How to Stop Drinking Coffee

Are you one of the many who begin the day with a coffee, have coffee for breakfast, have 6-7 cups of coffee while working or as a part of meeting your clients, and have another cup while watching a game of sport? Well, you are addicted to coffee and there are many other symptoms that will help prove it! You might argue that you do not get the morning kick if you don't have your cup of black coffee; and having coffee while working keeps you from falling asleep. Whatever the reasons, coffee or caffeine addiction is simply as worse as alcohol or cigarette addiction. Apart from coffee, soft drinks and sodas also contain caffeine which is bad for health, if consumed in large quantities for a longer period of time.

Reasons to Stop Drinking Coffee

One may not be aware but coffee affects nearly all the parts and systems of the body. One of the most alarming caffeine side effects include its effect on the heart and the cardiovascular system. Drinking coffee increases heart rate and heartbeat which leads to cardiovascular diseases. On the other caffeine has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal system and affects digestion which may also lead to constipation, loss of appetite, etc. One of the other coffee side effects is that it affects the kidneys and may lead to depression, anxiety, etc. in people. Too much caffeine is also believed to affect reproductive system and lead to disorders during pregnancy in women. Another common side effect of coffee is that it leads to insomnia, lack of sleep or sleep disorders.

Tips to Quit Drinking Coffee

If you are an excessive coffee or caffeine addict, you might take a longer time to get rid of this addiction and stop drinking caffeine. However, it is not impossible! There are a few steps that will help you quit coffee without causing any side effects or withdrawal symptoms.

Reduce Intake of Coffee
If you stop drinking coffee abruptly, you are sure to suffer from withdrawal symptoms like headache, anxiety, nervousness, etc. Therefore, you need to gradually reduce the intake of it. Reduce at least 1-2 cups of coffee everyday from the total number of coffee that you have in an entire day. When you do not suffer from withdrawal symptoms, you will be motivated to reduce more amounts of caffeine. You should remember not to go back to your older routine under any condition.

Substitute Caffeine with Other Drinks
You can substitute coffee or sodas that you have with herbal tea, green tea or decaffeinated coffee. Secondly, if you wish to stop drinking caffeine completely, you can also avoid your coffee breaks with colleagues or have fruit juice, milk shakes as a substitute at breaks. Interestingly note that replacing your morning coffee with an apple or green tea will help in boosting metabolism in the same level as that of coffee. This is also an effective way of stop drinking coffee to lose weight.

Avoid Factors That Make You Drowsy
Majority of people argue that they drink coffee to avoid bring drowsy during the day. It is true that coffee or caffeine makes you alert and feel perked up. However, you can avoid factors that make you feel sleepy or drowsy and stop drinking caffeine altogether. You should have a lighter lunch and have less amounts of carbohydrates. Secondly, your diet should be high on proteins to get energy that will keep you active all day long. Lastly, you should have a proper sleep for 6-7 hours everyday to avoid feeling drowsy and sleepy during the day.

Once you stop drinking caffeine, you will definitely have a healthy life, free of several self-induced disorders. Good luck!