About Coca-Cola
("The Intellectual beverage"!)
My family used to despair of
me- I was always talking about the healing quality of the conscious choice of
foods. In this day and age, Doctors have accepted the wide range of products
which offer more than nutrition- there are thousands of foods which offer health
tonics that stimulate the system, that help toprevent even serious
illnessness.In ancient days, about all anyone knew was that oranges and lemons
prevented scurvy. Later the need for Vitamin C became a given in nutrition
standards. There are books on the healing properties of foods - you may take a
particular mushroom for the benefit of your bloods' circulation; the kola nut is
of benefit in several ways. Products you have just taken for granted (Coke
refreshes!)can become part of diet consciousness. Yes, there are the pros and
cons of dietary issues- sugar and caffeine are frowned upon by some Doctors, yet
recommended for some dietary concerns by others. For instance my Doctor told me
to have a cup of coffee before meals to alleviate excessive eating, and sugar
may be of good use to the liver.
I
decided to set up the qualities of coca and cola in my site
because the history of Coca Cola is so interesting, and because
the herbal qualities in both cola nut and coca leaf tea are
certainly tonic.In the sixties,Coke made historic diplomatic
arrangements with Communist China (then a cold and unfriendly
presence) to sell and to distribute the beverage, a meaningful
business agreement through which China accepted what was
considered the product of hyper-capitalism in the Far East.The
song "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect
Harmony", used by Coca Cola to celebrate the diplomatic
house-warming party, has remained iconic, its portent to be
superceded only by Fords' recent , exquisite operatic gift on
video.I like Coke, and I guess most people do. Their family of
friends is all of us. Their relationship with us remains both
honourable and societally diplomatic.
Coca Cola was invented by
a Pharmacist, Dr. John S. Pemberton from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. When he
first made the drink, it was formed in wine and contained extracts of
Erythroxylon cola and Cola nitida (caffeine). It was sold as a digestive aid, a
tonic and a stimulant for the nervous system. Dr.Pemberton called his invention
"an intellectual beverage".
After
the Prohibition (anti-alcohol) era had arrived, the use of wine
for the beverage was disallowed, and the drink was re-invented
with sugar syrup as a sub for wine. This is the era which renamed
'the intellectual beverage' Coca Cola. it was also renamed 'The
Temperance Drink'! the Coke company has had lots of practice in
conforming to the prevailing wind, it seems!
In 1904 there were better-educated fears
about narcotics which were still part of the original Coca Cola. Actual cocaine
had been isolated in it in 1860.The coca extracts were removed, but the
de-natured tea was still a part of the drink. The leaf itself is high in the
vitamins C, B1 and riboflavin.
The
Bissy nut (kola nut) has about 25% the amount of caffeine as has
a cup of coffee. It is considered safe for adults. it is a mild
laxative, so stimulating to the proper hygienic function of the
body. The coca leaf used in Coca Cola is a diuretic (like regular
tea) and a stimulant.
LINK TODr.
Andrew Weil
for a cautionary but interesting
article.
For some illuminating Cool Referencesabout cola and coca, try Herb
Contents/coca, or herbcontents/kolanut
To
the left of the page is an image of Canadas' national Flag. Thanks to Coca Cola for reflecting the colours of our national choice in a flag - red
and white! These are the colours of purity
and of passion, of the maple leaf and that pot of gold at the end of
the rainbow. My thanks are extended to Coca Cola company employees and owners for their excellence and
diplomacy in the maintenance of high standards in business and friendship (even
though their choice of colours was way before Canadas' change in flag
colours!).
LINKS BELOW BRING PAGES UP IN SEPARATE WINDOW
copyright Sue Risk Northdays Image 2003