Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by lordofmoria on Monday February 26, 2018 @11:47AM (#16466679)

Logged in to upvote this. Birds of a feather flock together.

I’ve personally never come across anyone who (admits) to using anything stronger than Redbull. In fact, we have some employees who don’t even drink coffee, opting for “natural” stimulants which come with less of a crash. Yerba Mate seems particularly popular these days.

However, I may be in my own bubble; I’m very interested in seeing what you find!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by Balgair on Monday February 26, 2018 @01:13PM (#16467493)

Mate is the 'same' as coffee, in that it's just caffeine. There is some research to say that the mate derived caffeine is largely an isomer of caffeine, in that the molecule is shaped differently. This is then used to explain why mate is more potent to users without a habituation to coffee derived caffeine. However, the research is still ongoing and the isomer theory is not yet proved, AFAIK. Likely it's just a placebo effect, but a strong one nonetheless.

Having spent some time in South America, mate sure is nice and a good change of pace. In the countrysides, it's not uncommon to see people with large thermoses slung under the elbow (for hot water) and a mate gourd in the same hand, happily sipping the days away. I'd recommend it for anyone looking to add some variety in your daily routine. Be advised that it is an acquired taste and may take a week to get used to, just like coffee was in the beginning.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerba_mate

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Guayaki-Traditional-Organic-Yerba-Loo...

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Mategreen-M0035-Argentina-Yerba-Gourd...

(though there are cheaper gourds that can just sit without tipping, I prefer the traditional hand-held ones)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by woolvalley on Monday February 26, 2018 @04:48PM (#16469263)

Redbulls & other energy drinks have B vitamins and such that synergies with the caffeine to make the energy effect stronger. So even though your drinking 70mg of caffeine in a redbull, it feels a lot stronger.

Drinks such as coffee have a ton of caffeine in comparison. A cup of coffee has around ~200mg of caffeine, while yerba mate drinks have around ~70mg: http://guayaki.com/caffeine_meter.html

So drinking yerba mate is a lot like drinking tea as far as the caffeine experience goes.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by Balgair on Monday February 26, 2018 @05:02PM (#16469377)

Unfortunately, it seems that B vitamins do not 'synergize' with caffeine in an appreciable way, per an article from the LA times in 2008. Caffeine does have a 'negative' effect on circulating B vitamin percentage, but I could only find one study from 2008 about it, and it's not unhealthy. As is, the B vitamins with coffee really only seem to help in the elderly.

That said, yeah, mate is pretty mild in terms of caffeine content.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-skeptic14-2008jul14-stor...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by philipkglass on Monday February 26, 2018 @06:06PM (#16469814)

There is some research to say that the mate derived caffeine is largely an isomer of caffeine, in that the molecule is shaped differently. This is then used to explain why mate is more potent to users without a habituation to coffee derived caffeine. However, the research is still ongoing and the isomer theory is not yet proved, AFAIK.

This sounds very dubious. Caffeine has only one stereoisomer. And if you mean a structural isomer, then it's not actually caffeine any more.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by bickford on Monday February 26, 2018 @11:55PM (#16471164)

I am not up to date on the research. A few years ago the stimulant in mate was more broadly classified as a xanthine, not specifically caffeine.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by Balgair on Monday February 26, 2018 @07:04PM (#16470105)

Like I said, research is ongoing/needed. Personally, I think it's just a placebo effect, but I'm not in that area of research.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by jiggunjer on Tuesday February 27, 2018 @02:50AM (#16471754)

One? I wasn't aware of any. And GP did say isomer, not stereoisomer.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by jdavis703 on Monday February 26, 2018 @11:08PM (#16471021)

Mate is hard to prepare right. I think a large part of people’s complaints about the taste is because it’s steeped for too long. Even "upscale" cafes frequently make it wrong.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by Balgair on Tuesday February 27, 2018 @01:53PM (#16476614)

I agree. You have to use just enough of just-not-boiled water and then sip it somewhat quickly. But everyone's tastes differ as to the right amount of 'grassy' flavoring. Best shared with friends, honestly.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by JauntTrooper on Monday February 26, 2018 @03:22PM (#16468625)

I’ve been in investment banking, finance, and consulting for ~15 years and had a similar experience. The last time I saw illicit drug use was marijuana in college.

I find stories like this to be important reminders that it is likely happening around me, and I need to be alert for it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, i... by rootw0rm on Monday February 26, 2018 @02:33PM (#16468231)

I've never been a daily caffeine user, so I have a bit of sensitivity to it. When I used stims for productivity I especially avoided caffeine because it could push me uncomfortably close to OD territory.

[ Parent | on HN ]