This is C2 or Cool and Clean.If you visit the supermarket regularly (I do my grocering on weekends), I'm sure you have seen this new beverage and its other varieties: lemon, peach, and apple.
This was introduced late last year, around October 2004, if I'm not mistaken, and it is advertised as a "refreshing, non-carbonated and green tea-based beverage," by John Gokongwei's Universal Robina Corporation (URC).
Being half-Chinese, you would understand why Gokongwei would see wisdom in launching this product. Other than the usual teabags you find in the Tea section aisle of supermarkets, I do not know of any locally-produced green tea beverage like C2. Also, with news of health benefits from drinking green tea, the entrepreneur in Mr. John might have seen the great opportunity in launching this product.
And so, when I saw this product, I gave it a try.
I tried the plain green tea version first, followed by peach, lemon tea, lemon iced tea, and apple. I decided that the plain green tea flavor was the best for me.
Everything was going great until one night I noticed that my heart rate was going faster (my usual resting heart rate is in the 70s) everytime I drink a bottle of my favorite C2 plain green tea beverage. I counted and I noticed my heart rate increased to the range of 90 to 100 per minute. That was still within normal limits, but the increase was notable. I was not doing anything exhausting and was not also taking any other caffeinated beverage. Also, I noticed feeling more energetic and lively, much like the feeling I get when I take a cup of coffee or an energy drink.
Curious, I looked at the back of the plastic bottle I was holding to search for the nutritional information of the product. I thought I must know how much caffeine it was pouring in my system. Only caffeine can produce that kind of energy boost I was feeling plus the unusual heart rate increase. I also have a healthy heart according to my friend cardiologist (who monitors my cardiovascular health annually) so you need not suspect that I have some cardiac pathology to begin with.I found NO nutritional information at the back of the C2 bottle. I looked again and still saw NOTHING.
But it was obvious that CAFFEINE was present in this beverage, and URC didn't think it was important anymore to tell the consumers how much it is.
URC says that C2 is "made with delicately brewed tea leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant" and because of this, consumers are assured that they are "getting the healthy chemicals that make green tea today’s choice drink."
I agree with that. If you still do not know the difference between black tea and green tea, read here.
But what I really would like to know is HOW MUCH CAFFEINE is in this product.
To give you an idea how much caffeine is found in our usual drinks, click on this link.
Bottomline: A good refreshing drink, but take it moderately, and preferably with another food item. NOT RECOMMENDED for people with heart problems.
30 comments:
I'm a green tea lover myself Doc Emer. I acquired the taste for it (ironically, it doesn't taste anything as sweet as Coke or what) when I was in HK and was forced to drink tea in the company of HK natives.
I have come to enjoy drinking green tea by buying teabags sold locally, which is about 50-70 pesos containing 20 bags. The cheapest I bought so far costs something like 30 pesos something (Chinese green tea). The Japanese grean tea is much expensive though. But there's a difference. Maybe because I've become used to Chinese green tea. But Japanese grean tea (Senchia) brings a feeling of 'sleepiness'. My sleep is deep. I don't know.
I read somewhere, because I was a coffee addict (and so a caffeine addict) that the caffeine content of teas are much lower than that of coffee. I'm notsure about this C2 product. Maybe I should try one. I know it's expensive, so I'd still prefer the teabags.
Bayi: Every good thing should also be enjoyed with moderation.
AA: C2 is not too expensive, but I would rather you stick with your usual green tea bags. This one packs a whallop and it might not be good for the heart in the long run.
I love the information you gave out. I am a tea lover myself and I drink bottles (at least 4 350mls) of C2 almost everyday at the office.
The reason I found your site is because while I was drinking a bottle of C2 Green Tea I wondered, "How much caffaine am I taking in?" Just like what you did, I looked at the back of the bottle and found no N.I. I worried a bit thinking maybe URC is hiding something. Isn't against the law not to put N.I.'s? Anyway, I went to Google in a hurry hoping to find information about this drink and I ended up on this page.
