There are many benefits of limiting your caffeine intake even though popular advertising campaigns will never say that. If you are a coffee lover who enjoys the taste of specialty beans that have been freshly ground and brewed to perfection, I’m with you! I enjoy the whole coffee house experience with the coffee connoisseurs sharing their passion for every aspect of this age-old ritual. Whether you choose something super sweet or a little bitter it’s all wonderful! There was a time when I used to drink it every day until I recognized that something so wonderful was not very beneficial.
My enjoyment of coffee began to have negative effects on my health that I didn’t immediately recognize, some of which I shrugged off as “par for the course”. But I suppose with great affection comes great sacrifice.
Eight things I learned about drinking coffee
First, there was a yellowish stain on my teeth, I didn’t think it was too bad but you could tell I was a coffee drinker. Moreover, since a drink like this could stain my teeth, I began to consider how much of that residue was building up withing my digestive system and making my body work overtime just to keep things clean.
Second, I noticed that I would become a little more anxious than I normally would in addition to actually experiencing anxiety and borderline panic attacks.
Third, I noticed how the quality of my sleep was getting worse. I seldom felt “well-rested” and as a result had to drag myself out of bed, then sleep-walk to the coffee machine as if it was a source of life-giving juice.
Fourth, I noticed with such consistent caffeine intake I began to have allergy-like symptoms. I would have sinus irritation, a runny nose, feeling very low on energy, and then sometimes experience a full-blown cold if I didn’t stop drinking coffee.
Fifth, I began to experience visual migraines. I quickly learned that it was related to caffeine because of this one experience I had on a bright sunny day. This day was like any other day I suppose but I guess my body was tired of all these coffee chemicals. I happened to be enjoying a café americano with a couple handfuls of dark chocolate… on an empty stomach. Then suddenly there were these permanent blurry waves in my field of vision. I was also driving at the time which made it very memorable!
And the list keeps getting better
Sixth, I would get withdraw headaches when I didn’t drink coffee or when I drank too much. Switching to green tea solved that problem for me, and I feel so much better too!
Seven, every now and then I would drink large amounts of extremely strong espresso. I kind of had the feeling it was a bad idea but I just rolled the dice. This often made me feel like I was having heart palpitations, and rightfully so! Luckily, I do not have any cardiac issues that I’m aware of but I know some people who do. Please take a moment to learn more about caffeine intake and do yourself a favor by scheduling a routine check up with a cardiologist, it may just save your life!
Eight, I would often grind my teeth at night and find myself in mid sleep clenching my jaw. During many routine trips to the dentist he would always ask me if I am grinding my teeth. Obviously he knew the answer to that question but he was wondering if I was aware of it. Sadly, for all the years I have been clenching and grinding my teeth at night, it has led to generalized gum recession and that damage is not reversible. Luckily I have a great dental routine and that has certainly helped that condition but my smile is not what it used to be. You can learn more about my dental routine here.
If I spent more time on this topic I could probably think about more negatives than positives, including the fact that caffeine interferes with normal DNA operation and other chemical reactions.
A better choice
I recognize there’s caffeine in many drinks, some of it is naturally occurring and other forms of it have been synthesized in a laboratory. Nevertheless, some of us can be more sensitive to it than others and may not experience much of the effects as I have. I believe the most important part of this experience is having an awareness of what I’ve been putting in my body, in addition to enjoying things in moderation. So I decided to stop drinking coffee and now I just have green tea instead. I noticed that during the week my normal day-to-day stresses with work, study, and commuting did not feel as stressful as they used to. And I also noticed that I don’t feel naturally stressed during calm moments and I stopped grinding my teeth at night. As a result my sleep is better, my mood is better, my mind is clearer.
Important things to consider
If you come across “decaffeinated” coffee or tea, don’t let the verbiage fool you. These beverages still have caffeine, it’s just lower than the usual amount. You can learn how much is too much here.
Are you are planning to become pregnant or you are currently pregnant? If so, speak with your doctor as soon as possible and advise them how much caffeine you are consuming on a daily basis. Write down the quantity of each beverage you drink and document the caffeine content (in milligrams) then share this information with your physician.
Pro tip: When you feel lethargic during the day, consider avoiding caffeine and take a B vitamin and drink lots of water instead; also consider eating an apple too! This new approach will be a mental shift that’s worth the effort and it will make a huge difference in your energy level for the rest of the day.
