No Caffeine Thread & Poll

[GrilledGoat]

Hello All! I am starting this thread because I know there have to be others out there who feel as I do on this subject, and I would like to hear your reasons for not using caffeine. (or your defenses of caffeine, you addicts! )

At the beginning of this year I decided that caffeine was NOT something that I wanted to be putting into my body. I began to look at the people around me and I could observe when they were under the effects of caffeine and the effects it had on their task preforming and plan making.

I have been much happier and healthier since completely stopping its intake.
Also, my average heart rate has gone down.


I feel like caffeine is just another distraction to the body and mind brought on by the fast-paced consumer society we live in. The more of these distractions I have been able to remove from my life, the better I feel.




Also added a poll out of curiosity.

 

[KeroZen]

Unfortunately (or not) recent studies have shown how caffeine can be good, and there is also this island south of Japan where they consume plenty of green tea daily and where they live super old (tea contains a lot of caffeine but the benefits might come also from other compounds)

Here, not necessarily the best reference but it's the first thing I found when searching: http://www.caffeineinformer.com/top-10-caffeine-health-benefits

Now I'm gonna drink that coffee cup from Papua New Guinea, as these bloody marketing guys managed to lure me with their exotic story! (damn they are good)

 

[t-dub]

I can't drink coffee any more, one sip and I instantly puke. I can drink caffeinated tea but do not seek it out. I refuse unnatural drinks like soda etc . . .

 

[GrilledGoat]

@KeroZen I used to drink tea all day and I feel much better now that I stopped. Studies or not, it is still a CNS stimulant that alters the intended functioning of the body. My heart feels much better, and I have more stamina. This is just my experience, I may be the complete odd man out on this subject.


@t-dub Is there an exact reason you have that reaction? I haven't had any random nausea that I used to have in the mornings now that I have ceased caffeine intake. I only drink water, juices, and milk.

 

[Enchantre]

I went off caffeine for a three-year span, once.
Yeah, it might have been good for something, but as someone with asthma, caffeine is the "missing link" for me. Oh, and the migraines.

I try to limit my consumption to just a couple of cups of coffee a day, but weekends tend to get out of hand.

 

[GrilledGoat]

@Enchantre I thought that I had migraines, but it turned out they were caused by caffeine. Can you explain what you mean by "missing link"? My girlfriend has asthma as well, and is enjoying life without caffeine. Sorry if I am overlooking something obvious!

LOTS suffer from caffeine migraines and have no idea the cause... they just know caffeine helps it "go away" when all you are really doing is dealing with the symptoms of withdrawal.

Another thing that got me to stop was understanding the over-saturation of adenosine receptors that caffeine use had created. Last Year - Without Caffeine I felt like shit. Then a glass of tea and I'm me again. I hated this not having control over how I felt, being at the mercy of some chemical. IMHO cannabis is more benign.

Edited for clarity

 

[Enchantre]

In regards to my asthma, when faced with an airborne irritant, such as bird dander, I can either use an ephedra source (sorry, it's been so many years, I can't remember the name of it), or a cup of black coffee.
Capillary expansion means better oxygen uptake in spite of the bronchial narrowing & spasms.

Please understand, I have mild, allergy & activity triggered asthma (it was hell in school), and don't use an inhaler. coffee is my missing link.

I can, and have, cycled from no caffeine to very little to my personal max, and I generally will, about once a year. I usually give my body "time off" from everything, it seems. This year, it will include a 10-day Vipassanna meditation retreat in October. There is no caffeine there.
Of course, as an Old Student, I also will not be getting dinner.

 

[GrilledGoat]

@Enchantre Thank you for following up, makes sense now! Giving the body time off from external stresses is a great idea. I do this as well.

 

[t-dub]

@t-dub Is there an exact reason you have that reaction? I haven't had any random nausea that I used to have in the mornings now that I have ceased caffeine intake. I only drink water, juices, and milk.