Yeah, tea is the way!
(Still searching for the N.I.)
Little Coffee Sip: I'm glad you found the info useful. Thanks also for visiting.
Jonathan: The law about nutritional info is non-existent in a country which sees no importance in having it. Pathetic, but true. Until when, I do not know.
Thanks for the visit, man. =)
Hello,thanks for the info. Now, I'm contemplating on dropping my 7-11 morning habit (buy 2 500-ml bottles of C2) to get me by the whole day. No wonder i feel so hyper too, all throughout the day.
I came across your site, since i also want to have an article about my obsession over green tea in my blog.
Well, you're right, everything in moderation. For now, i'd settle for Tea Leaf and Coffee Bean's Genmaicha or Higgins and Burke tea bags.
Thanks for the info again.
You are most welcome dos amigas, and thanks for the visit. I'm happy this post helped you.
You probably meant Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, right? My favorite there is the choco-based moroccan mint latte. Say hello when we bump into each other there, ok? :)
A blogger myself here....Was thinking about making C2 a habit, and I too found no nutritional information on the bottle. *sigh* I don't think I have problems with the caffeine (Starbucks addict here); what I wanted to cut down on is the sugar. Anyway, I'll still be continuing my search for nutritional information on C2 and I do hope it would be a better option than my afternoon "mocha frap" session.
Thanks, dingdong96. Please let me know if ever you find that missing nutri info on C2. They owe it to us.
Dr. Emer,
wow!!!this info explains why i feel strange palpitations after dringking a bottle of c2. i tried all the flavors and yes they tasted good... but bec of this palpitations i stopped drinking it. thanks for the info at least now i know.
ptrp
Hello! I am addicted to c2 green tea lemon and apple flavors. I take 2 or 3 bottles a day. Is this bad for me?? Then again i have medical history of all sorts. I prefer taking c2 green tea rather than juice or sodas. I even take a bottle before i sleep and it helps me sleep well.
ON C2:
This message has been passed on to me through email. I forwarded the message to someone who works for Mr. Gokongwei. Hopefully, they will be able to answer your question.
Just a reminder, we should always be very careful of what we post on the internet. If we have questions about a certain product, it is still best to consult those who produce them. Thanks
Yes, of course tea has caffeine in it. General information. Along with coffee, cocoa, chocolate, cola drinks, and even some analgesics have caffeine such as excedrine and cafegot.
The first items mentioned are also ingested by a lot of people. Do they all have nutritional info,especially cola drinks?
I also agree with comment #14, that we should be careful of posting such things on the net. You being a doctor should know that. Try to be professional and ask URC directly.
ptrp: I would also advise you to consult your doctor about a general heart check-up. Just to be sure. Take care and thanks for the visit. :)
Bettina: If you feel no palpitations, and you have no underlying heart pathology, I guess it's okay. But to be sure, nothing will replace the medical opinion of your personal physician. :)
Anonymous 1: Can you please clarify what you meant by "we should always be very careful of what we post on the internet?"
What should I be careful about? Have you read the post in full? These are the (re)views of both a consumer and a physician.
Anonymous 2: Do you know the difference between food and drugs? I strongly suggest you beef up on knowing the difference first. Then we can talk.
And please, I would appreciate A NAME. You and anonymous 1 do have names, right?
Correct me, of course, if I'm wrong, but I think Republic Act 8976 is a law that makes a table of "Nutrition Facts" mandatory on all processed foods or food products. Whether this law has been repealed in some way or URC really is flouting the law by not printing "Nutrition Facts" on its C2 labels, I'm not sure. It wouldn't be the only food product on the market without such information on its label.
