Caffeine has addictive properties that may lead to physical dependence. People that regularly consume Caffeine need to make good and responsible choices when it comes to consumption, such as limiting intake to only one or two cups of coffee a day.
Caffeine is a type of stimulant. It can improve concentration and create alertness. Overconsumption can change the brain's function and, in some cases, lead to addiction. While a bit different than drug addiction, caffeine addiction still warrants treatment to reduce the side effects it can cause.
Caffeine is a drug that stimulates (increases the activity of) your brain and nervous system. Caffeine is found in many drinks such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks.
The severity of symptoms vary from individual to individual, and most commonly include a headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and feeling foggy/not clearheaded.
Breaking the Habit
“Depending upon your level of daily intake, you might want to cut your caffeine level in half the first week and in half again on week two. Some patients have found it useful to go to half-decaf, and then to decaf, then to gradually replace the decaf with another non-caffeinated beverage,” he says.
As the amount of caffeine goes up so does the risk of side effects. You can become mildly dependent on caffeine from regularly drinking 350 mg (about 2 to 4 cups of coffee) a day.
By quitting, you can return to a normal state of alertness and improve energy levels. Financial Savings: Modern specialty coffee drinks can take a big bite out of your monthly budget. Lower Blood Pressure: Quitting caffeine can lower your blood pressure and take pressure off of your heart.
Are you wondering how long it takes to feel normal after quitting caffeine? It definitely should not take months. For most people, caffeine withdrawal symptoms can last two to nine days and you should be feeling fine again no more than two weeks after you stopped using caffeine.
It takes between a week and 12 days to build up a tolerance and dependency on caffeine (even at just one cup a day), and an average of 10 days to work it off.
Caffeine slows down the rate at which your body makes collagen. This is a protein that gives your skin its tightness and elasticity. Once it drops, your skin starts to sag, and wrinkles appear.
You may want to cut back if you're drinking more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day (or the equivalent) and you have side effects such as: Headache. Insomnia. Nervousness.
Caffeine doesn't target ADHD symptoms as effectively as proven prescriptions. And caffeine plus medication “can result in dangerously acute jitteriness or out-of-control impulsivity,” according to CHADD, a national resource for children and adults with ADHD.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recognized caffeine use disorder as “a condition for further study.”
I realized that I no longer had a low level of underlying anxiety that stuck with me throughout the day. I realized that I'm very susceptible to caffeine. I also made several other changes that helped to maintain my mental health. I began to exercise almost every day and get a good amount of sleep.
There is a lot of literature that talks about how coffee actually stimulates metabolism and burns fat. While that may be true for some people, it's certainly not true for everyone. In fact, caffeine can have the exact opposite effect, wreaking havoc on our body and forcing fact to be stored through the belly area.
In fact, when you quit coffee, after a few days your body's response will be overwhelmingly positive. One of the most widely reported side effects of quitting coffee is weight loss.
Caffeine causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, slowing blood flow. Experts believe that if you stop consuming it, your blood vessels expand, blood flow accelerates, and the added pressure gives you a caffeine withdrawal headache. Anxiety. People who abruptly stop consuming caffeine may experience anxiety.
Many people who quit caffeine find that the boost they experience in their sleep quality results in them feeling happier and more energized. In individuals who are prone to experiencing depression, anxiety, or irritability, regular caffeine consumption can make these feelings worse.
“Caffeine is very addictive, so your body is literally going through withdrawal symptoms, as if you were coming off of any other substance,” Czerwony says. “Because it affects the central nervous system, you're going to get shaky, irritable and headachey.”
One way is to take a week off from coffee every month. That's what Ashley Richmond, the founder of Momentum Habits, does. She recommends taking the first week of the month off so it's easy to remember. If that sounds too harsh, try the slower approach.