I'm a medical patient that has taken and continues to have to take way too many pills. Years of Indomethacin use was the beginning and now my primary drug apremilast/Otezla is very hard on the tummy. I take proton inhibitors but have had 2 runs to the doc for GI cocktails already this year. My hiatal hernia doesn't help things either.

 

[farscaper]

I dont like that this is generalized to caffeine... all things in moderation!

I love me some coffee.... I find sugar to be the bigger evil.... think about it... is it the caffeine... or the sugar in their drinks...

but not just that.... sugar is in everything... milk had several grams per serving!

lol I admit it im a "coffee slut" but I have already cut soda and other highly sugared and caffeinated beverages. colas are the worst... even 7up and sprite make me sick after a glass.

yup. caffeine is just a scape goat... like nicotine... its really not all that harmful in moderation...

when you consumed caffeine when you did did it also include sugar? I bet it did unless you drink your tea strait and coffee black!

I like my coffee with cream!

 

[Hashassin]

Gotta throw in with fellow asthma and migraine sufferers here. I've tried the no caffeine lifestyle, the excessive coffee consumption lifestyle, and every step between. I've settled on a few cups a day more or less. Moderate use feels like it helps alleviate symptoms without being too much of a drag on my system.

 

[lwien]

My mom allowed me to drink coffee as far back as I can remember and I still do today. LOVE my morning java.

Tons of reports about the many health benefits of coffee consumption, especially the antioxidants that it provides, but like anything else, too much of a good thing can be bad.

Here are a couple of links with multiple studies sited:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270202.php

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food

 

[smokum]

All I can say is.... I pity the fool that comes between me and my 15 jumbo mugs of java a day

 

[aesthyrian]

Caffeine sucks, it's more dangerous than Cannabis and is sold/marketed to children.

That alone makes it hard for me to consume Caffeine with an easy conscious. Of course, I still do from time to time but definitely not regularly.

I used to be a heavy caffeine addict when I was younger. Don't miss it at all. I'm better off without it personally.

 

[farscaper]

I do hate when people say anything is more dangerous than another.

I think both cannabis and caffeine are totally harmless when used responsibly and respectfully...

but remember each person has their own tolerances.

I am far more tolerant to caffeines effects... sugar... that shit will give you diabetes!

 

[aesthyrian]

Not trying to offend your love for caffeine, perhaps I should have worded it differently.

However, Cannabis has killed no one from overdose. No need for moderation in that regard. Granted, I would imagine it takes some effort and determination to die from a Caffeine OD.

 

[MindFork]

I'm kind of stuck on a (strong & large) cup per day coffee habit. The last time I tried to quit it, I felt like shit on the 2nd day so I gave in and made a cup.

I also hate being dependent on any substance to feel good, even one as supposedly benign as coffee.

But damn it tastes good! I use a Chemex carafe with a "Kone" filter and every cup that thing produces is heavenly. I should feel lucky that I'm only "mildly addicted" to it and don't drink more than one cup per day, because with that Kone/Chemex setup, the temptation is very large to keep making cup after cup.

I have a plan though. I am going to switch to organic green tea and mix in some "dandy blend" to give it a more coffee-like flavor. After a week at that lower caffeine level I will assess and see where I am at. Even if I end up just trading one caffeine source for another, green tea is (hopefully!) healthier.

The tea & dandy blend arrives on Monday. Wish me luck.

 

[GrilledGoat]

@MindFork Good luck with trying to kick the addiction!

It's funny, first the Imperial English tea companies, then the american soft drink makers, now the coffee and energy drink giants, these companies have totally won. They have convinced you that paying them to feel yourself is totally harmless, even good for you.

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

Not trying to offend your love for caffeine, perhaps I should have worded it differently.

However, Cannabis has killed no one from overdose. No need for moderation in that regard. Granted, I would imagine it takes some effort and determination to die from a Caffeine OD.

