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Caffeine is the most widely used and cheapest drug in the world. Although, I believe coffee and caffeine are far less dangerous to your body than fruit juice or soda, it is still wise to limit, and if possible, eliminate coffee. There's no better reason than a new Johns Hopkins study that shows the more caffeine you consume the more severe your withdrawal symptoms will be.
Typically, the onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 hours after stopping caffeine, with peak intensity between one and two days, and for a duration of two to nine days. Generally, the incidence or severity of symptoms grew with increases in daily doses. Missing a daily serving of as little as one small cup of coffee a day can produce a range of withdrawal symptoms:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Lack of concentration
- Flu-like attributes like nausea and muscle pain
- Depression or irritability
In North America, 80-90 percent of adults report regular use of caffeine. Average daily intake of caffeine among caffeine consumers in the United States is about 280 milligrams, or about one to two mugs of coffee or three to five bottles of soft drink, with higher intakes estimated in some European countries.
In the United States, coffee and soft drinks are the most common sources of caffeine, with almost half of caffeine consumers ingesting caffeine from multiple sources, including tea.
If you must have a cup of coffee, here's a couple of healthy tips for you to consider:
- Drinking organic coffee might reduce or eliminate the exposure to toxic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers.
- If you are going to drink decaffeinated coffee, be sure that it uses a non-chemical based method of decaffeination. The "Swiss Water Process" is a patented method and is the best choice.
Science Blog September 29, 2004