I wonder what will happen if you give up coffee and switch to other drinks. Let's look at the main arguments in favor of giving up this drink. We have shared in this article proven […]

I wonder what will happen if you give up coffee and switch to other drinks. Let's look at the main arguments in favor of giving up this drink. We have shared in this article proven ways to ease the condition of quitting coffee. You will also learn about caffeine withdrawal symptoms. We offer several great alternatives coffee. Try them.

Facts about coffee

As a rule, a person decides to give up caffeine after he realizes that he has developed an addiction to the “black brew.” Of course, there are much more severe and dangerous addictions, but do not forget that caffeine is a drug.

If you think that drinking one or two cups of coffee a day will prevent you from becoming addicted, then you are wrong. A 2004 study at Johns Hopkins University found that just one cup a day can lead to addiction and subsequent withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking coffee.

Coffee is one of the world's most popular and accessible beverages and the most common form of stimulant. But there are ways to minimize the urge to get your fix of the black stuff.

Why should you give up coffee?

Coffee is a nightmare for exhausted adrenal glands. If you already suffer from fatigued adrenal syndrome, regular caffeine infusions will only make things worse. It is also wise to give up coffee if:

Every day you drink more and more cups;
you suspect or know that caffeine is harmful to your health;
Before you drink your first cup of coffee of the day, you feel insecure and irritable.

How to give up coffee without pain?

Let's look at some tricks that will make giving up coffee easier.

Do not hurry

If you are used to drinking several cups of coffee every day, then the idea of ending this habit in one fell swoop will not be reasonable: you will experience all the “delights” of withdrawal syndrome, since the body will not have time to adapt to life without caffeine so quickly.

Instead of abruptly stopping, reduce the “dosage” gradually. If you usually drink 3-4 cups of coffee daily, then reduce the amount to 2-3 cups in the first week. Assess your well-being. If everything is fine, then try drinking only 1-2 cups during the second week. Continue at the same pace until you stop drinking coffee altogether.

Distract yourself

Many people are used to drinking coffee in the morning or during their lunch break, so it is especially difficult for them at this time of day. One way to avoid temptation is to find an alternative drink (without caffeine). Another option is to go for a walk.

Eat well

Focus on fresh, healthy products: fruits, vegetables and lean sources of protein. Healthy eating It will improve your mood and boost your metabolism, which will help reduce caffeine withdrawal symptoms. Besides healthy food will help you stay away from “bad” foods: caffeine, alcohol, fast food.

Caffeine Withdrawal: What to Expect

As with any addiction, caffeine withdrawal may result in withdrawal symptoms. They occur as the body adapts to the lack of caffeine in the bloodstream. Research has shown that when caffeine consumption is stopped, the rate at which blood moves to the brain changes. The consequences are different: headache, drowsiness, significant decrease in activity. Since blood flows faster to the brain without caffeine, a common symptom of caffeine withdrawal is a headache. Fatigue also often appears, which is associated with changes in the electrical activity of the brain.

It has also been found that suddenly cutting back on caffeine causes the brain to become flooded with adenosine and dopamine, hormones associated with mental activity and mood regulation. This can temporarily disrupt the chemical balance in the brain.

The most common symptoms associated with caffeine withdrawal are:

headache;
fatigue and lethargy;
bad mood and irritability;
sluggish bowel movements or constipation;
depression;
muscle cramps or stiffness;
poor concentration or confusion;
insomnia;
anxiety.

Coffee Alternatives

No, coffee is not the only drink. It has many alternatives.

Green tea

Yes, it contains caffeine, but it is much less than coffee. The caffeine in green tea will stimulate you without giving you the caffeine jitters. In addition, it contains antioxidants called catechins. Not only are they ideal for people suffering from adrenal insufficiency, but they also help you lose weight faster, speed up detoxification, and even fight disease.

Herbal coffee

Relatively new drink, which tastes like coffee but contains no caffeine. It is a combination of herbs, fruits, nuts and grains that are individually ground, roasted and then mixed together. The result is a decaffeinated drink that looks, smells and tastes like coffee.

