Morning coffee for many is a mandatory and very pleasant ritual to start the day. Well, then another cup of cappuccino on the way to work, a mandatory coffee party with colleagues, a couple more cups of espresso during the day to cheer up … Often we don’t even notice that we drink too much coffee. Meanwhile, it can imperceptibly deal a blow to health. We tell you by what signs to determine that it’s time to stop with coffee. Or at least reduce its number.
Aching headache
If you have ever run out of the house late without a morning cup of coffee, and after a couple of hours you started to have a headache, this may be a sign of coffee addiction. A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that more than 50 percent of people who regularly drink coffee experienced moderate or severe headaches after giving up coffee for just one day.
«Many people’s headaches are associated with caffeine consumption,» explains Dr. Ray Sahelian, author of Mind Enhancers. — Caffeine is very similar in structure to another chemical in our body called adenosine. One of the functions of adenosine is to dilate the blood vessels in the head. Caffeine blocks this expansion. When caffeine is suddenly not enough, your body becomes overly sensitive to adenosine, and blood vessels dilate, causing severe headache.»
Rapid heartbeat
According to the Heart and Vascular Center of the University of Iowa, caffeine is a substance that directly provokes a rapid heartbeat. «Some people are sensitive to any stimulants, but we began to see more frequent heart palpitations associated with caffeine when espresso-based drinks such as cappuccino and latte became popular in the 1990s,» say researchers from the Center.
Anxiety
Are you nervous? Perhaps the morning coffee is to blame. «Some people are very sensitive to caffeine and experience irritability and anxiety even from one cup of latte,» explains Dr. Sahelian.
If you doubt what is the cause of your anxiety, just try to give up coffee for a couple of days — and you will see whether anxiety will decrease or not.
Mood swings
Some joke that they can’t function properly until they drink coffee in the morning. But if you really feel that your mood changes after a cup of coffee, it can be a wake-up call. Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It enhances metabolism and releases energy, and also stimulates dopamine receptors in our brain.
Simply put, after coffee we look at life much more optimistically. But there is also bad news: it can be addictive. Therefore, if you are in a bad mood when you go without coffee, it is most likely a sign that your body relies solely on a stimulant to feel good.
Insomnia
There is a reason why people drink coffee when they are tired. Caffeine pumps the body with adrenaline, which makes us feel more cheerful. It can be useful in the morning, but not during the day, and even more so, not in the evening.
«When consumed a few hours before bedtime, coffee disrupts the body’s internal clock. And this can cause not only insomnia, but also lethargy in the daytime,» scientists say.
Lack of invigorating effect
According to research conducted at the Smithsonian Institution, the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the brain change over time as a result of prolonged use of caffeine.
«More adenosine receptors appear in brain cells, which is the brain’s attempt to maintain balance before the constant onslaught of caffeine,» the article says. Accordingly, the more coffee you drink, the more adenosine receptors you have. And in order to block them, and recharge with cheerfulness, it is required to increase and increase the dose of caffeine.
Feeling hungry
Some people drink coffee to curb their appetite. But too much caffeine can have the opposite effect. The breakdown products of caffeine stimulate the release of insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. This can cause a feeling of hunger.
Psychological dependence
If the thought of giving up your morning latte causes you a mild panic attack, your body may already be dependent on coffee. What to do?
«The main thing is to reduce the amount of coffee gradually. If you abruptly stop drinking coffee, it can lead to fatigue and headaches,» says Dr. Joe Lichten, nutritionist and author of the book «Reboot: how to increase your energy, concentration and productivity.»
