When should you cut back on coffee, if at all?
Who doesn’t love a nice strong cup of coffee in the morning? It’s a daily routine; the smell, the taste, the energy and forget decaf, espresso is the way to go. Our country as a whole is increasingly drinking more caffeine than before because of the many caffeine options out there, that aren’t just coffee. There are teas, lattes, energy drinks and even shakes that contain caffeine but is it bad for you? Here we’re going to talk about caffeine side effects, answer the question to “is coffee bad for you?” as well as talk about benefits of quitting caffeine, if needed. Continue reading to learn more!
What are the health benefits of coffee? Click here to learn more.
Benefits of Quitting Caffeine
The benefits of quitting caffeine just sounds wrong, right? Who would ever want to quit caffeine? There are many people that cannot survive without their cup of coffee and drink it as if it were water, but there are some caffeine side effects that can play an adverse roll on your daily life function. Here are a few benefits of quitting caffeine that may appeal to you:
- Caffeine can create anxiety – yes, if you are feeling extra anxious it could be your coffee or caffeine drink. Especially if you are someone who generally deals with anxiety. One of the caffeine side effects is giving stimulation to the fight or flight hormones. Is coffee bad for you then? Not if feeling anxious doesn’t bother you or if you don’t notice a difference these types of symptoms.
- Caffeine affects sleep – Too much caffeine intake can change sleep cycles. Those who consume coffee in the afternoon may notice that it is more difficult to fall asleep at night versus those who do not. Try only drinking coffee in the morning or before 2pm to ensure that you get a full night’s rest. Maybe you’re one of those people who can drink coffee before bed and not notice anything, lucky you! If you notice that it’s difficult to fall asleep at night, it could be one of the caffeine side effects. Try drinking less coffee throughout the day…
- Hormone levels in women can be altered – Women, is coffee bad for you? It can be because it can change estrogen levels. It’s possible that if women are drinking more than 2 cups of coffee a day their estrogen levels could be heightened leading to risk of conditions such as breast cancer, endometriosis and ovarian cancers.
- Withdrawal – Experiencing caffeine withdrawal isn’t a fun thing. This is one of the most common caffeine side effects leaving individuals with a headache, brain fog, irritability and fatigue. Is coffee bad for you? You can answer that question yourself, although anything that leaves you feeling nasty side effects may not be favorable for you.
At the end of the day there are benefits of quitting caffeine that can help you sleep better, feel better and be more adjusted on a daily basis. That doesn’t mean that you have to stop drinking coffee. If you are someone who loves coffee and doesn’t notice caffeine side effects then these may not apply to you. If you do notice some of these side effects, trying to cut down on caffeine intake may be right for you.
There are a few specific types of people that should avoid caffeine in general because it can create adverse side effects. The following are examples of reasons why you may want to avoid consuming caffeine:
- Pregnant or attempting to get pregnant
- Anxiety
- Digestive condition
- Certain medications
Is coffee bad for you? Not necessarily but it should be consumed in moderation. If you notice that you are being affected by caffeine side effects speak to your doctor about them and see if caffeine is the culprit.