Are you wondering exactly much caffeine is in your cup of coffee. Trying to cut down a bit, or at least know how much caffeine you are ingesting each day with your morning cup of java or afternoon pick-me-up triple espresso Latte?
A typical cup of coffee contains approximately one hundred and twelve milligrams of caffeine. There is a bit less caffeine in a shot of espresso - a typical espresso shot includes about ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How much caffeine in coffee?This is important to keep in mind when making any espresso drinks.
While these numbers are typical, the amount of caffeine in coffee can vary considerably based upon multiple factors. The primary factors affecting caffeine content of coffee and espresso include the genetics of the coffee bean varietal, the particular roasting given to the coffee beans and how the coffee is brewed.
If the coffee beans being used are Arabica coffee beans then one cup of coffee that is approximately one hundred and twenty milliliters of coffee, if it is drip-brewed, will have about 112 milligrams of caffeine.
A 30 milliliter Espresso shot using Arabica coffee will have an estimated ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How Does Roasting Affect Coffee Caffeine Content?
When coffee is roasted it decreases the overall amount of caffeine in the coffee, but not significantly enough for it to be a serious way to reduce your caffeine intake.
Caffeine did not undergo significant degradation with only 5.4% being lost under severe roasting.
Source
Choose your roast based on your personal preferences, not based on caffeine content.
Roasting does have an effect on chlorogenic acid content - possibly what contributes to many of coffee's purported health effects, but another study also shows that caffeine is relatively unaffected by roast level.
On the other hand the Robusta coffee plant varietal has significantly more caffeine than the Arabica varietal. Robusta coffee beans are used primarily for espresso blends and to make instant coffee.
How Caffeine Metabolizes in the Human Body
Once a person consumes caffeine the body starts to metabolize it and this takes place in the person's liver. The result is three different metabolites. These three metabolites include paraxanthine (84%), theobromine (12%) and theophylline (4%).
In the first 45 minutes after consumption of the caffeine it is likely absorbed by the stomach and small intestine and begins to spread throughout the tissues of the human body.
Caffeine's Classification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Considered safe for human consumption by the FDA, caffeine is classified as a food substance with multiple uses.
All About Caffeine in Coffee - Investigating the Side Effects of Caffeine and the Symptoms of Withdrawal from Caffeine continued:
Caffeine is a stimulant and is known scientifically as a xanthine alkaloid. When it is isolated from its source it is a crystalline white substance and is very bitter.
How does caffeine affect the human body?
Caffeine affects the human body by creating chemical changes in the human brain with a whole variety of effects including an enhanced alertness and energy level.
The way this is enhanced energy and alertness is achieved by the chemical caffeine is that the caffeine pretends, or mimics, another compound which is called adenosine.
The caffeine then binds on to the adenosine receptors in the brain with the effect of halting the true adenosine from doing its job which normally would be to slow down the body's nerve impulses and bring a very sleepy feeling to the person, a natural drowsiness that is warded off by the effects of caffeine.
Yes, some drugs may have an enhanced effectiveness when affected by caffeine. For example, some headache drugs include caffeine in their contents in order to help the effectiveness. This may be related to the vasodilating effects of caffeine.
Caffeine may be used in combination with ergotamine to treat cluster headaches and migraines. Some people prefer to use caffeine to overcome the sleepy qualities they feel when taking antihistamines.
Caffeine doesn't specifically, but coffee does.
However, some people who have shown to be at high risk for liver disease have been shown to have less severe liver injury associated with increasing caffeine consumption. This may include people with obesity, hemochromatosis and alcoholisms. [source]
Because of this, people who drink coffee but want to quit caffeine may want to look into decaf coffee instead of cutting out coffee entirely, so that they can continue to benefit from its health protecting properties.
Yes, some studies completed on ex vivo hair follicles have shown that caffeine may decrease hair growth suppression in vitro due to testosterone. In this regard caffeine may be a potential therapeutic agent in Androgenic alopecia, and caffeine has been added by some companies to their soap and shampoos.
Caffeine is found in nature in a wide array of plants, and it is found in plant fruits as well as plant leaves. This includes: cocoa beans, tea leaves, coffee beans and kola nuts. Less common sources are yaupon holly, guaryusa, yerba mate and guarana berries.
Caffeine often serves to help the plant by working as a natural pesticide against harmful predators on the plant such as insects.
What Products Contain Caffeine, and How Much?
