I was surprised to read that 80 to 90 percent of North American adults and children consume caffeine products every day. When I thought about it though, this is not too hard to believe when you consider soda and chocolate as part of this. In an article posted by CNN.com entitled “Beware the perils of caffeine withdrawal”, experts estimate that about half of these people will experience withdrawal symptoms.
These withdrawal symptoms were only recognized as a disorder about five years ago by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Researchers also found that people who were unable to quit or cut down on their caffeine usage considered themselves to be addicted.
Caffeine is considered a drug, but not like cocaine or heroin. It is a mild stimulant which may make you feel good and energized. If some people don’t get their caffeine, they start feeling funny. Some symptoms that have been reported include headache, fatigue, sleepiness, inability to concentrate, depression, irritability, and flu-like symptoms to name a few. Withdrawal symptoms can start from 12 to 20 hours after your last cup of caffeine and last as long as a week.
Coffee is not the only thing that can lead to these symptoms though. Tea, cola, milk chocolate and hot chocolate also have caffeine which can cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop consuming them.
The article goes on to state that if you want to give up caffeine, to do so slowly. Maybe start by using decaffeinated products. It won’t be easy, but it will be easier than going cold-turkey.
In the article “Caffeine: How much is too much?” there was good information on when you should cut back on your caffeine intake. It indicates that two or three cups of brewed coffee a day is probably alright, but more than that could cause issues.
The MayoClinic.com Web site published an article called “Coffee and health: What does the research say?” Now here they say coffee doesn’t seem to hurt and it may even help. No wonder we are all so confused.
I use to drink one or two cups of coffee a day, most of the time just to keep warm. I don’t recall having any symptoms when I didn’t have coffee. I guess I just didn’t drink enough to matter. I am a tea drinker now and don’t even have that every day. I know of a few people that can drink a pot of coffee themselves in the morning. Those are probably the ones that are going to have withdrawal symptoms if they ever have to cut back. Also, it depends on how strong or weak your coffee is I think. My thinking is that there are worse habits out there other than drinking too much coffee!
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This is one of those things that research is so conflicting on! I hate research studies on health topics like this (and similar on alcohol consumption) because one study will come out and say a cup a day (or a glass a day) is actually good for you. Then another study will come out and say, no it's bad, bad, bad! You'll get cancer or you'll get this or that. No one seems to know. I think in the end, it's the same as every other thing we do in life--moderation is key. I drink a cup or two in the morning because I'm not a morning person and I'm so lethargic otherwise. It helps me get going and be a bit more productive at work. I guess I'll find out in a few years if it was a bad trade off or not!
ReplyDeleteCaffeine is a constant staple in the American and many European diets. Yet a lot of people do not even realize how many products contain the substance.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started some medication I was told to limit my caffeine intake. It was amazing to me how many products have some amount of caffeine. It is in soda, cold medicine, dietary supplements and my personal favorite chocolate.
I did read not to long ago that caffeine was good for your skin and acts like a sunscreen. Is this a good thing?
I now spend more time reading labels on products to make sure that it does not have any caffeine and the worst part is that I had to make a choice between a cup of coffee in the morning or chocolate.
Coffee won…
I've known people before that have cut down or quit drinking pop, for example Mountain Dew, and this one guy didn't last very long - headaches and what not. But when you drink it all day long that may happen. I know that in Valley City at the high school, they pulled the pop machines out of the schools and put juice and vitamin like drinks in it.
ReplyDeleteI drink pop throughout the day and a small bit of coffee in the am when I first get to work.. So sometimes I get a headache if I haven't had much caffeine.. but nothing a little diet dew can't fix! =)
I think that this is good advice for anyone. Caffeine addictions are out there, how serious they are or how bad it is for you Im not sure. But its obviously an issue that needs attention. I dont think haveing a pop everday at the same time or a couple cups of coffee in the morning is anything ti frown upon. I guess, personally, Id rather be addicted to pop then cigarettes or anything like that.
ReplyDeleteIts an issue that should be a personal choice, but its good to get the right information out there.