…You Should Give Up Caffeine
1. Caffeine is a drug. And like any drug, it wraps its tentacles around your soul and slowly imposes your dependence on it. Giving up caffeine, even for a short period of time, proves that you have the will to kick the addiction in the ass and the strength to live without it. Over time, your body adjusts and the “need” that you feel to kick start your day disappears.
2. If nothing else, you will sleep better. Having caffeine late in the day makes it harder to get to sleep, makes you sleep for a shorter period of time, shortens the amount of deep sleep you have, and give you more “dream sleep” at first, but less over the course of a night. (Apparently it’s not all about deep sleep. Dream sleep is important too. 75-80% of sleep is non-REM, of which deep sleep is key component.)
3. You never know what other benefits it may bring. While a jolt of Joe will have some great short-term effects, that little pick-me-up that most drugs deliver, the long-term effects can be quite the opposite. Having more than 600mg of caffeine per day can lead to sleeplessness, worry, depression and upset stomachs. Kicking the habit can make you more mentally alert and bring a great sense of physical wellbeing.
4. According to this article, approximately 90% of Americans consume some form of caffeine every single day, with more than half of those people consume more than 300mg. Considering that coffee and soda pop counts for much of that intake, eliminating those two things from your diet can’t help but make you feel better, both physically and mentally. Think of all the empty calories, sugar, corn derivatives, etc. (BTW - an average 12-ounce soft drink contains 150 calories, 9 teaspoons of sugar, and absolutely no nutritional value.)
5. It can save you money. Assuming that you spend $5 a day on coffee, quitting could save you over $1,800 a year!
For more on the caffeine content for some of your favourite foods, check out the Center for Science in the Public Interest. And here’s is Starbucks nutritional site. And check out The Caffeine Curve.
