I Was Challenged to Stop Drinking Coffee for 90 Days — This Is What Happened
I’m never going back again.
It’s not your fault, is it?
The coffee addiction.
Three quarters of American adults drink coffee at least once a week, making it the most widely consumed beverage in the United States.
It’s easy to understand why so many people rely on coffee:
- It provides us with a caffeine boost in the morning
- Helps us stay alert and focused
- Makes us feel more energised throughout our day.
But what happens when we stop drinking coffee?
How exactly do our bodies react during this short detox period?
How long does it last?
And what are some ways that we can help make this transition easier?
The world’s most popular drug is coffee. It ranks in the ‘Top 10' most traded commodity in the world.
Coffee, more than anything else in our daily lives, is an experience shared between us.
Coffee is the common thread that ties us together.
I always told myself — that I needed coffee.
In fact, I never needed it. I wanted it!
The ‘No coffee’ challenge was set up by my partner, who chose to break my habit of consuming the drink for three months.
And I know there is nothing wrong with having one cup of coffee a day, but I wanted to test myself too.
In any case, it was getting to a point where it felt like my day could not begin without a cup of coffee first, this was wrong and I did not like how submissive I was becoming towards it.
So I changed that.
I tried going cold turkey on coffee for a month but it just didn’t work out for me.
So instead of giving up completely, I decided to try switching from caffeinated drinks (including coffee) to decaf versions while keeping healthy snacks on hand as part of my daily routine.
I started by cutting out all caffeinated drinks from my diet (including tea).
And after two weeks, I cut it completely.
Here were the results:
Of course, the withdrawal symptoms
I think the worst part was probably the headaches I often had, but they were usually pretty minor.
I also noticed that my heart beat would speed up a tad upon not having coffee, like it was relieved that I wasn’t going to be consuming caffeine anymore.
It’s not surprising though since caffeine is a stimulant, and we’re all familiar with that jittery feeling you get when you drink too much of it.
But of all that, I think the biggest withdrawal I had was not from the drink itself but rather, the routine that I was now missing.
Setting the water to boil — Grinding my coffee beans — getting a fresh brew every single day- waiting for the aroma to fill my whole kitchen.
Such an ‘Ah’ feeling.
Feeling less anxious and calmer
Caffeine is known to increase your heart rate, making you more anxious and stressed out in general.
Yet, ironically we love a warm cuppa.
But when you stop consuming coffee, your body will get used to less stimulation so it won’t be as much of an issue anymore. You’ll also have less anxiety overall and feel more relaxed while sleeping at night.
I didn’t notice this immediately, but a week into this detox and I felt lighter from the inside.
Going to the washroom felt different — Good different
Coffee can irritate the digestive tract and contribute to symptoms like bloating, heartburn, and constipation.
Stopping coffee may help to improve digestion and reduce these unpleasant symptoms.
My digestion became more efficient than it had been before.
This is something that most people won’t notice until they give up coffee for an extended period of time. It is, however, one of the first things that gets better when you stop drinking it.
I didn’t have to visit the washroom after every cup of coffee. It felt gentle on my body — and I think my gut bacteria even thanked me.
I was sleeping better
It was not 100% better, but it definitely improved. And the difference was really noticeable when I had to wake up earlier in the morning.
I also noticed that my energy levels were higher after I stopped drinking coffee. This may be because caffeine is a diuretic — it makes you pee more often during the day, which can lead to dehydration and a decreased amount of water in your body (and increased urination).
In addition, caffeine may affect how your body processes other chemicals in your system, such as melatonin — a hormone that helps control sleep cycles.
And all these things didn’t come to light until I stopped having coffee.
In conclusion
The toughest part was withdrawal. Sleep is a struggle, and focusing is even more difficult. You’re irritable, anxious, and depressed.
You need coffee. It’s just crazy how much you depend on it until you realise that you’re about to slip into caffeine withdrawal for the first time in your life.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can create feelings of anxiety and panic in people who don’t have an adequate caffeine tolerance. When you stop drinking coffee, your body will naturally start to adapt to the change in your diet.
In order to reduce caffeine withdrawal symptoms, you should take steps to slowly reduce your caffeine intake.
A trap is only a trap if you don’t know about it. If you know about it, it’s a challenge.
— China Miéville
