CB2 receptors is protecting your body against inflammation and tissue injury, which is why it is so beneficial for CBD to activate them.” This receptor is found in our endocannabinoid system. A system that helps to modulate a whole host of metabolic activities — including blood pressure, cognition, addiction, immunity, appetite, sleep, and glucose metabolism.    CBD & COFFEE: A recent study published in The Journal of Internal Medicine, looked at what happens when you mix the two magic compounds; Coffee and CBD. The researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, found that coffee has metabolic interactions similar to those of cannabis, as they surprisingly happen to influence the same regions of the brain.  Namely, the neurotransmitters connected to the endocannabinoid system. Interestingly, the effect of coffee consumption on the endocannabinoid system was the opposite to cannabis use: endocannabinoid neurotransmitters decreased with the consumption of eight cups per day, but levels are increased by cannabis use. Much more science is being done in this area and that’s a great thing.  To date the science says that consuming CBD infused coffee like the Medspresso™ Tanzanian Peaberry is a ok! 👌 For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com.  

  Remember feeling the blistering summer heat in South Africa? Jonesing for an ice cold drink because you are feeling incredibly hot? Truth is, a hot drink is better for you! You don’t believe it? Believe in the science.  According to a research paper published by the University of Ottawa’s School of Human Kinetics, drinking hot drinks on hot, dry days can cool you down. Indeed, under specific circumstances, a warm drink can reduce your body temperature. An experiment run by British scientists, gave a group of test subjects iced tea to drink, and then observed the change in body temperature: The temperature of their skin fell from 0.5℃ to 0.8℃ after 9 minutes of ingestion of the cold beverage. Another test group was given the same amount of hot tea to drink, and amazingly their skin temperature decreased to an amazing 1.5℃~2℃, a decrease 3 times more significant than the first group. Interesting. “How come”, you may be asking? It has to do with two key conditions: The physical reaction of sweating, and The environmental conditions. Drinking hot drinks makes us sweat disproportionately more. This means that our body is putting out a lot more sweat than it should be given the rise in temperature involved.  This overreaction can cool us down more than enough to offset the heat of the drink, if the sweat can evaporate off your body. This is where the environment comes into play: The high temperature has to be from a dry heat (it cannot be from a humid climate as the sweat would not able to evaporate). So next time you are about to reach for an ice cold drink to cool off, try something different, like a nice hot cup of Rooibos!     For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com

Decaf coffee used to have a reputation as being flavorless. Caffeine itself does not have a taste, but some methods of decaffeination remove important flavor-producing compounds alongside the caffeine.

  So many different opinions expressed as to whether drinking a few cups of java is good for your general well-being.   Being a doctor, I like to revert to science. Like most things in life, moderation is key.   Drinking coffee is good for most people — that’s 1 to 5 cups daily, or up to 400 milligrams of caffeine. There are numerous health benefits to drinking coffee.   Here are just a few for your consideration: Two cups of coffee can cut post-workout muscle pain by up to 48%. A cup of brewed coffee represents a contribution of up to 8 grams of fiber of the recommended intake of 20-38 grams. Risk for developing gout in men decreases with increasing coffee consumption. There is considerable evidence that caffeine may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Moderate consumption of coffee can reduce the odds of developing colorectal cancer by 26%. A 10-year study of 86,000 female nurses shows a reduced risk of suicide in the coffee drinkers. Harvard School of Public Health found that women who drink 4 or more cups of coffee were 20% less likely to suffer from depression.   For most, coffee can be a healthy part of the diet.   However, coffee may not be beneficial for everyone. Those with certain heart conditions, caffeine sensitivity, and women who are pregnant should stick to decaf or herbal teas.   Also, those that drink coffee in excess may be negating some of the benefits because of the large amounts of caffeine they are consuming. These people may benefit from a caffeine detox to reset their caffeine tolerance to more moderate levels.   The key is moderation, typically 3-5 cups a day in order to get the coffee health benefits but avoid the negative issues associated with too much caffeine.   Sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite brew. I know I do.   P.S. Make sure to give the new Medspresso™ CBD infused Organic Tanzanian Peaberry a go. Available exclusively at the CafféLuxe Showroom located at: 12 Platinum Drive, Northgate Business Park, Brooklyn, Cape Town, South Africa 7405.   For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com.

  My full name is Dr. Anna Morera Leralta but I’m better known as just Dr. Anna. I was born in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. I was fortunate to be raised by my wonderful parents, who provided me with everything I ever needed - and more. I keep lovely memories of my childhood. I was a shy and nerdy only child, often on my own. Biology and science became my sanctuary. Saturday mornings, dad would take me to his clinic where I would shadow him. I don’t know of many teenagers who were assisting in dental surgery on the weekends. I loved it. When I was 13 years old, I attended a school for gifted athletes where I practiced golf. It was my time to unwind - on the beautiful green pitch, with the sound of birds chirping and the sun beaming down. It also brought out the competitive spirit in me; the swing had to be perfect - I’m still working on that! Though it’s almost better than my dad’s... which ruffles his feathers. At the age of 17, I made the decision to study medicine. I applied and was accepted. The idea of being a part of a profession focused on helping others regardless of circumstance, I couldn’t imagine a more fulfilling job. The thought of it got me excited waking up every morning. Six years - and many hours of study - later, I was proud to receive my medical degree. My whole family was gathered as I took my oath and affirmed my purpose in life to put my talents and abilities at the service of others. I cherish humility, family, integrity and empathy above all else. Today, as a medical doctor, it is my duty to seek the newest and best tested remedies to treat my patients. It certainly wasn’t always easy growing up as the daughter of a highly successful doctor and surgeon, and an all-capable business-savvy mom - but I hope to act out my potential, serve my community and leave the world a better place. I’m the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech. It is our mission to advance botanical-based medicine to the forefront by deploying best-practice science and medicine, clinical research and emerging technologies related to medicinal cannabis and mushrooms.  Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of our Medspresso™ line of pharmaceutical grade CBD infused premium coffees, teas and hot chocolates. For more follow Medspresso on twitter, instagram, facebook.  I look forward to sharing my ideas and thoughts and hearing yours. Please feel free to shoot my any questions at: dranna@mjmedtech.com You can also find me on twitter, instagram and LinkedIn.      For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com.

  We are delighted to share with you first, a new brand about to launch: Medspresso™. Medspresso™ and its Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anna Morera Leralta, have brilliantly combined all the health benefits of pharmaceutical-grade CBD (cannabidiol) with only the highest quality sourced African coffees, teas, and hot chocolates. The very first hot beverage available in limited supply is the exquisite and rare CBD infused Medspresso™ Organic Tanzanian Peaberry. The coffee is delivered neatly in Nespresso compatible biodegradable pods. The Peaberry is a world-renowned and award-winning coffee bean sourced from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania and celebrated for its elegant taste.  Research, science, quality and the environment are of enormous importance to the Medspresso team.  Medspresso™ - More than just coffee.    P.S. Dr. Anna will be a regular contributor to the Caffeluxe blog sharing incredibly valuable and useful health tips and tricks. We are very excited to have her aboard! For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna, Chief Medical Officer of MJ Medtech, Inc. at dranna@mjmedtech.com.