In love with Tea & Coffee? Here’s What Happens when you Quit Caffeine!
28-09-2017 | Posted By: Chhavi | 8601 View(s)
Do you also believe that you can’t function properly without your morning cup of tea or coffee? Well, if you do, then it means that you are addicted to caffeine. And not just you, most people today need to drink a cup of tea or coffee to give a kick-start to their day. Although, if taken in moderation, caffeine is not that bad for your health; but it ultimately leads to addiction causing many health troubles. There are so many things that happen to our body when we quit caffeine. Let’s explore!
Do we Really Get Addicted to Caffeine?
Caffeine is psychoactive drugs that are included in some of the most popular beverages in the world, such as coffee, chocolate, sodas and tea.
I know many of you at one time or another have said things like, ‘I can’t work properly without my morning cup of coffee.’ Or ‘I get a headache whenever I skip my morning coffee.’ These are a few general statements made by people who drink caffeinated beverages on a regular basis.
And what more to say, I was addicted to caffeine once and believe me it is very hard to give up tea and coffee once you get habitual of it. Wonder why? Well, because tea and coffee produce caffeine dependence. According to a study, just one cup of coffee a day can produce caffeine addiction. Shocking, isn’t it?
That one cup of coffee that you are taking early morning, thinking that it will give you energy is actually putting you in trouble by making you addicted to it. Such a cruel game coffee and tea plays, isn’t it? Well, of course, caffeine dependence is not on the same level as alcohol or drug reason, but for some reason, it causes a lot of problems when people try to get rid of the habit.
Have you ever wondered why you get this addiction? It’s because the caffeine content in tea and coffee makes you feel good about yourself. Caffeine increases your alertness, boost stamina and decreases tiredness. It makes you feel fresh and also elevate your mood. And that is why, whenever we want to kick sleep, we just head into your kitchen and make coffee or tea.
What are the Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal?
Do you really think that you can easily quit caffeine? Duuhh! You wish so! It is difficult to stop drinking coffee and tea, but that does not mean that it is impossible. It just seems impossible because we fall in love with tea and coffee. And why wouldn’t we? It gives us an energy boost, tastes delicious and makes us feel calm. But, beware! You love coffee and tea, but it might not love you back! Too much caffeine can give you more pain than your ex. So, do not consume caffeine excessively if you want to keep health problems at bay.
I know it is difficult, so do not quit caffeinated beverages altogether. Just cut down its consumption; for instance, if you drink three cups of coffee every day, cut it down to one cup of coffee. And, whenever you get cravings for tea or coffee, drink a cup of green or black tea which are healthier beverages.
Usually, tea or coffee drinkers experience withdrawal symptoms for 12 to 20 hours after their last caffeine intake. It may also last for about a week. But, trust me, it is not that difficult to quit caffeine. You will just experience some withdrawal symptoms which will go after a short period. These symptoms include:
1. Headache
A headache is the first sign that people observe once they quit caffeine. Everybody does not experience a pounding headache, but it can range from mild to severe. Usually, people who drink 500 mg of caffeine per day experience a caffeine withdrawal.
2. Inability to Concentrate
Caffeine is a stimulant which boosts your alertness and energy. And so, it is obvious that when you remove it from your daily diet, you are going to lose the energy kick it gives you. According to experts, when people give up caffeine, they also lose their concentration and have mood swings.
3. Depression and Irritability
Do you feel irritated and sad when you skip your morning cup of tea or coffee? Well, that is a natural withdrawal symptom of caffeine. Quitting tea or coffee can make you irritated, and you may feel depressed. Also, you may experience bed-sickness or homesickness.
4. Constipation
Caffeine stimulates your bowel activity and so when you give it up, you may experience constipation. If this happens, then you can reverse these negative effects by increasing your fibre intake and also exercise a bit to treat the problem.
What are The Benefits of Quitting Caffeine?
Giving up tea and coffee is really worth it. Know why? You are just about to know!
1. You will get Slimmer
Caffeinated drinks are generally loaded with a high amount of sugar. And furthermore, we add sugar to the cup of tea or coffee we take. So, drinking caffeinated beverages increase sugar and calorie intake in our bodies and this increases our weight. So, if you quit tea and coffee, you will lose weight. Isn’t it a good reason enough to quit caffeine? It is, indeed! If you want to look sexy in all your dresses, give up tea and coffee now!
2. You will Sleep Like a Baby
Did you know that just a single cup of coffee can disrupt your sleep? Many studies revealed that consumption of caffeine on a daily basis tends to disrupt sleep and also increases daytime tiredness. So, don’t think that if drinking a cup of tea or coffee is giving you energy, then it is good for you; because it will leave you feeling sluggish afterwards. Many researchers claim that taking caffeine up to six hours before bed can affect your sleep quality. So, if you want to get a peaceful nightly shut-eye, then say ‘goodbye’ to high caffeinated beverages.
