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How Does Caffeine Affect Our Body?
Health | December 06, 2018
If I haven’t mentioned it already, I haven’t been drinking any coffee for several months. Whether or not I return to an occasional sip remains to be seen. In the meantime, I’ve experienced quite a number of benefits since giving up on heavy doses of caffeine. My skin is so much better (no more breakouts!), I’m not irritable, and I don’t have to urinate as often (sorry for the TMI). All of these improvements I can chalk up to switching from coffee over to things like herbal tea and a bit of matcha here and there if I’m craving it. But this got me wondering- how does caffeine affect our body? Could I simply be making these things up, or is there a bit of truth to what’s going on?
Thankfully, I decided to put my detective hat on and do a bit of research.
Caffeine 101
So what is caffeine, anyway? It’s a type of stimulant that can be found in coffee, as well as black tea, white tea, green tea, and yerba mate. Cacao (chocolate), sports supplements, and even certain types of prescription medications contain caffeine, albeit in varying amounts. [1] It acts as a stimulant on our central nervous system, increasing alertness, energy, and blood pressure. It also functions as a diuretic (hence the reason why it often sent me running to the bathroom).
Too Much of a Good Thing
The problem with caffeine is that our body can quickly build up a tolerance to it. This is especially true in cases of overconsumption and regular use. Ever noticed how some people need to have several cups just to get through their day? That’s more than likely due to their body growing accustomed to the stimulation. In order to maintain the effects, they’ll need to consume more. This is where things start going downhill.
All throughout the body, a number of side effects can take place, including:
- Headaches, anxiety, and irritability
- Low energy and drowsiness
- Acid Reflux and indigestion
- Disrupted sleep cycles
- Bone thinning, since caffeine interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium
- Rapid heartbeat, putting those already suffering from irregular heartbeats and high blood pressure at greater risk
- Tremors, muscle twitching, and jitters
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Heightened stress response (since it increases a class of stress hormones known as catecholamines)
- Imbalances in hormones like estrogen; many women complaining about acne report an improvement in their complexions after reducing or eliminating caffeine
- Hallucinations, confusion, and vomiting
- Delayed or slowed fetal development, and possibly miscarriage
[2] [3]
Addiction Affliction
With such a long list of side effects of coffee, is it any wonder why so many people are miserable on it? More often than not, they don’t even know it! Not only that, people that wean off of caffeine often experience a number of symptoms akin to those who are trying to break free of a drug addiction. Now, I am by no means saying coffee is on the same level as cocaine, but the symptoms definitely parallel. Many people downright admit to being addicted to their daily cup of joe.
What To Do About It
Am I saying you should swear off of coffee completely? No. That’s up for you to decide. What I am telling you though is that excess amounts (read: excess) can most certainly lead to a cascade of problems if you’re not too careful. According to the Mayo Clinic, the daily recommended intake for caffeine is 400 mg. That’s about 4 cups of coffee. [4] In my opinion, one should really be enough. Any more than that on the regular could potentially lead to problems.
If you’d like to begin weaning yourself off of caffeine, here are some tips:
- Go slow; beware of cold turkey, especially if you’re a long-time drinker or consume multiple servings a day (this helps to prevent withdrawal symptoms)
- Instead of having 1 cup of coffee, cut it down to half a cup for a few weeks, then stop altogether
- Substitute with decaf, especially if you’re simply in it for the flavor
- Switch over to herbal teas (I love a simple ginger tea in the morning)
- Keep in mind that certain types of tea contain caffeine, so if you’re not so keen on caffeine, read the labels on the packaging to ensure it’s free of caffeine
- To keep the caffeine content low in your cup of tea, try brewing it for half the time that you’re used to
- Stay hydrated- make sure you’re getting plenty of minerals in your diet, as well as drinks (like bone broth)
Over to You
So what do you think? Are you still addicted to your morning cup, or did you find a way out of it? I’d love to know how it went for you! Share your tips down in the comments.
Sources:
[1] https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20313656,00.html?slide=110889#110889
[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body#2
[3] https://drhyman.com/blog/2012/06/13/ten-reasons-to-quit-your-coffee/
[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20045678
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Private Member |
michigan, usa
I quite coffee recently for a whole week and then started drinking it every other morning. I had a headache for about 2 days of that week but it went away. I also drank a lot of tea. Probably more tea than water those days haha but only a cup or two of green tea and the other teas were decaf. I enjoy the taste and smell of coffee. I usually only drink one or two cups -occasionally three. I didn’t really notice any health changes really but it’s been a short period of time to tell. And I have been drinking a cup every other morning now so I haven’t quit completely. 🤷♀️
Private Member |
ellijay, ga, united states
I only just started drinking coffee, only because I suddenly started liking the taste! I stick to decaf, though, and usually just 1 cup. Tea I love even more!! Unfortunately my favorite flavor is a high-caffeine tea (at 140mg a bag. “Hi Caff Black Toasted Coconut” Mmmmmm!)…so I limit myself to only one of those a day. And not every day, at that! I do like having regular black tea throughout the day (more so in the winter, since I like it hot!)…I know it can add up, though! I don’t have anywhere near 400mg of caffeine, but I can tell it’s probably time to back off again. (I go through times where I enjoy it…then times where I go a few weeks with no caffeine. Or one cup black tea). I switch to decaf tea (though I don’t think it tastes as good) when I’m done with caffeine for a spell!
OH…and Dandelion root tea…AMAZING!!!! It’s actually what got me curious about tasting coffee in the first place, since it has a sort of coffee hint to it. AND it’s naturally caffeine free! (Hmmm, I think I need a cup right now!)