A tablet of Excedrin contains about sixty-five milligrams of caffeine while a regular strength caffeine tablet has about one hundred milligrams of caffeine. There are two hundred milligrams of caffeine in an extra-strength caffeine tablet.
Another example of a common product with plenty of caffeine in it is chocolate. There are about ten milligrams of caffeine in an average milk chocolate bar. Dark chocolate, by comparison, may have about 30 milligrams of caffeine.
There are some dark chocolate bars that have as much as 160 milligrams of caffeine so it can vary considerably by the type and the quality of the chocolate.
Six ounces of a typical green tea will contain about thirty milligrams of caffeine while the very same amount of black tea will have about fifty milligrams of caffeine.
Amount of Caffeine in Coffee continued: You will get about thirty-four milligrams of caffeine from 12 ounces of Coke while a Mountain Dew will give you a whopping 54 milligrams of caffeine. A Red Bull energy drink has about eighty milligrams of caffeine while a Monster energy drink has about 160 milligrams of caffeine.
Withdrawal from Caffeine and Human Tolerance To Caffeine
People who consistently consume caffeine will gradually adapt to the continuous presence of the chemical in their body by increasing their overall number of adenosine receptors in their central nervous system. This occurs since caffeine functions as an antagonist to the receptors in the central nervous system for the neurotransmitter adenosine.
Tolerance adaptation to caffeine has the effect over time of reducing the chemical's stimulatory effects. These adaptive responses to caffeine also have the effect of making the person more sensitive to adenosine, and thus when the intake of caffeine is reduced then the adenosine's natural physiological effects will create withdrawal symptoms.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increased with increases in daily dose; abstinence from doses as low as 100 mg/day produced symptoms.
Research is reviewed indicating that expectancies are not a prime determinant of caffeine withdrawal and that avoidance of withdrawal symptoms plays a central role in habitual caffeine consumption.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
Debate Over Adenosine Receptors, Tolerance and Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
There is some debate in scientific circles about the increase in adenosine receptors being the main cause of building up tolerance to caffeine's stimulating effects, with some evidence pointing toward a conclusion that there are also other causes at work which help to explain people developing a tolerance to large doses of caffeine.
The Discoverer of Caffeine
The evidence is a bit fuzzy but some say that the stimulating effects of caffeine are mentioned in Chinese legends dating to about 3,000 years ago.
Firmer evidence comes from 600 BCE as a Mayan pot dating to this time contains the first clear evidence of a cocoa bean, so we know caffeine was around by this time for sure.
Who First Isolated Caffeine from Coffee?
In 1819 the German chemist Friedlieb Runge became the first scientist to successfully isolate the chemical caffeine from coffee beans. Less than one year later the French chemist Pelletier and another scientist named Caventou also isolated the chemical caffeine, and Pelletier was the one to coin the word "cafeine" which he derived from the word "cafe" meaning coffee.
Who Opened the First Coffee House?
As early as 1530 there were coffeehouses in Damascus, Syria and Istanbul.
What began the spread of coffee all around the world?
In the 1600s the Dutch became the first people to carry coffee from the ancient port of Mocha. This movement of coffee by the Dutch began the rapid spread of coffee beans around the globe and it is still spreading, most recently growing rapidly in consumption in China and other emerging markets.
The Dutch were also industrious in cultivating coffee in other locations, first in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1658.
Caffeine withdrawal
Regular caffeine consumption reduces sensitivity to caffeine. When caffeine intake is reduced, the body becomes oversensitive to adenosine. In response to this oversensitiveness, blood pressure drops dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the head (though not necessarily on the brain), leading to a caffeine withdrawal headache.
This headache, well known among coffee drinkers, usually lasts from one to five days, and can be alleviated with analgesics such as aspirin. It is also alleviated with caffeine intake (in fact several analgesics contain caffeine dosages).
Even small amounts of caffeine (such as a green tea, compared to a full coffee) can do wonders to alleviate a withdrawal-induced headache.
The source of caffeine is important to consider as well. Coffee is generally considered to be healthy, due in part to its anti-oxidant properties. However, energy drinks and unregulated supplements may contain any number of other compounds that can have a negative impact, often working synergistically with caffeine.
Caffeine on its own, particularly coffee, is associated with an overall decrease in all-cause-mortality [4]. Simply put, this means that people who drink coffee are less likely to die from all causes.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
Often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy, as well as having a headache. Many of these symptoms mirror having the cold or flu.
