KCAL News partners with nonprofits helping those impacted by the LA Wildfires
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and KCAL Cares is highlighting organizations helping those impacted by the Los Angeles County Wildfires.
We'll feature a local nonprofit each week that addresses the immediate and long-term mental health needs of children, families and the elderly.
KCAL News
You'll meet the mental health champions bringing healing and support as our communities rebuild.
Mental Health Awareness Month started in 1949 to help break the stigma surrounding mental health treatment, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
May's initiative is the latest under the KCAL Cares banner, a commitment KCAL News made after the January wildfires. Soon after the Palisades and Eaton fires, KCAL News partnered with the American Red Cross to help raise money for those impacted by the devastation.
We're also hosting Coffee with KCAL, an ongoing segment in which the KCAL News staff connects with communities impacted by the wildfires to help them rebuild and recover.
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CNET
12 hours ago
- CNET
Cutting Back on Coffee Is Hard -- Painful, Even. Here's How to Make It Easier
If you like to start your day with a warm cup of coffee or green tea for an energy boost, you're not alone. The National Coffee Association estimates that 66% of US adults drink coffee daily. Rest assured, I'm part of that percentage -- just thinking about my morning cup of joe motivates me to roll out of bed. Caffeine is a powerful drug. In fact, it's the most popular psychoactive drug in the world -- but unlike other psychoactive drugs, it's largely unregulated. People who habitually drink beverages with caffeine can develop a dependence on it, both physically and emotionally. Giving up that precious relationship is no easy feat. If done too quickly, it can be uncomfortable and even painful. If you regularly drink coffee, tea, energy drinks or soda, you may experience side effects or withdrawal symptoms when slashing your consumption. Here's everything you need to know about your caffeine intake, with expert tips for cutting back safely. How much caffeine should you consume? Most experts agree that the daily recommended caffeine limit for the average adult is 400 milligrams, which is roughly equivalent to four cups of brewed coffee. However, this recommendation may vary based on factors such as age and health conditions. According to Gabriella Nowicki, an oncology dietitian at Rebecca Bitzer & Associates, "Age, gender, weight and medical status affect this recommendation. Children under 12 should have no caffeine, while children under 18 should keep their intake lower than 100 milligrams. Pregnant individuals are advised to limit caffeine to under 200 milligrams a day." Certain medical conditions may also require people to reduce their caffeine intake. "Those with uncontrolled high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias should limit caffeine. Those living with IBS, anxiety, GERD and sleep disorders might benefit from reducing overall caffeine consumption," Nowicki explained. Whether your go-to drink is a refreshing soda or a hot cup of coffee, our beloved beverages can be hard to part with. Tongpatong/Getty Images What are the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal? According to the US Food and Drug Administration, caffeine withdrawal is not typically considered dangerous, unlike withdrawal from other drugs such as alcohol or opioids. However, the side effects of abruptly quitting caffeine can be downright unpleasant. Common withdrawal symptoms include: Headaches or migraines Fatigue or brain fog Difficulty concentrating Nausea Increased appetite Irritability Tips for cutting back on caffeine There are effective ways to cut back on your caffeine consumption without experiencing harsh withdrawal side effects. Here are some simple tips to help. 1. Don't quit cold turkey The top recommendation is to avoid abruptly stopping your intake -- don't go from 100 to zero. Health experts agree it's best to wean yourself off by gradually reducing your daily consumption. "Like anything, start slow. If you regularly consume four cups of coffee daily, cut back to three. If you're having a hard time cutting down on the volume of coffee, do half-caffeinated," Nowicki told CNET. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it's best to decrease caffeine intake over a few weeks to minimize withdrawal symptoms and make lasting changes to your habit. Try alternating between regular coffee and decaf or cutting back from four cups a day to three, then two, and so on. 2. Stay hydrated This tip may seem like a no-brainer, but it's crucial nonetheless: drink water, especially if you're on the verge of a headache. Prioritize your hydrating habits, as dehydration can lead to symptoms similar to caffeine withdrawal, including headaches and fatigue. To make it easier to shift from a coffee-drinking habit to a water-drinking habit, try having water with each meal and snack, or keep a bottle of water handy to sip on throughout your workday. Staying hydrated is especially important in the mornings when you would normally grab the coffee mug. We often wake up dehydrated after sleeping because our bodies naturally lose fluids during this time through processes like breathing and sweating. Even if you're not cutting back on coffee or soda, water should be the first thing you reach for. Waking up thirsty or with a dry mouth is common. Drinking water first can help restore your hydration levels off the bat. Skynesher/Getty Images Read more: Thirsty? 