Breaking out of caffeine addiction is easier than you might think, here are a few tips that will give you a head start.
Caffeine is a Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant that can enhance concentration, increase metabolism, and boost mood. Whether it comes from coffee, tea, energy drinks, or soda, many people feel like they need caffeine in the morning to increase alertness and motivation to work.
People can develop a dependence on coffee and other caffeinated beverages quite quickly. This is due to the chemical changes sustained consumption produces in the brain. After a while, the user requires more and more caffeine to produce the same effects of alertness. Regular caffeine drinkers become acclimated to the wake-up effect that the substance produces and gradually require higher amounts to achieve the same ‘caffeine fix.’ If someone drinks caffeinated drinks daily, they will develop a tolerance just as they would to nicotine or alcohol.
There is no fixed solution when it comes to eliminating caffeine. Gradually reducing caffeine intake over several weeks can help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Thus, when an individual decides to cut caffeine out of their lives, they have to deal with a host of physical and mental symptoms. They could be mild side effects such as headaches and lower energy levels to more serious ones such as tremors, depression, and anxiety which shows how severe caffeine dependency can be.
With Ramadan approaching, many of us will likely deal with caffeine withdrawals while fasting. If that is the case, start following these tips to decrease your caffeine dependence before Ramadan or, in general, if you no longer want to be dependent on the stimulant.
There is no fixed solution when it comes to eliminating caffeine. Gradually reducing caffeine intake over several weeks can help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Compared to other addictions, the withdrawal and recovery periods from caffeine are relatively short. Most caffeine addiction symptoms can be resolved within 7-12 days of reduced consumption. One of the easiest ways to quit caffeine is to reduce an individual’s caffeine intake gradually; for example, instead of drinking 4 cups of coffee a day, try drinking 3 cups a day for a few days and then slowly bring it down to 1 cup and then none at all. Changing the coffee ratio to 50% regular coffee and 50% decaf helps trick the body.
Increased caffeine intake has shown that caffeine can cause insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, nausea, increased heart rate, and other side effects.
Another way people make it easier to cut down on caffeine is by changing their diets. They can increase their protein, vegetable, and fruit intake. Green leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach have been shown to increase an individual’s energy levels more healthily and safely than simply drinking mug after mug of coffee. Similarly, fruits like apples, oranges, and strawberries have been shown to benefit the body enormously, so they are often called superfoods.
Another way to slowly stop caffeine is waking up and working out. Waking up and immediately hitting the treadmill is a very effective way to wake oneself up, despite how painful the first five minutes are. This is mainly because exercise directly causes the heart and the lungs to start working harder, which in turn causes whatever sleepiness we have to disappear.
Another way people make it easier to cut down on caffeine is by changing their diets. They can increase their protein, vegetable, and fruit intake.
Finally, most experts agree that switching to green tea is an excellent solution to decreasing caffeine consumption. Despite green tea being a caffeinated drink, the amount of caffeine in a cup of tea is half the amount found in a coffee mug.
It is generally agreed that if any individual can successfully control their caffeine intake, then there is no reason why they should not drink coffee. That being said, caffeine addicts should learn to minimise their caffeine consumption to live a longer and healthier life. Increased caffeine intake has shown that caffeine can cause insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, nausea, increased heart rate, and other side effects. Larger doses might cause headaches, anxiety, and chest pain. Caffeine is likely unsafe when used in high doses as it can cause irregular heartbeat. Therefore, when consuming caffeine, consume it responsibly, and do not attempt to cut caffeine out of your life at once so that you can minimise the withdrawal symptoms.