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Fatigue, lethargy
- Constipation
- Depression
- Muscle stiffness, cramping
- Brain fog, Inability to focus
- Cold-like symptoms
- Anxiety
In extreme cases, nausea and vomiting has also been reported. These are very real experiences [1], and despite recurring jokes, can cause problems with normal functioning. If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical advice.
Is Caffeine Withdrawal Real?
In short: Yes. Negative effects from quitting caffeine have been scientifically documented in clinical studies.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories. [1]
Additionally, caffeine withdrawal is recognized by psychiatrists as a real disorder.
Caffeine withdrawal is a recognized disorder and is listed in the DSM-5. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Last?
The answer to this will depend on your level of consumption and the level you reduce your caffeine consumption to.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. [1]
That means you'll probably notice the start within 12-24 hours with the worst being the second day you after you quit. From there, it gradually gets better over the course of a week to a week and a half.
Your brain is miraculously resilient and adapts to life without caffeine in just 2 short weeks. The psychological habit of drinking caffeine can take 3 to 4 weeks to break, but can also be replaced with decaf coffee or another low-caffeine drink (eg. tea).
Reports of people having withdrawal symptoms months or years after quitting coffee or caffeine are more typically confused with general health maladies or other more drugs.
Unrelated Symptoms
Caffeine cessation is often associated with major lifestyle changes, and as such, it can be difficult to associated symptoms directly with caffeine withdrawal. As a best practice, you should isolate factors by making changes slowly, over time, unless under the advice and guidance of a medical professional.
Compounding factors such as other medications, and major health events that lead to discontinuing caffeine, can have a misleading association with caffeine withdrawals.
If symptoms such as kidney pain appears, seek immediate medical attention.
Tingling
There are no known mechanisms through which caffeine withdrawal may cause tingling. On the other hand, caffeine consumption can sometimes cause tingling due to restriction of blood flow to extremities.
Back pain
While back pain is not a symptom of caffeine withdrawal, symptoms may (re)appear when caffeine use is discontinued.
This may be due to caffeine's reported analgesic affect on pain [3] - in english, caffeine might help alleviate (back) pain by amplifying the effect of pain killers. The re-ocurring presence of back pain may be due to synergistic effect being lost, but is unrelated to the temporary effects of withdrawal itself.
Dealing with Caffeine Withdrawal
The severity of caffeine withdrawal symptoms vary with how extreme the restriction, and a gradual reduction can do wonders in avoiding symptoms. Simply starting by replacing one cup of coffee with a decaf coffee or tea will provide a much smaller dose of caffeine, allowing your receptors to re-acclimate to lower levels. Drinking coffee (decaf) or other warm beverage (tea) instead of regular coffee helps psychologically with the well established habit.
Timing large reductions in caffeine consumption is also a useful tool. Picking a time of rest and relaxation such as a weekend or vacation can lessen the burden of symptoms like brain fog and a lack of motivation.
Hydration is also key - while coffee is a diuretic it's also mostly water, and cutting back on coffee may also inadvertently cut back on your fluid intake. Many symptoms of dehydration overlap with caffeine withdrawal including headaches, muscle soreness and leg cramping, irritability and lethargy.
Without caffeine blocking your adenoseine receptors, your body's built up levels of adenosine will lead to a lot of sleepiness. Get lots of rest! Scientists are still puzzled by why humans need sleep, aside from getting tired. According to some research from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) has indicated that sleep enables your brain to drain built-up chemical by products of working so hard (you little genius), which is good for you!
Advil or Tylenol can be an effective method of dealing with the coffee withdrawal headache and muscle pain. Other natural pain relievers such as running / exercise and even an orgasm can provide temporary relief by dilating blood vessels in the brain.
The best solution may not be totally ceasing caffeine consumption though. Coffee does have health benefits, as it contains over 1000 known compounds, with many associated with lowering blood pressure and improving cardiac function, as well as liver protection [2]. Generally, the best coffees are grown at higher elevations will develop more healthy chlorogenic acids that are present in higher concentrations in light roasts than dark roasts. If you're a dark roast lover however, darker roasts cause less stomach acid production. A decaffeinated coffee with just 5-25 mg of caffeine will still retain a lot of its healthy chemicals and will provide health benefits in medium and dark roasts.