7 Reasons Why You Should Hydrate More 3. Prioritize sleep Caffeine helps keep us alert and awake, which is precisely why you should avoid it well before bedtime. Ideally, your caffeine consumption should end at least 10 hours before going to sleep -- otherwise, it can affect your sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. Nowicki recommends having a cutoff time of 12 hours before hitting the hay. If you're not getting quality rest, you'll wake up feeling groggy, making that extra cup of coffee all the more tempting. 4. Eat good food In addition to drinking more water and getting better rest, choosing nutrient-dense foods will make you feel more alert. Certain foods energize us more effectively than others, such as oats, avocados, berries, nuts, seeds and yogurt. Eating these nutrient-rich foods in the morning can give you the boost you need sans caffeine. Additionally, prioritizing complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains and starchy vegetables, over simple carbs can help maintain steadier energy levels throughout the day. Read more: The Best Energy-Boosting Foods, According to Experts 5. Get some exercise It may seem counterintuitive, but exercise can naturally boost your energy. Even a quick walk can boost oxygen circulation, stimulate the production of feel-good hormones like serotonin and release chemical endorphins that make us more alert. Regular exercise, in turn, promotes better sleep quality -- helping you feel less dependent on your caffeinenated companion. So, the next time you feel a pull toward that soda or fifth cup of coffee, try getting up and moving around instead. 6. Swap with other drinks "Sometimes we just crave a ritual to drink something other than water. Try herbal teas, mocktails or mushroom coffee to shake up the ritual," Nowicki suggested. If you're a soda drinker, consider substituting it with another cold and fizzy beverage. Prebiotic sodas are popular soft drink alternatives, often containing less caffeine and sugar than their pop counterparts. Consider infusing your water with fruits or herbs for a refreshing caffeine replacement."Herbal or spicy tea, like ginger or peppermint, can stimulate the senses. Drinks with B vitamins or magnesium can support natural energy," Nowicki continued. Many beverage brands now offer coffee alternatives that can simulate the experience of sipping your aromatic cup of coffee with far less caffeine. One example is Mud/Wtr, which includes ingredients such as cacao, masala chai, functional mushrooms and only 35 milligrams of caffeine. The following chart shows the average caffeine content for various beverages, according to the US FDA. Caffeinated beverages compared Beverage Average amount of caffeine per 12 fluid ounces Soda or caffeinated soft drink 23 to 83 milligrams Coffee (brewed) 113 to 247 milligrams Coffee (drip) 140 to 180 milligrams Decaf coffee 2 to 18 milligrams Green tea 37 milligrams Black tea 71 milligrams Energy drink 41 to 246 milligrams Pre-workout 150 to 300 milligrams It's important to note that each drink's caffeine amount varies drastically depending on the brewing method and brand. Energy drinks, especially those marketed as "extra strength," have a lot more caffeine -- for example, 5-Hour Energy has 230 milligrams in one 2-ounce shot. Always read the nutrition labels first if you're tracking and limiting your caffeine consumption. What to do if you're having withdrawal If it's too late, and you're experiencing headache, brain fog, nausea or other symptoms while reading this, Nowicki has some suggestions for alleviating those annoying side effects: Take a short nap (around 20 minutes) Try smelling coffee if someone has a pot on already Get some sunshine and fresh air Take a short walk Stay well hydrated Caffeine withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person. They typically begin to appear 12 to 24 hours after your last sip and can last up to a week or longer. If you're experiencing extreme symptoms that are unmanageable, be sure to consult a healthcare professional. The bottom line The limit on caffeine does, indeed, exist. According to Nowicki, if you're consuming too much caffeine, you may experience side effects such as: GI upset (reflux, loose stool or stomach cramping) Headaches or migraines Poor appetite Jitteriness Anxiety The best way to avoid withdrawal symptoms is by reducing your caffeine intake slowly -- don't quit cold turkey. Gradually reduce the amount you drink daily, preferably over a few weeks, and swap out your caffeinated beverages with other healthy alternatives. Don't forget to drink lots of water, prioritize sleep and eat a nutrient-rich diet. If you have questions or concerns, consult your primary care provider before making any drastic changes.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
