Caffeine Addiction – A Problem to be Solved as Soon as Possible
Blogs By Heidi
- March 22, 2023
A hot cup of coffee with the morning sunshine sounds so tempting and revitalising.
It has the ability to keep you awake and help burn that midnight oil in time of dire need. Coffee becomes a central part of social gatherings and gives you an excuse to get to know your colleagues in the office. With all the usefulness one can think of we also happen to know that coffee contains caffeine which is not good for your health.
Drinking coffee can help you remain alert, but it is the aftermath you should be worried about. It is a stimulant which wrecks your central nervous system by stressing the hormones in the bloodstream. As caffeine gets into our system it also leads to addiction. Any attempt at withdrawal can result in headaches, irritability, fatigue, constipation, lack of appetite, lack of concentration and even forgetfulness.
Coffee is very acidic, and taken in excess can lead to stomach ulcers, leaching of calcium and stimulation of the stress hormone cortisol, which results in sleeping difficulties and weight gain (particularly around the middle). It can also cause abnormal fast or slow heartbeat and an increase in blood pressure, resulting in constant stress and hypertension. Excess caffeine contributes to heart disease and pancreas and bladder cancer.
In an ideal world, nobody would drink coffee for the sake of their health. This isn’t particularly realistic though, and let’s face it – having a cup of coffee is a delicious and enjoyable ritual. In our coaching practice, we recommend our clients limit their coffee intake to one per day, preferably before 9am. If you are a heavy coffee drinker, this doesn’t have to happen overnight. It’s a good idea to wean yourself down over time, until you hit your one coffee allowance per day.
And remember, it’s not just coffee that contains caffeine. Tea, coca cola and chocolate products do too.
The more caffeine you consume, the worse off your health will be. Do your health a favour and reduce your caffeine consumption to the bare minimum.
How much caffeine do you consume on a regular basis?