Thank you very much for this opinion on C2. Even though some might find it contentious, it's always good at the very least that concerned citizens should bring the matter up for public discussion. :)
I presume that doctors are supposed to tell whatever patients they have with heart ailments about dietary restrictions, including caffeinated food or drink or drugs. (If it's not true, then maybe they should...) This doesn't excuse URC for not labeling its products properly, of course, but I hope that people with heart ailments do recognize that C2 is, as it plainly says, made up mostly of green tea, and so be warned.
You're the doctor... might it have been the sugar that affected your heart rate, instead of whatever caffeine was in C2? I've always found C2 a bit too sweet. Just wondering if too much sugar/sweetener could have caused similar symptoms to the ones you had. :)
Thanks again and I wish you well. :)
well, im a certified C2 addict, but i never experienced any palpitations or increase in my heart rate...
i believe tea has more caffeine content than coffee, and green tea is no exception. tingin ko, mas konti na lang ang caffeine content ng C2 than the green tea in bags because watered down na masyado ang C2. but i agree with you na dapat may nutrition label sa mga bote ng C2 para may guide tayo.
di ako taga-URC ha. drink of choice ko lang talaga yung plain C2, yung green. masarap eh, lasang sagogulaman na natunawan na ng maraming yelo.
ps: doc emer, friend mo ba si sassylawyer? la lang, naremember ko lang name mo chaka si bayibhyap kse lagi ko kayong nababasa sa blogs(at ngayun, websites na talaga!) ni sassylawyer.
anetski
I am not the type of person who loves coffee but i do drink ice tea. I can see lots of my co-employees drinking C2 and I became curious i tried one. It was really cool. I feel freshened up inside when i drink it. another thing i like about it is that it has green tea. I chanced upon a pack of green tea in a supermarket but it was kinda expensive and so i told myself i can enjoy green tea in other form (which is C2) without buying the expensive one.I' m also a health conscious person and when i read the article about C2 i also began to think if how much caffeine does it contain? Nobody knows. I guess the manufacturer should put a nutritional information at the back label for everybody to know.
Doc Emer, I've seen post in various forwarded emails. Some of the emails contain the link to your blog entry, which may give some recipients the impression that you're spamming them (even if you weren't the one who sent them the email in the first place).
Anyway, I doubt if Blogger.com will shutdown your account just because of a few spam complaints.
Doc Emer, have you gotten in touch with anyone in URC?
Shiko-chan: Thank you for pointing out that there is a LAW --- Republic Act 8976 that must be followed by all food manufacturers to inform the public of the nutritional information of their respective products. Sugar can indeed increase the energy levels of a person. But caffeine also does this using a different and prolonged mechanism. But then, we will never know...not unless the real caffeine content is given.
Anetski: Let me correct your assumption: green tea is supposed to have less caffeine than coffee. If you read my post in full, you must surely have come across the this useful link (on caffeine content of beverages) which I have provided. Yes, both the Sassy Lawyer and Bayi are dear friends of mine.
Anonymous 3: Thanks! Yes, I am not saying C2 is bad. I'm just saying that those with possible heart ailments take extra care because no nutritional information has been provided for by this product. Studies have confirmed that prolonged caffeine intake might not be good for those with heart ailments. But don't take my word for it, consult your own doctor and heed what he has to say.
mr3mars: I'm into something? Oh yes, I am. An honest opinion on everything. This is a review-blog, in case you haven't noticed. And no, I am NOT into spamming. You have to be observant to notice the 'notable' heartbeat. It is usually asymptomatic especially in young individuals. An objective evaliuation can be done if they so choose to consult their doctors.
Manuel: I am so sorry to hear that. I am NOT into spamming nor have I done any spamming. I hate spam and those who propagate it. This C2 topic has been posted since January this year. Up to this time, I'm still surprised to see many comments about it. Don't worry, Blogger won't shut this down. I've seen and read far worse opinions than the ones expressed here, and Blogger has always promoted free expression. About your question, shouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't it be the food manufacturer's duty and responsibility to inform all of us --- freely and not because of a demand --- the nutritional info of their products? Nutritional information should be done by a government regulating agency; in our case I think, it is the FNRI.
