There has been a lot of discussion about Coffee and caffeine on these forums,
I thought this would be helpful in clearing it up. 
(I do not drink any coffee, myself, never have.)
Now, recently, a cup of Tulsi or Rooibus tea, daily ... ! Information from lifescript.com

Myth #1: Caffeine is addictive.
False: Although caffeine is considered a mild stimulant, it’s not addictive, according to the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Unlike classic stimulants – think cocaine and amphetamines – there’s rarely a strong compulsion to use caffeine.

Myth #2: Caffeine causes dehydration.
True: Caffeine is a mild diuretic, but “it’s not very pronounced,” says Franz H. Messerli, M.D., a professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University in New York City.

Still, diuretics make you have to pee. The more often you go, the more fluids you lose. And you'll feel more dehydrated because you’re losing more fluids than you’re taking in.

Myth #3: Caffeine can make heart disease worse.
False: Doctors often tell cardiac patients, especially those with high blood pressure, to avoid caffeine. But there’s little proof that it raises the risk of heart attack, sudden death or abnormal heart rhythms.

In fact, coffee drinking may reduce risk of heart disease! A study by Autonomous University of Madrid of more than 126,000 people found that women who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 25% lower risk of heart disease. Men didn’t show any higher or lower risk.

Drinking tea – black and green – may also have heart-healthy benefits.  "Tea in general seems to have cardiovascular benefits,” says Messerli, also a cardiologist and director of hypertension at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in Manhattan. The “benefits of tea are probably due to its antioxidant properties,” he says.

But not all teas are created equal. Herbal ones such as chamomile, rosebud and elderberry don’t have the same antioxidants.  Plus, “when you add cream or milk, you may abolish the benefits,” Messerli says, “because it seems that the milk or the cream prevents the antioxidant substance from acting.”

Myth #4: Caffeine heightens hypertension risk.
True and false: Caffeine does cause a small, short-term boost in blood pressure, but it’s nothing serious, Messerli says, and has no lingering health effect.

Myth #5: Caffeine causes hyperactivity in children.
False: A kid on a Coke rush will practically bounce off walls. But studies show that a moderate amount of caffeine (40 mg to 200 mg) doesn’t make them hyperactive. (For reference, that 12-ounce can of Coke has 35 mg.)

Myth #6: Caffeine causes bone loss.
True: Caffeine causes a slight, negligible increase in calcium excretion, according to a study by the Creighton University Osteoporosis Research Center in Omaha, Neb. And you'd have to down three cups of coffee for this to occur. Any calcium loss could be offset by consuming more calcium – a few tablespoons of milk, for example.  (But, not in your Tea.)

Myth #7: Caffeine is linked to fibrocystic breast disease.
False: Caffeine intake isn’t related to the benign condition of lumpy breasts, reports the American Medical Association.  “There's no evidence to support the idea that caffeine causes fibrocystic changes,” says Katherine B. Lee, M.D., a staff physician in Cleveland Clinic’s Breast Center. 
“It seems to contribute to breast pain, but doesn't cause breast cancer," Lee says.

Myth #8: Caffeine is unhealthy for pregnant women.
True: But if you’re pregnant, you’ll have to watch how much you drink.Once a woman is carrying, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises no more than one or two cups of coffee a day.

Myth #9: Caffeine comes with calories galore.
False: On their own, coffee and tea have no calories or fat. 
It’s the flavored syrups, whole milk and cream that turn innocent caffeinated drinks into calorie bombs. Those tasty blended drinks can contain 200-600 calories. 
And the creamers found in many offices? Two tablespoons can add 80 calories and four grams of fat - equal to a pat of butter.

Thanks, John. I think that coffee has gotten a bad wrap, and there are some really good benefits associated with coffee. I enjoy coffee, although mostly decaf... but if I drink one cup of caffeinated coffee per day, I don't feel guilty about it. I also enjoy rooibus tea!

Good for you!
Now you need to add some Tulsi Tea! 
They have great flavors.
Also try the Vanilla Rooibus from Starbucks.
You can also buy a tin of it (tea bags) from Starbucks.

I'm getting even further off topic from coffee, but thought this is worth mentioning and could even be of help to some readers.  Tulsi (Holy Basil) is an adaptogen.  Adaptogen's are herbs that basically help the body normalize function when exposed to a stressor, different ones applying to various situations.   They're actually pretty cool.  My encocrinologist introduced me to them several years ago.  Under his guidance I've been taking an adaptogen in order to be able to tolerate my levoxyl dose (thyroid hormone med; I have hypothyroidism).   I'd been unable to tolerate the dose I needed due to a hyper adrenaline response.  The adaptogen normalizes the hyper response of my adrenals, which in turn enables me to tolerate my thryoid hormone med at the appropriate dose for me needs.  The preparation I take includes Ashwaganda Root and Leaf, Rhodiola Extract, Astragalus, American Ginseng Root, Holy Basil Leaf, and Schizandra Berry, plus a few other foods and extracts (Indian Gooseberry and  two types of seaweed).
____________________________________________

sue
Consultant of Zone Labs
Certified Zone Affiliate

Lost 100 lbs 16 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil.   ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!

View my Zone Fast 1-2-3 meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...3%20Meals/

View my classic Zone meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...4/?start=0


 

John, I LOVE the vanilla rooibus from Starbucks!

My DH loves it, too... but he likes to order it as a tea-latte, and I believe that they add sweetener, it isn't just steamed milk blended in like other lattes.  I like it as a tea-latte, but have to remember to ask for JUST the milk. 

I read somewhere that in South Africa (I think it's there) they sell "red espresso", which is super concentrated rooibos tea.

____________________________________________

sue
Consultant of Zone Labs
Certified Zone Affiliate

Lost 100 lbs 16 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil.   ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!

View my Zone Fast 1-2-3 meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...3%20Meals/

View my classic Zone meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...4/?start=0

My daughter is a missionary in South Africa (until May 2011),
next time we talk with her, I'll ask her if she knows of it.