Drinking too much coffee is scientifically linked with a number of health problems, including disrupted sleep, high blood pressure, anxiety etc. Some nutritionists advise against drinking coffee altogether since the caffeine content is not required by the human body. Besides scientific reasons, there are other advantages to avoiding coffee as well, including saving money.
Read below to know more about the scientific stance on drinking coffee, some general reasons why drinking coffee is not the best choice for an everyday drink, and some tips to help coffee addicts cope with their addiction.
How does drinking coffee affect blood pressure?
Coffee causes a rise in blood pressure after about 10 minutes of consumption. For a person already going through health issues with regards to blood pressure and heart rate, it’s unhealthy to drink coffee.
According to Healthline, high caffeine consumption can lead to cardiovascular diseases. A person dealing with blood pressure problems can replace coffee with a safer, healthier option such as green tea, which is proven to reduce blood pressure to an extent.
Is there any link between drinking too much coffee and anxiety?
Yes! Nutritionists recommend people with depression or anxiety-related issues to cut down on coffee consumption. This is because although coffee does energize you to a certain extent, at the same time, it stimulates the brain’s ‘fight or flight’ response which ultimately leads to higher anxiety levels. The increased anxiety can manifest in the form of heart palpitations and panic attacks, according to Healthline.
Is coffee affecting my sleep quality?
Perhaps yes. Sleep quality depends on a number of factors including the person’s lifestyle and daily routine, but excessive consumption of coffee is known to lead to a bad sleep quality.
This is especially true for people who like to have a cup of coffee before going to sleep. The caffeine content is supposed to energize the body and ‘wake’ it up, so it’s counterintuitive to have coffee before going to bed.
A bad sleep quality as a result of excessive coffee consumption often turns out like this – you’ll have a restless sleep even if its long enough, and feel tired again after waking up.
Does coffee actually even energize you?
It does, but the catch here is: you can actually get desensitized to the energy boost that coffee provides you as you develop tolerance over time. In the longer run, you’ll find that coffee is no longer really energizing you as you thought it would.
This usually happens in the case of excessive coffee consumption, so moderation is key. Drinking coffee every single day and at the same timings isn’t going to give you an energy boost.
Can you get addicted to coffee?
Absolutely. Caffeine is a major part of coffee, and is responsible for the positive mood-changing effects people experience after drinking coffee such as increased concentration, enhanced metabolism etc. It’s possible to develop a dependance on coffee because of the dopamine boost coffee can bring you.
While it’s possible to develop a caffeine dependance, it should be noted that it’s not as severe and harmful of an addiction as alcohol consumption. Drinking too much coffee won’t lead to the kind of psychological, behavioral and physical problems you’re susceptible to experience if you consume actual addictive drugs.
Are there any withdrawal symptoms of not drinking coffee anymore?
Yes. Caffeine withdrawal can cause a number of symptoms, including headache, difficulties in concentration, anxiety etc. These symptoms can last from about 2 days to a week depending on the intensity of caffeine addiction. These symptoms occur when someone who consumes caffeinated content very regularly stops consuming it altogether suddenly.
Can drinking coffee make your teeth go bad?
Drinking coffee regularly can cause stains on your teeth. How much your teeth get stained depends on how much coffee you consume. It also depends on the amount of sugar and other ingredients added to the coffee. To remove coffee stains, there are a number of special toothpastes available in the market that you can choose from and buy. These are specifically targeted towards users with coffee stains.
What can be an incentive to overcome coffee addiction?
As with any form of addiction, the feeling of satisfaction you experience after getting through your addiction serves as a good incentive. Caffeine dependance isn’t the same as using illegal drugs, but it’s unhealthy nevertheless and overcoming it can make you feel more in control of yourself.
Is there an economic benefit to discontinuing coffee consumption?
If you’re someone who drinks a lot of coffee, you can save a lot of money just by discontinuing coffee consumption. It’s not just about not buying cheap instant coffee anymore, it’s also about not going to expensive places like Starbucks anymore.
You don’t necessarily have to go cold turkey – maybe you can just reduce the frequency of your coffee consumption and overcome the urge to go to coffee shops every single day.
Can coffee addiction lead to mood swings?
If you’re used to drinking coffee at a particular time of the day, it can lead to irritation and anxiety whenever you’re not able to drink coffee at the time you’re used to. Overcoming your addiction to caffeine will ensure that you get to control your emotional state instead of a beverage.
What are some of the ways you can overcome coffee addiction?
1. The first step is to ask yourself if you actually are addicted to coffee or not. Important questions to reflect upon are: am I drinking too much coffee? Am I able to function well without coffee? Is caffeine consumption getting in the way of my physical and mental wellness? Do I rely too much on coffee?
2. It’s important to overcome your addiction bit by bit instead of trying to eradicate it all at once. For instance, if you drink coffee 5 times a day, perhaps you can cut it down and drink 4 times a day till next week. Gradually, you can bring it to 3 or 2.
3. It can help to keep a journal to track your progress on how much you cut down on coffee consumption this particular week, what withdrawal symptoms did you experience and so on.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.