Depends on what we're talking about, caffeine in drinks in the amounts normally present or powdered caffeine. People DO die from overdosing with caffeine powder. Something like 9 or 10 grams is enough to kill people? Maybe less if you're not used to it? A gram of pure caffeine powder isn't an awful lot visually. Anyways yeah even drinking it you'd have a hard time killing yourself (again assuming normal caffeine content).

I broke my caffeine habit again like I've done lately. Didn't have any the last few days since it's been too hot when I wake up and no headaches or migraines or irritation or anything. Had a little bit today and then I got sleepy

 

[SD_haze]

Hello All! I am starting this thread because I know there have to be others out there who feel as I do on this subject, and I would like to hear your reasons for not using caffeine. (or your defenses of caffeine, you addicts! )

At the beginning of this year I decided that caffeine was NOT something that I wanted to be putting into my body. I began to look at the people around me and I could observe when they were under the effects of caffeine and the effects it had on their task preforming and plan making.

I have been much happier and healthier since completely stopping its intake.
Also, my average heart rate has gone down.


I feel like caffeine is just another distraction to the body and mind brought on by the fast-paced consumer society we live in. The more of these distractions I have been able to remove from my life, the better I feel.




Also added a poll out of curiosity.

Besides not consuming caffeine regularly, I've honestly consumed 0mg of caffeine the past 2 months, working at my new 40hr/wk job (8am every day). I use loud music, H20, (and sometimes sex ) to wake up in the morning. At night, I drink de-caffeinated Coca-Cola.

I certainly used to consume caffeine & energy drinks. It's been about six years since I was using it regularly. I don't miss it at all and I also feel happier/healthier since quitting it. But that's my personality & body - I'm naturally high-strung. So different strokes, for different folks, I suppose!




P.S.
I also have minor asthma & allergies. They seem to regulate themselves just fine, for me, on the no-caffeine lifestyle.

 

[Frederick McGuire]

As someone who can't stand the taste of coffee, it's pretty easy for me to avoid that main source of caffeine, but I do love me a coke every now an then (especially when baked ) so I voted yes.

I've honestly never really noticed any kind of effect from caffeine when I have consumed it (that includes energy drinks) so I've never really seen the appeal of it.

I do have a mate who pounds the coffees every day, and he'll sit there tapping his leg/foot all night...
I've started calling it his caffeine shake - seems like a kinda bad sign to me, but he doesn't take any notice of it...
Then again, he smokes a pack of cigs a day, so I daresay the caffeine isn't the worst of his problems.

...
I think both cannabis and caffeine are totally harmless when used responsibly and respectfully...

But isn't that true of just about any substance?

Edit:
Never knew caffeine could help with asthma - that's an interesting tidbit

 

[Radio]

Every month i'll have about 1 coffee.. I have an addictive personality so I keep my stimulants in check! I enjoy a nice soy hazelnut latte & agave syrup or coconut sugar, but rarely. I used to be addicted and it made my oily, sweaty and hyperactive

 

[MindFork]

I'm 6 days into my green tea replacement regimen, and it's working! I had to have two cups of green tea the first day (didn't sleep so great the night before, so that was a factor), but every day since I've been ok with just the one cup. Energy levels have been ok, and my system feels less jittery.

(I ended up not going with the dandy blend because it has barley and rye, and I am avoiding all grains except rice.)

Anyhow, I'm glad to be off the coffee and consuming less caffeine per day. I will probably still have a cup of coffee every now and then just because it tastes so nice with my setup.

 

[SD_haze]

I do have a mate who pounds the coffees every day, and he'll sit there tapping his leg/foot all night...
I've started calling it his caffeine shake - seems like a kinda bad sign to me, but he doesn't take any notice of it...

Going through college with 4 different Starbucks on campus, I'd see so many kids doing the leg/foot shaking during lecture. It's really like they don't notice it. All I know is, it was extremely distracting.

 

[lwien]

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/coffee/