Thanks for the heads up Doc Emer. I've always thought it was bizarre that the bottles do not contain nutritional information. They must really be hiding something. Do you have any thoughts on its sugar content?
'Glad to hear from you, Frances Bean!
I have NO IDEA how much the sugar content of C2 is. Other commenters here suggested I call up URC to ask them. But I have hesitations because is that the way it should be? Should consumers start calling food corporations to inquire about questionable ingredients. I believe they have a duty to inform us about nutritional informations of their products. Even the lowly mineral water has a nutritional information if you observe.
The proper way is you don't buy a product when the nutritional info does not suit your required daily caloric intake. What other commenters here want me and you to do is buy the product first, then call URC for the nutritional info. Now, is that the right way to do it?
how do you know that c2 is action-packed with caffeine?? your sources don't directly say so.
Baife, that IS precisely my point. The nutritional information will tell you this info.
Did you read the post in full? Please read it again, and kindly answer your question as to who my source was.
could c2 be the reason why i'm having a hard time sleeping at night?
because i used to take xanor (then my doctor switched it to rivotril). i just stopped taking it, without gradually reducing its dosage. i thought it was the cause of my insomnia... i'm still observing myself (and i don't think i can really find out) if it's my problems, my sudden not taking my meds or c2 that's making me stay awake at night. i sleep at around 3 or 4. i stopped drinking c2 at dinner time and i sleep around 2 a.m. what do you think?
Hello, Baife.
Well, inability to sleep has many causes. I can't really tell you if it is C2 because like many others, I do not know the caffeine content of C2. That is the main point of my post.
Xanor (alprazolam) and Rivotril (clonazepam) both belong to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. As such, and contrary to your suspicion, these medications actually promote sleep.
My opinion is that your abrupt withdrawal of these medications cause your inability to fall asleep. The proper way to stop these medications is gradually --- either by low dosages or tapering its intake. Your doctor would know what is best. I suggest you consult him with your problem.
I received that forwarded mail before and I didn't really believe in it. But last night, before going to sleep, I drank a bottle of C2. After 20 minutes or so, while lying in my bed, my heart started to beat fast for like 10 seconds. And then it abruptly went back to my normal heartbeat. I got so scared. I didn't know how and why it happened. And then I remembered the mail about C2. And then it hit me. It really is true.
I am a fan of c2.. and there is a nutrition Facts thingy at the back of the c2 bottle I just grabbed in our fridge.. here are the scanned pictures
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/RanzielScreens/ScannedImage-3.jpg
this is RonaldLuna of http://myspellbook.wordpress.com , 13, male , philippines
MIKKA: Experience often tells the truth more colorfully. Thanks for sharing your experience.
RONALDLUNA: I do not know if we have to commend the makers of C2 for putting that "Nutrition Facts thingy." If you review the date of this review's posting, it's January 2005. You see my picture of the C2 bottle the day I made the review. There was NO "Nutrition Facts thingy." Now, there IS. But do you see the caffeine content? Can you tell me what it is?
There isn't any 'caffeine' content in the nutrition facts. :D
hi dr. emer
i was searching for anything about c2 and came across your blog. you see, i used to drink an average of two bottles of c2 daily. no coffee nor tea, a little amount of softdrinks but a lot of c2 and i figured i was being a bit health-conscious. for one month now, i haven't had a drop of c2.
my cardiologist has banned c2 and other caffeinated drinks/food from my diet. i had a scary SVT episode, when my heart rate averaged 180 bpm for about three hours and they had to administer a huge dose of anti-arrythmic meds to stabilize me. i'm not hypertensive and my heart is in good condition.
i'm not saying that c2 caused the SVT. but i'm disappointed that the manufacturer wasn't entirely truthful about promoting it as a health drink.
i'm not taking the risk of experiencing SVT again. so aside from medication, i've stopped buying c2 and my kids aren't allowed to drink any flavor, too.
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