Kombucha

This delicious, sweet, fermented tea is the result of kombucha, which processes sugar. Kombucha is a healthy drink that's full of probiotics, and many claim that this tea improves tone and digestion. Kombucha is very refreshing and tonic, but remember that it still contains caffeine, so don’t overdo it.

Mate

Mate – traditional drink V South America, made from the leaves of a tropical holly tree. Like green tea, mate does not contain a large number of caffeine, but gives a boost of energy without the “caffeine hangover”. It is also rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, helps naturally cleanse the body and nourishes the adrenal glands. Drink mate hot or cold.

Green smoothie

Vegetable smoothies are rich in vitamins and minerals that will protect immune system. For example, adding half a cup of spinach to a smoothie will give you good source iron, the deficiency of which causes anemia and chronic fatigue. Drinks made from green vegetables can also reduce “bad” cholesterol: a study by Korean scientists from Hannam University found that daily use Drinking 300 ml of green juice for 6 weeks reduces cholesterol levels by 9%.

Give up coffee and feel alive. Life “after coffee” exists. And she is healthier and more stable. There are ways to perk up without another cup of espresso.

Coffee alternatives not only eliminate the dangers of caffeine overdose, but also provide the body with additional vitamins and minerals. Natural energy boost from healthy drinks actually means that you can even get that instant vitality, which we are used to feeling after drinking coffee. A win-win situation.

The consumption of coffee and tea has become an integral part of our daily life. I suggest you think about giving up tea and coffee, I’ll remind you how these drinks are harmful to your body, and tell you how to replace tea and coffee if you give them up completely. Moreover, my words are based on personal experience giving up coffee and tea, my review of this is only positive.

Maybe I'm too categorical, but judge for yourself. Drinking a cup at night, for breakfast, for lunch, during a break at work, at a party, out of boredom, while watching a movie has become the norm.

Holding a meeting over a cup of coffee, consuming sweets and sandwiches with tea - there are many examples when we don’t even think about how accustomed we are to the regular consumption of these drinks.

Why do we drink tea and coffee?

Let's figure out why we drink tea and coffee so often?

Physiological factor. Our need for coffee and tea is due to the caffeine content in these drinks, which is a kind of addictive drug.

Here are the pleasant sensations that appear after drinking caffeinated drinks:

- drowsiness and slowness go away;

- there is a feeling of vivacity and increased strength;

- brain function improves;

- pain disappears or is alleviated.

Psychological factor. Since ancient times, our instincts have worked in such a way that our body knows: if we eat food, it means we are in safe conditions. In other words, when we eat or drink tea, it promotes relaxation, relieves stress, and gives a feeling of security and peace.

That is, if we are tired or don’t want to work, or are experiencing stress during a business meeting, if we drink a cup of coffee, it will be easier to carry on a dialogue, and stress will seem to decrease.

Harm of coffee and tea

In fact, all these are false sensations that hide the unconditional harm of coffee and tea. Why?

First, all of these physiological effects - alertness, increased strength and increased resistance to stress - occur because caffeine affects the heart. It raises the tone of the heart, but the heart is not to be trifled with.

In other words, caffeine puts additional stress on the heart muscle, and it temporarily begins to contract faster, giving a feeling of increased energy, but the heart does not work normally.

Why does he need such a burden? This is only from one cup of tea, but imagine if you regularly drink 4 to 6 cups a day?

It turns out that the feeling of cheerfulness after coffee or tea are false effects, and our body simply works “for wear and tear”, which is very harmful, because greatly exhausts its resources and develops the risk of problems with the heart and blood vessels.

This is the first reason why you should not drink coffee and tea. After giving up coffee, the consequences will only be positive for your body. We'll talk about this later.

The second point of harm of tea and coffee: have you noticed how quickly the color gives tea bag immersed in boiling water? You just put it in, and after 5 seconds it gives a thick brown color.

So natural tea doesn't behave. Dyes give a similar effect. Where do they come from? Currently, tea producers rarely think about the quality of the product - they are driven mainly by financial gain.

