Do you start your day with a cup of coffee? Do you prefer tea? Do you forgo coffee and simply drink a caffenated soda instead? If you answered yes to any of these, then it’s likely you rely on a daily dose of caffeine to chase away your fatigue.
9 out 10 Americans consume caffeine in some form regularly. It is by far the most popular and legal of the mood and behavior altering drugs available in modern America. For most of us, taking in 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine on a regular basis without worry about harm. For those of you keeping count, that’s about 2 to 4 cups of brewed coffee.
However, for those of you who may worry about your caffeine consumption, it is possible to wean yourself off of caffeine without ill effects or at least minimal distress. I’ve gone caffeine free for more than 6 months with far greater ease than I ever dropped any other food or drink product.
Unfortunately, we receive minute amounts of caffeine in everything from chocolate to headache pills, so if you are concerned about your caffeine intake or you are drinking anywhere between 4 and 7 cups of coffee in a day (the equivalent of 4 to 8 sodas or 3 espresso drinks).
If you experience the following symptoms on a regular basis you should consider reducing or removing caffeine from your diet:
- Anxiety
- Muscle tremors
- Restlessness
- Sleeplessness
- Irritability
- Nausea, diarrhea or gastrointestinal distress
- Headaches
- Abnormal heart rhythms
When you are dieting, reducing caffeine can actually help you because caffeine constricts the blood vessels and acts much like a water pill, flushing excess water from the body. If you don’t drink enough water already, this can actually force you to retain more water. So by cutting down your caffeine intake and upping your water intake, you can actually bring your body into a better water balance.
Reducing your caffeine intake can also improve your sleep patterns. Using caffeine to regularly make up for sleep deprivation is unhealthy and can lead to negative eating habits. While cutting all your caffeine may not be an attractive option, one way to help both your sleep patterns and your water retention is to switch to decaffeinated after 5 p.m. in the evening. While your body does not store caffeine in your system, it does take several hours to eliminate its stimulant effects.