Coffee makes the world go round, but too much of it can make you edgy, anxious and tired. If you’re concerned that your coffee habit is getting in the way of your health, the checklist below can help you define the problem.
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The Caffeine-Ache
If you find that life without coffee means a hideous headache, you’re hooked. Alternative caffeine-ache options include treating a non-caffeine headache with caffeine. Depending on the source of the headache, putting too much caffeine in your system could lead to health risks, up to and including cardiac risks.
Backing off your coffee and caffeine intake so you can avoid the headache will take time. If you’re trying to blend decaf into your regular blend but you just can’t get excited about the taste, look for coffee that’s been decaffeinated by the water processing method.
As a general rule, stripping the caffeine from a coffee bean is done chemically. Many coffee lovers find that heating up these beans gives your coffee a burned taste. Water-processed decaf coffee will be more expensive, but the flavor will be much kinder to your taste buds.
You Choose Coffee Instead of Food
If you’re in a rush and need to stop and get lunch on the way at your favorite coffee shop, make sure you’re leaving the shop with food. The calories in a specialty coffee may lead to skipping meals.
Your stomach needs something to digest, or it will look within. Your gut needs real food to function well. If you find that lunch turns into a monster coffee with lots of additives, hit your local deli and grab a salad or a sandwich and skip the coffee.
Unfortunately, many who enjoy cold or iced coffee beverages also choose coffee instead of water. Caffeine is dehydrating. If you are under a big deadline and really need to ramp up your coffee intake occasionally, be sure you also increase your water intake.
You Always Get an Extra Shot of Espresso
At what time in the day do you stop drinking coffee? Too much coffee in the afternoon, especially if you pair it with an extra shot can lead to afternoon agitation and poor sleep. Additionally, caffeine is a drug that spirals. An extra shot in the morning will help you build up a tolerance. Eventually, you’ll need an extra shot in your afternoon coffee as well, and the withdrawal will be worse.
Breaking this habit may require you to change up your caffeine delivery. Keep your morning macchiato with the extra shot, but pair your lunch with a cup of green tea. There are a lot of folks who find that green tea is too acidic.
Pair your tea with food. If you don’t care for the taste of green tea, add a squeeze of orange juice. Another option is white tea, which offers caffeine and even more antioxidants than green tea. Finally, if you notice that green tea gives you a bit of heartburn, follow it with unsweetened applesauce.
You Don’t Sleep (or Poop…)
Daily coffee habits cause us to need coffee. However, your body will lose the ability to tolerate coffee over time. For those in their 30’s, losing the ability to easily fall asleep at your regular time can be an indicator that you need to dial back your afternoon and evening caffeine intake.
Many folks also suffer from digestive sluggishness when they dial back their coffee intake. To protect yourself from that discomfort, make sure you increase your fiber and water intake as you dial back your coffee intake. Your body will need time to adjust.
Keep a journal to help you track these changes. Depending on how close you are to 40, the impact of your afternoon coffee will turn negative pretty quickly. Staying on top of this unpleasant reaction may also be a nice reminder of other healthy changes that you need to make.
Anxious Thoughts Are Getting in the Way
That first cup of coffee can turn Grumpy Gus into Cheerful Charlie. Too much throughout the day may lead to your being an Anxious Annie. Coffee heightens your awareness of the world around you and focuses your mind. Too much coffee will agitate your nervous system and lead you to focus on what frightens you.
Getting Zen about your coffee intake will be a challenge. While you don’t have to worry about your supply line because you can get all your coffee from Qavashop, finding a calm and happy state after a cup of coffee can mean a lot of squirming around on the yoga mat.
Set your limit via
- volume
- clock
- intensity
Your favorite coffee cup may be a requirement to start your day, but maybe you don’t need more than two cups to start. Don’t make the second pot, or only brew half a big pot to start.
Monitor your watch to make sure you stop drinking your coffee at lunch time and track your physical response. When do you start yawning? When can you finally sleep? If you’re too drowsy in the afternoon without that 3 p.m. cup, try green tea for a change.
The milder the roast, the more caffeine in your cup. If you can switch to dark roast over time, you will naturally lessen your caffeine intake. Additionally, the flavor of a good dark roast can reduce the impact of the flavor of decaf if you choose to blend in some decaf.
Finally, if you like a pour over coffee, switch from a paper filter to a stainless steel or gold. Pour over coffee can have a very slight paper taste, as can water processed decaf. Switching your filter at the same time you add decaf can reduce the jolt to your taste buds.
There are worse addictions than coffee. However, over time, coffee can be hard on your tummy, your heart and the quality of your rest. Be ready to keep an journal and do some experimenting when you decide to dial back your coffee intake.