The Scientific Reason Why ChatGPT Leads You Down Rabbit Holes
That chatbot is only telling you what you want to believe, according to a new study. Whether you're using a traditional search engine like Google or a conversational tool like OpenAI's ChatGPT, you tend to use terms that reflect your biases and perceptions, according to the study, published this spring in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More importantly, search engines and chatbots often provide results that reinforce those beliefs, even if your intent is to learn more about the topic. For example, imagine you're trying to learn about the health effects of drinking coffee every day. If you, like me, enjoy having exactly two cups of joe first thing in the morning, you may search for something like "is coffee healthy?" or "health benefits of coffee." If you're already skeptical (maybe a tea purist), you might search for "is coffee bad for you?" instead. The researchers found that framing of questions could skew the results -- I'd mostly get answers that show the benefits of coffee, while you'd get the opposite. "When people look up information, whether it's Google or ChatGPT, they actually use search terms that reflect what they already believe," Eugina Leung, an assistant professor at Tulane University and lead author of the study, told me. The abundance of AI chatbots, and the confident and customized results they so freely give you, makes it easier to fall down a rabbit hole and harder to realize you're in it. There's never been a more important time to think deeply about how you get information online. The question is: How do you get the best answers? Asking the wrong questions The researchers conducted 21 studies with nearly 10,000 participants who were asked to conduct searches on certain preselected topics, including the health effects of caffeine, gas prices, crime rates, COVID-19 and nuclear energy. The search engines and tools used included Google, ChatGPT and custom-designed search engines and AI chatbots. The researchers' results showed that what they called the "narrow search effect" was a function of both how people asked questions and how the tech platforms responded. People have a habit, in essence, of asking the wrong questions (or asking questions in the wrong way). They tended to use search terms or AI prompts that demonstrated what they already thought, and search engines and chatbots designed to provide narrow, extremely relevant answers, delivered on those answers. "The answers end up basically just confirming what they believe in the first place," Leung said. Read more: AI Essentials: 29 Ways to Make Gen AI Work for You, According to Our Experts The researchers also checked to see if participants changed their beliefs after conducting a search. When served a narrow selection of answers that largely confirmed their beliefs, they were unlikely to see significant changes. But when the researchers provided a custom-built search engine and chatbot designed to offer a broader array of answers, they were more likely to change. Leung said platforms could provide users with the option of a broader, less tailored search, which could prove helpful in situations where the user is trying to find a wider variety of sources. "Our research is not trying to suggest that search engines or algorithms should always broaden their search results," she said. "I do think there is a lot of value in providing very focused and very narrow search results in certain situations." 3 ways to ask the right questions If you want a broader array of answers to your questions, there are some things you can do, Leung said. Be precise: Think specifically about what exactly it is you're trying to learn. Leung used an example of trying to decide if you want to invest in a particular company's stock. Asking if it's a good stock or a bad stock to buy will likely skew your results -- more positive news if you ask if it's good, more negative news if you ask if it's bad. Instead, try a single, more neutral search term. Or ask both terms and evaluate the results of each. Get other views: Especially with an AI chatbot, you can ask for a broad range of perspectives directly in the prompt. If you want to know if you should keep drinking two cups of coffee a day, ask the chatbot for a variety of opinions and the evidence behind them. The researchers tried this in one of their experiments and found they got more variety in results. "We asked ChatGPT to provide different perspectives to answer the query from the participants and to provide as much evidence to back up those claims as possible," Leung said. At some point, stop asking: Follow-up questions didn't work quite as well, Leung said. If those questions aren't getting broader answers, you may get the opposite effect -- even more narrow, affirming results. In many cases, people who asked lots of follow-up questions just "fell deeper down into the rabbit hole," she said.
Health Line
2 days ago
- Health Line
How Much Caffeine Does Tea Have Compared with Coffee?