These brown dyes are deposited securely on our teeth just as they are on the inside of cups, so we have to wash the cups twice. What happens to this paint in your stomach?

And even if the tea and coffee are high quality, they natural dyes also affect the color of your teeth. And this is another reason to stop drinking tea and coffee.

The fact that caffeine flushes out of the body is very important element- calcium, and other vitamins - I think you already know.

Still gotta give it credit quality teas and coffee, because they have beneficial features, and they are simply tasty and pleasant to drink. But these characteristics are only suitable for natural tea leaves and coffee beans of natural origin, without impurities, which are brewed according to all the rules.

Therefore, if you cannot completely give up coffee and tea, use products highest quality and little by little. Although this does not reduce harmful effects on the human body.

From personal experience I can say that, on top of everything else, frequent consumption of tea and coffee does not help much. pleasant aroma from mouth.

It also does not help quench your thirst at all; on the contrary, it creates an unpleasant dry mouth that you want to wash down. It turns out that there are additional expenses for chewing gum and plain water...

In general, the picture is not very impressive. As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to give up coffee and tea.

How to replace tea and coffee

Let's think about what we can replace coffee and tea with, what to drink instead of these drinks?

— Compotes;

— Natural juices;

— Fruit juices and cocktails in a blender.

All these drinks are excellent substitutes for tea and coffee; they quench thirst much better, do not leave plaque on the teeth, and replenish the body’s need for fluids and vitamins.

And every supporter of a healthy lifestyle will tell you that the best is drink water instead of tea and coffee.

However, a person still needs to drink hot drinks. Instead of tea and coffee, the following are perfect:

— Brewing ginseng;

— Brewing chamomile;

— Other herbs and berries (fresh or dried), for example;

— Light teas without or with less caffeine: yellow tea, hibiscus, mate, White tea, rooibos (or rooibos).

What can replace the physiological effect of tea and coffee? Everything is very simple - just do exercises, sing, watch a funny video or meditate with your eyes closed to pleasant music. There are a lot of ways, and you can come up with your own way.

Consequences of quitting coffee and tea

What improved in my body after giving up coffee and tea? It's time to talk about the positive effects of quitting coffee and tea.

Improved sleep;
Reducing stomach problems;
Improved complexion;
Cheerfulness;
Pleasant breath;
Improving the color of tooth enamel;
Normalized salivation and comfortable moisture in the mouth;
Reduce tension;
Improved figure due to less frequent consumption of sandwiches and cookies;
General improvement in well-being.

Thus, the benefits of giving up tea and coffee, as they say, are obvious.

With this article, based on personal experience, I urge you to think about giving up coffee and tea, due to the harm of these drinks.

And everyone decides for themselves whether to give up drinking tea and coffee completely or partially, or maybe do nothing - everything is individual, for everyone different sensations. Still, I hope that my article was useful and will help you and your health.

You may also find other successful articles on our portal useful, and , and , about , and , and about .

Coffee was my passion and, at the same time, my misfortune. I extolled invigorating drink, loved the routine associated with it, but ignored the obvious fact - daily consumption coffee greatly interferes with my energy levels, which affects my work, physical performance and overall well-being. I put off this experiment for more than a year, and a few weeks ago I decided and did not regret it.

Purpose of the experiment

How caffeine works: Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, preventing the substance from binding to it. That is, caffeine prevents the brain from understanding that it is tired.

In the book “The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon,” the author wrote that back when the company was developing in a garage, one of the managers forbade employees to drink coffee. He believed that energy for work should be taken from carbohydrates, not caffeine. And he was right.

Regular consumption of coffee reduces its effects and forces us to increase the dose. As a result, we get poor quality sleep, after which, upon waking up, we immediately pour an invigorating drink and drive ourselves into a vicious circle.

