Waking up tired and groggy from a poor-quality sleep is probably one of the worst feelings ever.
So before we start lashing out at people or end up going berserk, our first inclination is to reach for that cup of freshly brewed coffee to calm us down. Aside from its invigorating effect, caffeine, which is naturally present in your “cup of joe,” stimulates certain portions of the autonomic nervous system. According to Health Line, once this stimulant reaches your brain, you’ll feel more awake and prevents the onset of exhaustion.
However, after all the coffee goodness, there are also some negative effects that can lead to serious health problems. The Mayo Clinic reported that ingesting more than 500-600 mg of caffeine a day may lead to insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, an upset stomach, irregular heartbeat, and even muscle tremors. Consuming 300 mg of caffeine a day during pregnancy may increase the risk of low birth weight babies, while other research suggests that drinking four cups of coffee a day may increase the risk of early death.
Despite the harmful effects of caffeine to our health, some people still find it hard to slug through the day without coffee. To help you get through your coffee addiction, we have listed down some effective ways on how stop caffeine from taking over your life completely.
Consider exercising more
The first step to a healthier lifestyle always begins with exercising. Instead of relying too much on coffee, exercising can also give us that extra energy boost that we’ll need to get through the day. Aside from that, it also improves our productivity, increases mental clarity, and gets our endorphins going.
Make a running list of pros and cons
Before getting frustrated or giving up caffeine detox, remind yourself of the health benefits through keeping a running list of all the pros and cons. According to Washington-based nutritionist Meghan Cichy, “When our perspective is more positive and connected to our values, it can actually help us to feel less crappy about going through it.”
Track your usual caffeine consumption
Caffeine withdrawal happens to anyone who abruptly stops drinking coffee. Sudden purge from the usual caffeine routine can cause symptoms like irregular heartbeats, fatigue, and inability to focus.
That’s why it’s important to consider planning your caffeine withdrawal in stages. From ingesting 500-600 mg of caffeine per day, you may want to step down the dose (depending on what works for you) until you flush caffeine out of your system.
Switch to a healthier alternative like hot milk tea
But, if you feel like you can’t really function without taking caffeinated drinks, then you may opt for a cup of hot milk tea as a lighter substitute. Instead of overindulging in caffeine, Lipton’s New 3-in-1 Milk Tea for example, can also work as your afternoon pick-me-up.
Best served hot, the newest Lipton Milk Tea is not just a delicious drink made with the goodness of tea and creamy milk, it also gives you the right energy without the side effects of too much caffeine. Lipton Milk Tea is available at supermarkets near you for only Php10.00 (SRP) per sachet or you may purchase it through Lazada. INQUIRER.net/TV