Caffeine addiction withdrawal: A coffee addict gets off java

Day three of no caffeine and feeling great. This post explores some of the reasons to stop drinking caffeine and some of the early positive effects of kicking a coffee habit. Do we really need to stimulate MORE mental activity in our culture? Do you?

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It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve finally gotten around to give myself a month to stop drinking coffee.  It’s winter and the skies are grey, but I’ve already noticed a few emotional and physiological improvements since I’ve stopped daily double shots of espresso coffee.  Perhaps that’s because caffeine is an alkaloid drug with a stimulant action that I don’t really need.  The central nervous system is particularly affected in our attempt to promote wakefulness and increase mental activity.  Let’s be honest.  How many of us modern men and women really need MORE MENTAL ACTIVITY?

DAY THREE BENEFITS OF NO CAFFEINE

1.  No more caffeine-induced headaches at the end of the day.

2.  No more early afternoon energy crashes.

3.  Improved mood that accompanies an even temperament.

4.  Relaxed neck, shoulder and upper back muscles

5.  Anxiety and pounding heart no longer experienced.

The great break from java is also a nice time to reflect on all of the benefits of a caffeine-free diet.  Partly research.  Partly motivation. The effect of my daily espresso lasts for about 3 – 3.5 hours in the body.  The drug stimulates the heart…but more importantly for me, I experience and increase of excitability of the neurons of the central nervous system.  Although habitual caffeine usage systematically affected improved recall task performance according to University of Maryland clinical trials , I don’t think that I need that “extra” wakefulness feeling.  But I love it.

The bottom line is that your nervous system might operate better with out that kick in the pants from Joe every day.In fact, if you’re getting enough sleep coffee is probably not doing you a whole lot of good.  Increased caffeine consumption has been associated with higher cholesterol levels, breast cysts, unnaturally rapid heart beat and some cancers.

What’s your relationship to coffee and caffeine?  Are you a 200 mg or less a day drinker?  Can you drink coffee in moderation?  Can you go a day without it?  And why should you?

About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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