We all love a good cup of coffee in the morning, right? That caffeine boost in the morning does you good. But what would actually happen if you gave up caffeine from now on? We’ll find out.
Is caffeine bad for you?
To answer this question in a simple way: no. Caffeine can actually be good for your body. It can be good for your metabolism and your brain. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, energy drinks and even a tiny amount in chocolate milk. Consuming caffeine is actually not bad, unless you do it in excess. Drinking too much coffee can make you restless and anxious. That is of course not the intention, so it might be an idea to reduce your consumption.
What happens when you stop drinking caffeine?
The average coffee drinker drinks three to five cups of coffee per day. This is slightly more than the recommended daily amount. You can become physically dependent on caffeine, but you cannot become truly addicted to it. Rather, it is a dopamine boost and a routine that you build up that your body gets used to. If you suddenly stop giving your body that daily energy boost, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms. Headache, fatigue and difficulty concentrating are common complaints in this situation. But how serious these symptoms are varies per person. Some people may not even notice a difference at all. If you start experiencing symptoms, it will likely occur twelve hours after your last cup of coffee. In the worst case, these symptoms can last up to ten days. If you want to stop drinking coffee, we recommend that you prepare for a few slow days.
How can you properly approach quitting caffeine?
If you would like to stop drinking caffeine, we recommend that you do not do this all at once. Just taper off slowly. Halve the amount of coffee you drink in a day, or opt for less strong drinks. For example, exchange your espresso for a green tea. This still contains caffeine, but the amount is much lower. In addition, try to drink more water and exercise more to support your body during this process. And if you really can’t handle giving up coffee completely, then this isn’t so bad at all. There are many people who incorporate coffee into their healthy lifestyle. If you drink a cappucino or an oat latte every now and then, there is really no reason to panic.