Private Member |
just a point on decaf caffee. it is usually chemically processed caffee and is even worse for the body than regular caffee. wouldnt recommend to drink it at all. rather go for a weak normal caffee insted.
Private Member |
ellijay, ga, united states
I like decaf, but that can get crazy if on isn’t paying attention. I opt for Swiss water processed (and organic) to avoid extra chemicals. Good point for people who are wanting to steer away from the caffeine! 😊
Private Member |
hailey, id
it’s a ritual thing for me, I think…
I get up, start my hot, Epson bath water and get about 1/2 cup of cold-brew coffee to sip in a half-hour soak.
With my bible reading, that little bit of coffee is usually all I want or need for a whole day. It’s just a great waker-upper when I’m getting up early. I don’t HAVE to have it, but I like that little ‘something’ when I’m soaking. ..
I don’t drink much hot coffee anymore because I keep hearing how cold-brewed is less acidic – and that’s really my goal, overall.
Also – since 2014, I’ve been taking Lugol’s iodine solution to help fight that acidity, as well as cancer. It’s been a boost for my thyroid that affects moods, fogginess and tiredness. So – to me – I think the overall ‘craving’ for caffeine is a hormonal thing, just like a healthy thyroid affects acne and a HUuuuuge list of other ailments… something to investigate, really. Here’s just one little article about it – https://hormonesbalance.com/articles/11-ways-coffee-impacts-your-thyroid/
I’m reading the book “The Iodine Crisis – What You Don’t Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life” to get the medical facts on this because iodine has dramatically helped me with a lot of subtle and obvious things since I started taking it.
Thanks for approving this comment, Z and team..! The link above has a long list of detailed matters that the thyroid is crucial for… I’m so thankful I found this information.
Private Member |
uk
I thought we should drink coffee and get healthy- that’s what you told us in your previous post Zuzka : ) Coffee is apparently full of antioxidants, lowers your risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and fantastic for our skin too. But that was in 2016. In 2018 is death by coffee : )
Private Member |
🙂 exactly Katka…I personally like my 2 cups in the morning see no harm in that. I am a vegan too and I know what’s good for my body. I like Zuzka for her exercises tbh I don’t really read her nutritional advise (sorry Zuzka)
Private Member |
I haven’t read her 2016 article, but I don’t think she said “start drinking coffee to get healthier”. She was probably just stating the benefits people get when drinking it. But it’s been well known for a long time that coffee is a double-edged sword thing. It has benefits and it also has its downsides. Now she’s just presenting the downsides. It’s your choice to drink it or not. 🙂
Private Member |
Coffee has lots of benefits as latest research shows. Z used to advocate coffee but I guess she can’t tolerate it now. I love my morning Keto/ bullet proof coffee with butter and MCT oil . Also what works for one may not work for another – bio individuality as Z has mentioned. My friend can’t even tolerate a bit of caffeine, she gets jitters and migraine immediately! As for me, I have it for the health benefits and I do enjoy the taste too. 1-2 cups works for me, don’t like it too strong ( gets too much buzz!) Everything in moderation 😊
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Coffee has many health benefits based on science and research which I have mentioned many times before. I believe in those benefits, but I’m also now aware of bio-individuality. There are many health foods and super foods that some people are sensitive or even allergic to. You will always find people that can’t eat certain foods or drink certain beverages that you and many others might find very beneficial. So it’s not that my view on coffee has changed. I still believe that there are many people that can benefit from it, also depending on their goals, BUT there are people like myself that might have side effects and not even realize it until they try elimination diet. Nutrition is not a FACT based science and the reason why is because it’s effects that it has on people as individuals. There’s still so much that we don’t know about our bodies and nutrition. Scientists themselves are confused. Research has shown that a lot of research out there is not being even done effectively or what’s worse is being manipulated with! So the only thing we should all remember based on common sense is that no matter how similar we each are, there’s this thing called bio-individuality that can change how your body reacts to different foods and we each are responsible to find out what works for us and what doesn’t because no-one else can do that for you. My articles are about the common knowledge – just because something is considered healthy doesn’t mean it will 100% work for you. You and only you have to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Luckily we know what foods are poisonous, we know what foods are the most common irritants, what foods are considered healthy, but even a slight change in your diet can make a difference.
Private Member |
uk
I know, Zuzka : ) It’s all good. It was just a lighthearted comment about craziness of trying to navigate thru nutrition world. My body craves coffee in the morning and it tastes divine and practically hates it for the rest of the day -tastes really weird to me like it changed flavor. Go figure.
Private Member |
What about decaffeinated coffee? Is it a good alternative? Google says that it might be dangerous due to it’s higher fat content, which at the end makes it keto friendly. Also it states, that decaf does not increase blood pressure. There are several ways to remove coffeine and from what I read it seems that the best option is when ethyl acetate is used to remove the coffeine instead of other chemicals. Ethyl acetate is naturally found in fruits and vegetables. I wonder whether the method is mentioned on the package…
Private Member |
hailey, id
I quit coffee just before this post, on the same day that I started a new, very intense job.
I’ve noticed that I don’t have dark corners in my eye/nose area anymore, nor under my eyes..
I also drink matcha with just water, ginger and lemon, and honey – but I want to do away with too much honey /sugar.
I’ve also noted I am way more even-tempered – I’m not HIGH or LOW like I was during the day..
good things are in coffee, I am sure, but every day is no longer a thing for me…