The Pros and Cons of Caffeine
Sep 12, 2023
Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
Do you drink either everyday?
More than one, or are you that person who always has a coffee in hand or at your desk?
Do you ever consider the fact that caffeine is highly addictive and that you may also be addicted?
Do you care?
If not take a read below as you may change your mind.
Lots of questions I know, and drinking these beverages, and the many variations is a widely accepted practice, even around the world. There is nothing like a cappuccino when in Italy!
Speaking of Italy, what really took me by surprise when we were there many moons ago, is that there were no "to go" orders. You stopped, sat or stood and drank your cappuccino and enjoyed every last drop. So different than the lifestyle we were used to at home, where it is rush rush rush, do more, have more, work more... then at least for me I found caffeine became a necessary part of my life to be able to accomplish all the things I wanted too.
At the time I was working full time in the corporate world that included travelling across North America. When I was home I was educating at U of C night school, then eventually studying to acquire my CRSP, while setting up and running first, my personal coaching / metaphysical business Crystal Soul-Journ, and later adding our Crystal business into the mix. My point, is I was busy and there was no time for downtime! I relied heavily on coffee to keep me going and was drinking up to 12 cups a day, easily, everyday.
As with most things that are "too good to be true" and the boost coffee gave me, I realized once I had left the corporate world I did not have to go at that crazy pace, so why was I still drinking so much coffee? I was addicted, plain and simple.
It never really even entered my realm of thinking that I was addicted and that the amount I was drinking was harming my body. I mean there is a coffee shop on every corner so it seems, and it is widely accepted, so what's the problem? It wasn't until we discovered Anthony William and did our first liver cleanse, which entails 9 days of clean eating, meaning, yep you guessed it, no caffeine.
I thought, no problem I can do this... well I did but not without suffering 3 days of migraines and severe headaches. I made it though those 9 days, and felt amazing afterwards. Then came the choice, do I reach for that cup of coffee after going through withdrawal... remember the pain, and do I want to go through that again? For me the answer was no, so from there I turned to decaf for a while, and finally have given it up once and for all.
I will have the occasional (once every 3 months) decaf, and I am happy to report I don't even miss it! But remember it was a process, and took some time. While I changed out regular for decaf, I was still addicted to the habit of drinking it daily, especially the mornings. It took me another few years before I gave that up, but when I realized I was slave to even that, I let it go.
But first why would one even consider giving up caffeine, I mean is it really worth it? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words - well looking at this photo from a study done years ago about the effects of psychoactive drugs on spiders, speaks volumes.
To learn more click on this link:
Now imagine what it does to our brain - I know if I have a cup of regular coffee now, I am jittery both in my brain and my body, I feel my heart palpitating quickly, and while I was addicted, drinking coffee daily, I did not feel those affects, as my system did not know what it felt like otherwise - until I stopped, hence the withdrawal!
While that was a fun and cool thing to learn, here are some things to consider, on both sides of the coin.
THE PRO'S OF CAFFEINE
Caffeine, when consumed in moderation, can have several positive effects such as the following, but remember the key word is MODERATION:
- Increased alertness and concentration
- Improve cognitive function like memory, attention and problem solving abilities
- Enhanced physical performance due to the release of adrenaline (but remember "too mucha no gooood"!)
- Improved mood, according to some studies
- Reduced risk of some diseases like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease
- Headache relief - some over-the-counter pain relievers may have caffeine as it can enhance the effects of analgesics and relieve headache pain
- Asthma relief - caffeine acts as a bronchodilator, which can help improve airflow and alleviate symptoms in folks with asthma. This is no way a replacement for your puffer!
- May aid in weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise because it can temporarily increase metabolic rate and promote fat oxidation, who knew?
- Reduce risk of certain Liver conditions like fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis according to research
- Enhance social interaction - meeting someone for "a coffee", it's a reason to get together
THE CONS OF CAFFEINE
Using TOO MUCH caffeine can lead to a wide range of symptoms, depending on how much you take in, and your sensitivity level to caffeine. Here are some signs you've had too much:
- Feeling jittery or anxious, and or nervous - not great for anyone already suffering from anxiety
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep - then everything seems off when we don't get enough quality sleep, our bodies need rest to heal, recover and stay healthy
- Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat - that never feels good and coupled with anxiety can feel like your dying!