With these tips you can reduce the caffeine in your body and avoid the rebound of a caffeine withdrawal.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
[2] Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142457
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419343
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697850
Caffeine and Health. J. E. James, Academic Press, 1991. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research Volume 158. G. A. Spiller, Ed. Alan R. Liss Inc, 1984.
Xie et al "Sleep initiated fluid flux drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain." Science, October 18, 2013. DOI: 10.1126/science.1241224
Jackie says
re: 60YH 2
VERY good advice - thanks. I really am running out of brain energy now so if I've not answered anything re you or Mandy - sorry. I'll be back! Thanks, again for everything. TC Jackie
Jackie says
re: Mandy 2
Aww, thanks for your kind words, Mandy 🙂 I absolutely agree with what you said - the caffeine battle raises many issues, demons and negative aspects of the self. I think I asked you earlier (brain fog really is bad atm - can't remember anything) - how many years before you came off it? But to say again, you DID come off it! You did it and that's the most important thing. I've said it a million times, but I can't stress enough how important it is to eat a healthy diet. The average U,K. diet is partly responsible for all of our terrible health issues(as I'm sure you know) and I have experienced genuine health benefits from (mostly, apart from a terrible Chrsitmas) eating good food while weaning. And simply, the healing elements in food can help to combat the caffeine poison. Since tapering, I've used the properties of food to help me sleep longer and better (although it may be partly psychological) but that has improved, anyway. Anyway, let me know what you think. TC
Jackie says
re: 60 year habit
Thanks, again, for all of you support 🙂 So much to say and hope I can get my head around it. First, please don't apologise for talking about your issues - it sounds like you are in a similar situation to me and I really understand how you can get worn out with stress and sometimes we just need to say how we feel or we get bottled up which only makes the stress worse. I have gone on endlessly about my addiction, stress etc so please feel free to vent or talk about your problems - if I couldn't have done it here, I'd have gone mad. And, oh my word, I didn't know (or hadn't remembered due to my brain fog) just how difficult your life has been - 60 years on caffeine, 40 years of prescribed meds etc - no wonder your withdrawal has been so long and so difficult. You do well to come on here and give the support you do - and I mean that. And now, to be suffering with agoraphobia - are you getting any help for that? CBT or some sort of support? I do genuinely feel you've had a very rough ride through life but I'm so glad you're off all those meds and the dreaded caffeine now. Surely, you will continue to improve and I hope you're stressful situation at home improves. Can you get any help for that?
Thanks for your kind words, also - they did help. As I said, earlier, I read about a guy who took 13 years to get off so that made me feel a little better. I take on about about what you said about learning through your mistakes and perfectiionism etc - I've always wanted a quick fix, been an all or nothing kind of girl i.e. beat myself up when I'm drinking coffee or my diet isn't perfect BUT then go down the opposite road of over-indulgence.
And, eureka, your last paragraph sums it up exactly! In the morning, I come on the laptop and have my poison and feel 'relaxed' before the day begins ( my daughter gets up late due to her illness) .......but it IS a false reality - as I said on my top post, I felt calm and in myself, this morning but from habitual thinking that the only way I can relax is through the coffee and a kind of weird fear of life without it and just habit, I had it. But, as I described, I REALLY wish I hadn't. I feel I'm breaking through and finally seeing it all clearly. I really do feel like I've been in hell these last few years. Anyway, been there, done that - time to get out. Again, thanks so much 60 YH, your perception helps a lot. TC
Jackie says
re: Mandy
Hello, again, Mandy. 🙂 My reaction to your continuing symptoms was - how long were you having caffeine and what level of caffeine were you having? If, like 60 YH, you were imbibing for a long time, it will take time to heal and I've read that it's not a straight line of healing - there are dips and curves etc. It's not dramatic at all to say you're scared of coffee (I've had terrible fear about my addiction) and we know what damage it can do and how addictive it can be. I thought I'd been a failure in taking nearly 3 years to get off it - but I read about one guy who took 13 years! It really is insidious stuff and I wish I was scared like you, Mandy, it would have meant that stopping would have been easier. But, know this, you HAVE stopped and your body and brain ARE both healing. I also do genuinely understand the last part of your post - I became obsessive about how bad caffeine is for you and talked to people about it (ironic, I know, as I've still been drinking it!) ....and, also, about the dangers of junk food/sugar etc. I think it comes from our obsession in wanting to either get off it or our worry about what it's done/doing to our health - so we project it outwards. I also think that when you've investigated caffeine and realise that it really IS poison (and that's how it acts, in the berry), there's a kind a disbelief and anger that it's such an accepted cultural phenomenon...........here we all are (or were), sitting around, drinking it like we're on Friends or something and that it's cool. Well, that's the marketing for you - because it makes a lot of money and then the dopamine rush makes you go out and buy stuff - a well-know marketing ploy. Anyway, I digress.......so see you on another post!