In addition, caffeine hides optimal quantity nutrients needed for a productive life. This is important for me, since I train with iron 5 days a week and the lack of energy greatly affects my well-being. Caffeine prevents my brain from realizing that it is tired and, as a result, I cannot detect that I am hungry. As a result, at the end of the day, when the caffeine wears off, I feel low in energy and the only thing I want to do is sleep.

Coffee as a habit

During the experiment, I had to exclude the pleasant routine of drinking coffee in mall, in the office, on the street and, in general, everywhere. Making coffee a habit is unwise because caffeine is a powerful source of energy that needs to be used strategically.

I haven't drunk coffee for a few weeks at the moment, but if I need to get a lot of work done, I use this resource. Now my energy level is good and I don’t find any need for coffee. I sleep 6-7 hours.

Coffee affects sleep

The absence of coffee had a positive effect on the quality of sleep. I always fell asleep quickly, but now it has become easier for me to wake up. If earlier the motivation to do something meaningful helped me with this, then in recent weeks I periodically wake up a few minutes before the alarm clock in a good mood.

Energy level has changed

By eliminating coffee for a while, I was able to measure my true energy levels. Previously, this was difficult to do, since caffeine artificially increased it, followed by a decline. Now I can determine how much sleep/eat I need to feel good and work productively.

I realized how much I need to eat

For many months, I felt a lack of energy. I tried to cope with this with the help of coffee, but only after giving it up did I realize that I was simply not eating enough carbohydrates (cereals, fruits). During intense training, the body requires many times more energy. Quitting coffee helped me determine exactly how much. Now, if I feel low in energy, I just have a snack instead of pouring another cup of coffee.

conclusions

Don't make coffee a habit. Coffee is a powerful resource and needs to be used strategically. Use it before strong mental or physical activity several times a week/month.
Quitting coffee improves sleep quality. This affects recovery and productivity at work.
By excluding coffee, I determined required amount nutritional elements. Based on my well-being, I added carbohydrates, fats and thus determined the amount that helps me train and work efficiently.
If you feel sleepy, then most likely you are not sleeping or eating enough. Or you forget to take breaks while working. I felt the importance of the last point fully this week.

Conclusion

There is no need to give up coffee if you feel full of energy. In my case, this experiment was necessary. On the other hand, such challenges help us learn something new about the body and life.

This is not my first experiment. In the summer of 2016, I woke up at 5:30, did two workouts a day, worked 10 hours a day, and learned a lot about my body. In addition, I have made serious progress professionally.

Such experiments are very useful. They tear us out of our comfortable lives. It's like a cold shower in the morning, which I've recently come to love. We are sometimes so dependent on our habits that we are afraid to take a step further. Even if something incredible awaits us next.

Anastasia Sergeeva

This is why you need to give up coffee as soon as possible!

If you are thinking about how to give up coffee, but can’t find the strength to decide to do this, then we will provide you with additional motivation and tell you in more detail about why coffee is harmful and how your well-being will change if coffee drinks will disappear from your life.

You'll sleep better

The harm of coffee is that the caffeine it contains significantly reduces the quantity and quality of your sleep. Remember that the half-life of caffeine is about six hours, which means that if you drink a cup of drink too late, you risk lying awake for some time, or sleeping restlessly, intermittently, and in the morning feeling exhausted and not at all rested. But it's not just a matter of drinking late: even people who usually drank coffee only in the morning before noon reported improved sleep quality when they stopped drinking it completely.

You will become calmer and more balanced

Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, so it seems to press the gas pedal of your nervous system every time, causing a surge of adrenaline and contributing to the depletion of nerve cells and circulatory organs, creating a feeling of anxiety. In addition, since caffeine is a constrictor blood vessels, it increases your blood pressure. If you experience a nervous tic or eyelid twitching, this may also be due to excessive consumption coffee. Coffee lovers also often complain of increased irritability, fatigue and drowsiness, which a cup relieves magic drink, so refusing it can make them depressed. But if you survive this period, the changes will surprise you.