- Increased blood pressure
- Stomach upset or nausea - and usually hits at the most inconvenient time, you know what I mean?
- Digestive issues like acid reflux, or indigestion
- Bone health - high caffeine intake may interfere with calcium absorption and could potentially lead to a decrease in bond density over time, especially in postmenopausal women
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded - can lead to losing your balance and hurting yourself
- Trembling or shaking hands - not only you, but others see it as well
- Easily agitated or irritated by every little thing, yes I mean every little thing!
- Can be a bladder irritant - causing you to be looking for the closest restroom wherever you go
WHAT ARE THE DAILY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CAFFEINE?
Of course there are many factors to consider such as age, individual tolerance and overall health. Here are some caffeine limits from both the FDA, American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic.
Adults: 400 milligrams per day (4, 8oz cups of regular brewed coffee)
Adolescents: No more than 100 milligrams per day (assuming they have a healthy tolerance to caffeine)
Health conditions: such as heart conditions, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders, or sleep disorders and my advised to limit or avoid caffeine.
If you have any concerns, discuss with your Dr.
HOW DO I KNOW HOW MUCH I AM CONSUMING?
Here is a list of what you need to know so you can monitor your caffeine intake.
COFFEE
Brewed Coffee (8 oz) :80-100 milligram
Expresso (1 oz): 63 milligrams
Instant Coffee: 27-173 milligrams
Decaffeinated Coffee: 2-5 milligrams
TEA
Black Tea (8 oz): 40-70 milligrams
Green Tea (8 oz): 20-45 milligrams
White Tea (8 oz): 15-30 milligrams
Oolong Tea (8 oz): 30-50 milligrams
Herbal Tea (8 oz): Generally very low, but it can be based on the specific herb used.
CAFFEINATED SOFT DRINKS
Cola (12 oz): 30-50 milligrams
Energy Drinks can range from 70-200 milligrams per drink - be sure to read the label!
CHOCOLATE - the best for last!
Dark Chocolate (1 oz): 12-30 milligrams
Milk Chocolate (1 oz): 1-15 milligrams
HOW DO I STOP or REDUCE CAFFEINE?
If you are looking to reduce your caffeine intake, here are some steps to follow, but remember first, always consult with your Dr, tell them your plan so you can do so safely.
- Gradually reduce your intake over several weeks so your body can adjust more smoothly vs. quitting cold turkey (it can be painful, remember my story!)
- Track your intake. Things that get measured tend to make progress vs not tracking. Now that you know approximately how much caffeine is in common drinks and chocolate, track it and set realistic goals to reduce your intake.
- Replace caffeinated beverages with substitutes, like herbal teas and decaf coffee, it really does help, as you don't feel deprived.
- Stay hydrated to counteract any fluid loss from reducing caffeinated beverages.
- Set and maintain a regular sleep routine to help regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
- Avoid caffeine (chocolate included) in the evening to help with that sleep routine.
- Manage withdrawal symptoms with over the counter pain relievers, hydration and light exercise like walking to reduce the symptoms.
- Engage in relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation to help manage stress and anxiety which can heighten during caffeine withdrawal.
- Seek professional advice, your healthcare professional can point you in the right direction.
- Be patient and kind to yourself and celebrate your success along the way. Have a bad day, dust it off and start again. You can do it!
OUR SECRET REPLACEMENT FOR AN ENERGY BOOST:
This may not sound appealing, but it actually is not a bad taste at all. The catch is you need a juicer to it for best results. You can blend ingredients together in a high speed blender until liquefied (Do not add water) then strain through a nut milk bag.
Both Darren and I will have one of these if we are in need of an energy boost, and both agree that we can't drink it after 5pm or we will be awake for hours. Instead it's a great 2pm boost.
Here it is, courtesy of Anthony William - Medical Medium
Cleanse to Heal (pg 284)
Liver Rescue Juice
3 medium-sized red apples
1 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed
2 cups spinach, tightly packed
1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed
1 cucumber
You can also replace the asparagus with 2 pounds of brussel sprouts (ends trimmed) if you wish.
You won't know until you try it if you like it, and if you feel that energy boost, so give it a try, at least once! Enjoy.
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