3. You Won’t Feel Anxious
Do you have frequent mood swings or panic a lot when you skip tea or coffee? Well, put that blame on caffeine! Many studies claim that excessive consumption of caffeine can trigger anxiety and panic attacks in people. Wonder how that’s possible? I mean you might say that drinking coffee or tea helps you stay relaxed! But, beware my friends! That happiness is not prolonged and will vanish into thin air. It is because caffeine stimulates the release of adrenaline in the body, which puts you into “fight and flight” mode unnecessary, thus making you anxious. Also, caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, that narrows your blood vessels and raises your blood pressure, which in turn, makes you feel stressed. So, get rid of caffeine, if you want to control your mood swings and be happy and calm.
4. You Will Bid Farewell to Headaches
It is true that you will have headaches once you quit caffeine. But, once you give up tea and coffee, you will see that your headaches don’t bother you anymore. Due to an increased amount of blood flow to the brain, there will be better conduction of brain signals while you work, and this will make your headaches go away.
5. Your Hormones will be Balanced
The hormone system of your body is affected due to many reasons, such as poor lifestyle habits, eating an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, work-culture and so on. As already mentioned above, drinking too much caffeine releases cortisol, a stress hormone in the body. A high amount of this hormone creates a lot of problems; it makes our memory poor, makes us depressed and also increases the risk of type 2 Diabetes. Quitting caffeine can prove to be beneficial in avoiding these hormonal imbalances. So, if you want to keep your hormones under control and live a healthy, happy life; cut down on tea and coffee.
6. You will have a Healthy Digestive System
When you drink too much caffeine, it negatively affects your digestive system. It is because caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands, which releases adrenaline hormone in the body. When these hormones are released into the body, they increase the bowel movements, and that is the reason why you rush to the washroom right after drinking tea or coffee. So, quitting caffeine makes you have a better control of your bowel movements and improves digestion too.
7. The Health of your Liver Will Improve
Excessive consumption of caffeinated beverages creates a negative impact on the health of your liver. Caffeinated beverages contain a compound called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which is a toxic compound and can damage your liver if taken in excessively. So, to keep your liver healthy, replace coffee and tea with healthier beverages.
8. You will not have a High Blood Pressure
Drinking too much caffeine causes a lot of severe health conditions, including hypertension. Caffeinated drinks are loaded with sugar and calories, which leads to high blood pressure. Also, caffeine produces stress hormone which in turn leads to high blood pressure. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a severe medical condition because it causes furthermore health conditions such as heart failure, stroke and kidney disease. So, if you want to stay away from hypertension, then stop drinking too much of caffeinated beverages.
9. You will Have a Better Immunity
If you have a healthy and strong immune system, then you will be protected from various health problems such as cold and flu, allergies, fever, etc. Various studies claim that drinking too much tea or coffee makes your immune system weak. It is because caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands which in turn produces a group of hormone named glucocorticoids, which suppress your immune system. So, if you have decided to quit caffeine, there is no doubt that you will have a stronger immune system.
10. Your Workout Will Get Affected
It is true that caffeine intake is beneficial to those who workout. It is because caffeine improves exercise performance and intensity and also provides us with energy. So, one drawback of quitting caffeine is that you might not be able to work out with the same energy as you did before. But, you can always replace coffee or tea with healthier options such as lemon tea, lemon water or green tea if you want to boost your energy for the workout.
11. You will Have Shiny White Teeth
There is no surprise that consuming too much caffeine makes your teeth unhealthy. This is because caffeine is acidic in nature which makes the enamel that covers your teeth to wear off. Also, because it contains sugar, it makes your teeth become stained and eroded. So, if you quit caffeine, you can have pearly white teeth.
12. You will say ‘Goodbye’ to Heartburn
Too much caffeine consumption disrupts your digestive system and also causes acid reflux at least once a week. About 7 % of Americans claim that they experience daily episodes of heartburn, i.e. burning feeling in the chest and sour taste in the throat. And all this is due to the fact that they consume too much caffeine. Studies claim that caffeine increases gastro-oesophagal reflux and so you experience heartburn after drinking tea and coffee. So, cut back on coffee and tea if you do not want to feel that horrible heartburn again.
13. You will Save Some Money
Just imagine how much money you will save if you quit caffeine! I know we spend too much on that one cup of brewed coffee or tea. And that does not make us healthy even; so why not spend our money on healthier foods and beverages? If you stop taking caffeine, you will undoubtedly save some money in your pocket.
So, these are the health benefits that you will enjoy once you stop consuming caffeine. But the question is- How to Quit it? How to deal with the withdrawal symptoms? Don’t you worry! I am going to share with you some useful and easy ways that will help you quit caffeine once and for all.
4 Easy Ways to Ease the Symptoms of Withdrawal
1. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You must stay hydrated with healthy fluids if you want to quit caffeine.
2. Don’t stay up late. Sleep on time because if you stay up late, then you will be tempted to drink caffeinated beverages.
3. Eat healthy foods full of proteins, good fats and protein. You should include nuts, egg, beans, fish, beans, etc. to your diet.
4. Exercise for at least thirty minutes a day to relieve stress and keep your mind calm.
So, now you all know the many benefits of quitting caffeine. What are you waiting for? Give up tea and coffee to live a healthy and happy life. After all, Your Body Deserves the Best!