You'll look better

For those who are concerned about their appearance, the harm of coffee is especially important: it regular use leads to dehydration of the body, which immediately affects the condition of the skin. The skin becomes dry and flaky, new wrinkles appear and old ones intensify, in particular, the skin on the elbows and soles of the feet becomes rough. In addition, your nails and hair become duller and more brittle, your teeth turn yellow, and if you drink hot drinks, your enamel also deteriorates.

But as soon as you give up coffee, within a month you will notice significant changes: your complexion will become more even, fresh, circles under the eyes will disappear, wrinkles will become smaller and they will not appear as quickly, the condition of your hair, nails and teeth will also improve. Of course, not only coffee harms them, but, for example, poor diet and lack of sleep, but you will still see the effect.

Your gut will thank you

It is no secret that many coffee drinkers feel the urge to go to the toilet out of great need some time after drinking the drink. This is due not only to the fact that caffeine speeds up many processes in your digestive system, but also because coffee itself is acidic in nature, which can cause diarrhea. Therefore, by deciding to give up coffee, you will prevent many sudden and unpleasant runs to the bathroom. By the way, the diuretic effect of coffee is also widely known, so for those who suffer from sensitivity Bladder, you should be especially careful.

You will get rid of addiction

Not everyone agrees to admit that coffee is harmful to their health, but the fact remains: becoming addicted to this drink, you fall into the clutches caffeine addiction. Caffeine interferes with the neurochemistry of your brain and begins to create a constant need to consume coffee drinks: someone simply cannot do without one or two cups a day, while others need to drink it 4-5 times a day in order to function normally or generally stay cheerful.

Fortunately, caffeine addiction is not as serious as addiction to conventional hard drugs, so if you have the desire, it can be dealt with on your own. But you shouldn’t underestimate her: Lately There is more and more controversy about the narcotic nature of caffeine, since, like drugs, it stimulates the central nervous system, causes changes in mood, forms an addiction, and after giving it up, a person experiences the so-called withdrawal syndrome, or abstinence - a deterioration in well-being after stopping taking any potent substance. There is also an opinion that the popularity of coffee drinks only strengthens their lobby, so no one raises the issue of introducing restrictions on them at the legal level.

One way or another, many people have a question about how to give up coffee as painlessly as possible. A person begins to worry: how will I manage without coffee now, since it gave me energy throughout the day, and in the morning it even helped me wake up? The fact is that coffee lovers, constantly drinking their favorite drink, unwittingly teach the body to cope with a lack of activity only with the help of a new caffeine stimulant. Your body no longer calculates energy on its own. An addiction is formed in which you drink coffee because you want to feel normal, otherwise your condition will worsen. Why not a drug?

The same will happen when you decide to give up coffee. Taking into account how long you have been dependent on the drink, after 12-20 hours you will feel the first symptoms of withdrawal syndrome, which will intensify after a couple of days, but after a week they will begin to fade away. These symptoms mainly include headache, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, drowsiness, irritability, and sometimes constipation and insomnia.

To ensure that coffee no longer harms you and you don’t relapse while experiencing these symptoms, follow our tips:

First, reduce your drink intake to one cup per day, then reduce the cup size until you stop drinking it altogether.
Start drinking tea sometimes, green or black, it also contains necessary for the body antioxidants, and the variety of flavors will delight you.
Sleep at least 8 hours a day. If you feel overwhelmed without coffee, then proper sleep is necessary in order to restore the body's ability to recover on its own.
Don't give in to temptation. Nowadays, coffee is not only a stimulant of vigor, but also a kind of socialization tool: people drink it with friends in a cafe, they drink it in the morning at work and during breaks, chatting with colleagues, even business meetings are held “over a cup of coffee.” But believe me, nothing bad will happen if you drink and order a pot of tea, juice, lemonade and just water.
But if ever, as an exception, you want to drink coffee, drink a little, and only strong black, without dairy additives - these are two completely incompatible products, according to the famous nutritionist Henri Chenot.

Over time, it is worth thinking about completely giving up drinking tea, since it is also a source of caffeine. For more information about the dangers of tea, watch this video:

Take it for yourself and tell your friends!

