By Sareha Shah
Special to The Times Kuwait
Do you know how many cups of coffee you drink each day? Do you know when you drink your coffee most? Do you need coffee to wake up? Do you always crave a cup after meals, while with friends, or at work?
It is important for you to answer these questions so you will know whether you are a coffeeholic and when you are most susceptible to the caffeine habit. Caffeine is an alkaloid stimulant and a potent drug, affecting the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, adrenaline release, and muscle contraction.
Because of ubiquitous use of tea, coffee, and cola beverages, caffeine is probably the most widely used drug as it is subject to overindulgence. For some people immediate effects of caffeine are ‘Coffee Nerves’ and symptoms, such as shaky hands and an overall jittery feeling, become apparent within an hour of drinking as little as one cup of coffee (about 100 to 150 milligrams(mg) of caffeine. The effects last several hours. Then you crash, because coffee initially raises blood sugar (one reason you get a lift) but soon the body’s insulin overrides that and you are left with a letdown feeling.
For those who cannot stop at one cup, the adverse effects are multiplied, too. A syndrome known as ‘Caffeinism’ occurs in people who drink five or more cups of coffee a day (about 500mg of caffeine.) The syndrome is much like Anxiety Neurosis, and the people afflicted suffer from nervousness, irritability, agitation, headache, muscle twitching and rapid heartbeat. If you are starting to get worried, that is good because in order to kick the caffeine habit, you have to have the incentive.
Once you have that you are ready to go. Quitting ‘cold turkey’, or the abrupt cessation of dependence on a substance, sounds easy. One day you are a coffee drinker and the next day you are not, but look out. Caffeine can be, after all, physiologically addictive. That means when your body is deprived of its usual ‘fix’, it may rebel. The most common symptom is headache that begins about 18 hours after your last cup of coffee.
It begins with the feeling of cerebral fullness (as if your brain were too big for your head) and rapidly progresses to a painful and throbbing headache and peaks about three to six hours after onset, but it is not unusual for the pain to last a day or more. A person desperate for relief may reach for an aspirin, but again, beware. Many over the counter pain remedies contain, what else? Caffeine. Sure your headache will go away but then you are hooked again and have to start all over.
Besides the headache, you may also feel extreme irritability, lethargy or anxiety. In fact, the same kind of anxiety associated with heavy caffeine consumption is experienced during withdrawal as well. Still, if you persevere, it will not be long before you see some positive results — it takes only about three days. However, it may take two to three weeks before the full benefits are felt. Then you will notice that you are sleeping more soundly, feel more relaxed and less tense during the day, and are better able to handle everyday stresses in stride.
Some people find tapering off less painful than cold turkey because they spread the final event over several weeks. But that does not mean you get off scot free. Depending upon how addicted you are, your symptoms may be severe just from cutting down. But, remember each reduction in caffeine is a plus for you.
Recognizing your own vulnerability to coffee can help you breakout. If morning is your toughest time, get up later and do not leave enough time for coffee. If you crave a cup after dinner, go for a walk.
Visiting friends? Let them know you are kicking the habit. In fact, let everyone know. It makes you want to succeed even more if you have to answer to inquisitive friends or family members. Besides they will probably offer their support by not tempting you with the stuff you are trying to avoid.
Meantime, you can be creating a new set of rituals and habits to replace the ones you are giving up. That is where caffeine-free or low-caffeine beverages come in.
Moreover, anyone who has recently given up caffeine will be delighted by the new influx of herb teas to hit the market. Not just in health food stores, either. Herb teas can be found in almost any grocery store right alongside the regular caffeinated varieties.
Herb teas are naturally caffeine-free. What is more, some have nutritional benefits not found in ordinary tea. Rosehip tea is high in vitamin C, and dandelion tea is loaded with vitamin A. Almost all herb teas are bends of several ingredients, such as alfalfa and hibiscus flowers, cinnamon, lime, orange peel and mint. You can choose something with peppermint to wake you up in the morning or a chamomile tea to soothe and relax.
Another possibility is to try a coffee substitute: roots, grains, or seeds that have been dried, roasted and ground. After all, real caffeine is made from well-roasted seeds too. Chicory is a very popular coffee substitute, but you can do the same with carrot, parsnip, corn, barley, wheat, rye, chestnut and others. In addition, relaxation techniques help to reduce caffeine intake for the one who is badly hooked.
Compulsive coffee drinking is a type of drug addiction. Say no to it and feel healthier.
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