While black tea, espresso, and coffee bring the most caffeine to the table, green tea packs a moderate amount as well. The content in white teas varies greatly, while herbal teas are practically caffeine-free. Caffeine's popularity as a natural stimulant is unparalleled. It's found in over 60 plant species and enjoyed across the globe, especially in coffee, chocolate, and tea. The caffeine content in a beverage varies depending on the ingredients and how the drink is prepared. While caffeine is considered safe, drinking too much may raise some concerns. Let's compare the caffeine contents of various teas and coffees and explore which drink you should choose. Why is caffeine a concern? An estimated 80% of the world's population enjoys a caffeinated product daily. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) define a safe caffeine intake as up to 400 mg per day, 200 mg per single dose, or 1.4 mg per pound (3 mg per kg) of body weight. Due to its stimulating effects, caffeine has been linked to health benefits like enhanced alertness, improved athletic performance, elevated mood, and increased metabolism. That said, consuming high amounts — such as single doses over 500 mg — may raise some concerns. In large doses, caffeine has been associated with anxiety, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. In addition, a 2019 study suggests that drinking it regularly, even in moderate amounts, can cause chronic headaches and migraine episodes. Furthermore, caffeine is considered mildly addictive, and some people may be more susceptible to developing a dependence. Caffeine content varies by beverage type and preparation The amount of caffeine in tea or coffee can vary significantly depending on the origin, type, and preparation of the drink. Tea leaves contain 4% caffeine, while coffee beans have 0.9% to 2.6%. However, the coffee brewing process uses hotter water, which extracts more of the caffeine from the beans. Typically, you also use more coffee beans than you'd use tea leaves for a drink. Therefore, 1 cup (237 ml) of brewed coffee generally has more caffeine than a cup of tea. Tea varieties Black, green, and white teas are prepared from leaves of the same plant, Camellia sinensis. What sets them apart is the time of harvest and level of oxidation of the leaves. Black tea leaves are oxidized (especially exposed to oxygen for a longer amount of time), while white and green tea leaves are not. This gives black tea a characteristic bold and sharp flavor. An average cup (220 ml) of black tea packs 50 mg of caffeine but can contain more. For comparison, green teas contain up to 45 mg, while white teas deliver an average of 16.79 mg per gram (mg/g). According to some studies, white tea contains less caffeine than green tea. Matcha green tea is another high-caffeine tea. It usually comes in powdered form and packs 18.9 to 44.4 mg of caffeine per half-teaspoon (1-gram) serving. Similarly, yerba mate, a tea traditionally enjoyed in South America that's made by steeping the twigs and leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant, usually contains about 80 mg of caffeine per cup. While technically not made from tea leaves, herbal teas are a nice caffeine-free beverage choice. Tea preparation The preparation method greatly impacts the caffeine content of tea. Teas that steep for longer and in hotter water tend to produce a more potent cup. One 2024 study concluded that the best conditions to extract caffeine were at 212°F (100°C) for 30 minutes. The researchers extracted: 0.089 g of caffeine from black tea 0.06 g from used black tea 0.08 g from green tea 0.047 g from used green tea Coffee varieties An average 8-ounce (237-ml) cup of coffee contains 90 to 200 mg of caffeine. It's a common belief that coffee made from dark-roasted beans has more caffeine than coffee from light-roasted beans. However, since caffeine isn't affected much by roasting, this may not be the case. That said, since dark roast coffees are less dense than light roast ones, you may use greater amounts of beans or grounds when brewing this type, yielding more caffeine per cup. Espresso is a more concentrated source of caffeine. A single shot of espresso has about 127 mg of caffeine. Some specialty coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos, are made with a double shot of espresso. Coffee preparation Hot water draws more caffeine out of tea leaves in a shorter period of time, and the same holds for coffee. Coffee is typically brewed at a temperature of about 195 to 205°F (90 to 96°C). You can also make cold-brewed coffee by soaking ground coffee in cold, filtered water for 8 to 24 hours. As you use 1.5 times more ground coffee using this method compared with regular hot-water brewing, it may result in a more caffeinated cup. Which one should you drink? Caffeine acts quickly — usually within 45 minutes of consumption. If you're sensitive to the effects of caffeine, consider sticking to teas lower in caffeine like white or herbal teas. You may also brew high-caffeine teas for a shorter time, such as 1 minute instead of 3. Opting for decaffeinated tea or coffee is also a good way to enjoy these drinks without much caffeine. On the contrary, if you're a fan of high-caffeine drinks, you may enjoy espresso, cold-brew coffee, and teas with higher caffeine contents, including green and black varieties. To stay within safe amounts, drink no more than 400 mg daily, or 200 mg of caffeine at a time. This translates to no more than three to five 8-ounce (237 ml) cups of regular coffee daily, or eight 1-ounce (30-ml) shots of espresso. Those who have heart disease, are prone to migraine episodes, and take certain medications should limit their caffeine intake.
