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What is “khat” and why are we warned about it?

18 Mar 2022

Cathinone’s molecular structure resembles amphetamine which accounts for its mild stimulant effect. Historically, cathinone has not cause much concern, at least not until clandestine chemists began...

Benzene Jitters

19 Jan 2022

At one time it was used as an aftershave because of its sweet smell.  It was even used to decaffeinate coffee.  Oh my, how times change!  Today we worry about a few parts per billion of benzene in...

What is Guarana?

30 Sep 2021

The Amazon is a dangerous place, with jaguars, anacondas and piranhas in constant search for their next meal, but you would not have anything to fear from guarana. It isn’t a predator, it’s a woody...

The Right Chemistry: Leaded Coffee

4 Mar 2021

Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the use of the term “leaded coffee

Why does coffee make you poop?

26 Jun 2020

If you're anything like me, you can't start your day without a cup of coffee. However, if you're anything like me, about 20 minutes after that first cup has been drained, you can be found sitting...

My Dog Ate Chocolate and He Was Fine, so What’s the Big Deal?

23 Aug 2019

If you ask a dog owner what dogs cannot eat, they’ll list some foods like onions, garlic, rhubarb, grapes and chocolate. (As an aside, if they say grains, don’t listen to them.) Dogs' inability to...

Is coffee having an effect on my iron absorption?

10 May 2019

Iron is an essential dietary nutrient needed for the formation of hemoglobin, the complex protein that transports oxygen through the bloodstream and delivers it to cells where the oxygen is needed...

Combining Caffeine With Alcohol Can Be A Problem

27 Mar 2019

On March 1, 2018 the body of teenager Athena Gervais was discovered face down in a creek in the Montreal suburb of Laval. The coroner’s report of the case was just made public and concludes that...

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