Coffee Addiction
How To Eliminate Your Coffee Addiction
Coffee addiction is one of the most common of all addictive behaviors. But it isn't really the coffee you are addicted to. It's the caffeine. In fact, it is said that caffeine is the most widely used drug in the entire world. Yes, you read that right. Caffeine is considered a drug, and if you drink at least two cups of coffee every day you are almost certainly addicted to it.
When we think of addictions, we usually think of illegal drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol. It is true, though, that the caffeine in the coffee we indulge in each morning is contributing 100 percent to our coffee addiction. All this time we thought we just needed a little pick-me-up and enjoyed that smooth warmth at the start of the day. The truth is we are feeding our body a drug that messes around with our central nervous system.
The reason coffee wakes us up in the morning is that the caffeine it contains sends a jolt into our brains that does several things, not the least of which is giving our heart rate a boost. Caffeine also speeds up our metabolism, gets our digestive system kicking and increases the flow of serotonin, which is a brain chemical that affects our mood. So, when we get those first delicious few sips down, we feel really good.
Up till now our coffee addiction isn't looking so bad, and the reality of it is that caffeine is far from the worst thing you can be addicted to. On the other hand, it may not be the healthiest of substances for our bodies either. Some coffee critics think that repeatedly jump starting our nervous system with caffeine throughout the day is not good for us over the long haul. They say it can negatively impact our adrenaline production, which could be problematic and may cause illness over time.
The other thing too much caffeine can do is prevent proper sleep. That caffeine jolt is great when we want to perk up before we hit the office, but it's not so special when it leaves us tossing and turning through the night. This is especially harmful for young people who drink coffee. Because they are still developing, it is important for children and teens to get enough rest, and getting boosted on caffeine will almost always prevent this from happening.
Coffee isn't the only caffeine distributor, either. Caffeine is also the main ingredient in tea, Coke, Pepsi and chocolate. So if you are trying to cut back on the caff, stopping the afternoon or evening cups of coffee is not the only culprit to be eliminated.
True to its form as an addictive drug, caffeine causes withdrawal symptoms when it is discontinued abruptly. These include severe headaches, irritability and drowsiness. The best way to kick the coffee addiction is gradually by cutting back a little at a time over several days. Once you get over that hurdle, enjoying a cup of Joe every now and then should be a piece of cake.