Teeth may become lighter

Coffee is known to gradually discolor tooth enamel, so switching to tea can brighten your smile, especially if you opt for white or green tea. Your teeth will not darken or turn yellow, which is what many people often worry about.

Cholesterol levels will be normal

Capsule coffee removes compounds called cafestol, but unfiltered coffee, such as pressed coffee or espresso, retains these harmful molecules. These compounds can increase levels of “bad” cholesterol, which significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Many people drink unfiltered coffee because they don't think of espresso as such, but are confident in its quality. Swap these coffee drinks for tea and your cholesterol levels will quickly return to normal.

You may have headaches

Much depends on how sensitive your body is to changes and how much caffeine you are used to getting. If you suddenly switch to tea, you may feel withdrawal symptoms. Although this can also happen with a smooth “switching”. Once your body gets used to the changes, these symptoms will disappear.

You can forget about heartburn

Coffee can relax the muscles between the esophagus and stomach. When this space opens up, acid from the stomach can rush back and cause acid reflux. It's best to drink tea, even if it has a little caffeine. There is something harmful in coffee itself that we are not even aware of. For some people who already suffer from heartburn, the discomfort will only increase even if they drink decaffeinated coffee.

You are guaranteed a sound healthy sleep

Since coffee contains more caffeine than tea, you will be able to feel the difference and find yourself sleeping better and for good night you won't need any sleeping pills at all. The less caffeine, the better your sleep, because everyone knows that this substance contributes to anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

You will no longer be on the verge of a nervous breakdown

If you regularly drink more than three to four cups of coffee a day, you are overstimulating your body. People who are particularly sensitive to caffeine can be nervous and irritable, and if they have too much of this substance, it can be very stressful. Too much caffeine is harmful to our body, and only moderate doses will do no harm. It is worth remembering that there is practically no caffeine in a cup of tea, which is good news, because you will be able to forget about irritability forever.

You may increase your risk of developing diabetes

Numerous studies have shown that coffee may prevent type 2 diabetes, but scientists have not explained why this happens. Some people think that coffee increases the amount of protein, which contains sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, which help reduce the risk of developing this disease. Others say it's all because coffee increases insulin sensitivity. Experimental studies do not always give an accurate and unambiguous result, but still the conclusions are in this case same. Unfortunately, you will not provide the same level of prevention by drinking tea.

Muscle cramps will no longer bother you

Too much caffeine in the body prevents our body from absorbing magnesium, although it must be said that coffee contains a small amount of of this substance. If you drink a lot of coffee and don't get sufficient quantity magnesium, this leads to a number of health problems. People experience muscle cramps and trouble sleeping, usually due to too much caffeine and not enough magnesium. Some medications can also lower magnesium levels in the body, so if you take these medications and drink coffee, it can lead to a catastrophic decrease in your levels. useful element in organism. And if you give your preference to tea, you can avoid all these side effects.

The mood will change

Mood changes can occur from a certain dose of caffeine or from communicating with certain people, but it has been proven that coffee can improve mood and reduce the risk of depression. One study found that adults who drank two to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day were significantly less likely to commit suicide than those who drank little or no coffee. If you choose tea, you may lose all these benefits. Even if it's all caffeine, tea is still healthier, you just need to drink it twice as much.

Reduces the risk of cancer

It has been shown repeatedly that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of liver and colon cancer, but tea is even more effective. In addition to all this, it also helps reduce the risk of developing cancer of the stomach, pancreas, breast and other organs, although studies have not been conclusive. The key difference between coffee and tea is that tea contains powerful antioxidants. Coffee and tea have antioxidants, but green tea has many more, which suggests it will help fight highly reactive molecules called free radicals, which play a very important role in the development of cancer.

You won't suffer from dehydration

You may have already heard that caffeine is an effective diuretic. More low level The caffeine content in tea makes the drink much more beneficial for hydration, thereby helping you feel better. You will forget what dizziness is. Your skin will look amazing and your entire body will function much better. This drink cleanses the blood well from many harmful substances, which are very abundant today both in products and in the environment.