Jackie says
re: 60 year habit and Mandy!
Thank you SO much, both, for your replies and support. It really has meant a lot. I don't think I've got the brain power to write just one post to amalgamate my replies to you - I think the only way I can do it is to reply to each post. But, just to say, I AM definitely feeling more hopeful and positive. I'm back to strictly tapering and I actually drank my tapered amount, this morning, and REALLY wish I hadn't. After I'd had it, I was fully aware of how the caffeine creates that false sense of self, and pushes all the energy into the head and creates that kind of constant craving for something to happen or to feel something, like a restlessness, an anxiety. I know that's the dopamine. I was actually feeling quite calm and in myself, for a change, so why did I have it? The pattern/habit? The belief I couldn't do without it? Neural pathways? Who knows ...but I think for the first time is nearly 3 years, I actually felt I DID NOT WANT IT AGAIN.......and wanted to feel that calmness and being in myself - even if I was physically feeling like crap! This did seem like a genuine change and for the first time, I BELIEVE I can do it. I have been attending to my diet and that is not so hard, any more, unless it's Christmas etc. I believe I have mostly changed those neural pathways - the trick is not to slip back when temptation is around. As I think you know, I am vegan and very interested in food and its health properties. I just got a book 'anti cancer, a new way of life' by Dr David Servan-Schreiber. It goes into the science behind the incredible healing power of some foods and I'm going to immerse myself in that and create a new, very pro-active attitude to food. Besides, I do actually enjoy my way of eating, rather than all the junk and sugar crap which isn't really food at all and leaves you still hungry and craving more.
Anyway, I am rambling but I am very excited and relieved to be here. I feel I'm at the crossroads and the choice is mine but I WILL keep on taking it down the right road, this time. Again, I really BELIEVE I can do it now. Can't say enough how grateful I am to you both - and to everyone on here who has supported me in the past. I hope everyone is doing awap - and to any lurkers on here who feel swamped by their own addictions, it seems to me that it's a process you have to go through, but you do come out on the other side. To those who have found it easy - you really don't know how lucky you are!
Rob -how are you doing? TC Jackie
User (60 year habit) says
re: Well if you do try it I will
Well if you do try it I will be interested to know how it works for you, I have tried it briefly in the past, but possibly I am too sceptical, because it didn't do anything at all for me, but as I say, I did not persevere.
Anyway, maybe you have had your last bout of anxiety, dizziness and fog, I do hope so!!
Mandy says
re: how about we try EFT tapping?
how about we try EFT tapping? i've been off from work today and have spent a lot of time watching EFT videos on you tube to see if that might help my anxiety, dizziness and brain fog and i am going to give it a go, have waited all day to feel.anxious dizzy or foggy so i can test it out and not a sign! now what does that tell me...
User (60 year habit) says
re: Jackie, I agree with Mandy,
Jackie, I agree with Mandy, you are being so dreadfully hard on yourself, and I simply don't understand why or how you can be "ashamed" of how you are dealing with this caffeine problem, I am sorry if I minimised it by saying what I did about it not being as hard to get off as benzos, and telling you about my stressful life, I wasn't thinking about you when I did that, I got carried away with my story.
I think that if you could see how many times I have failed and felt ashamed about things you might feel a little better. I try and think about failing better every time I fail. There isn;t any progress without failure, life is just one long learning process. I think perfectionism is a difficult thing to deal with, I try now to make things a little better and have given up on perfect, so please can you be a little kinder to yourself?
Regarding what you wrote, are you sure that when you say that coffee is the only thing that gives you relief from pressure I think you may be like a nicotine addict who says that cigarettes help them to relax, when in both cases, it is simply because they get relief (or "relaxation" ) from taking their substance of choice because it stops the withdrawal symptoms. So until they get off caffeine or nicotine and recover, they are caught in a vicious circle. Because caffeine is certainly not known for it's ability to help relieve pressure!!!!
User (60 year habit) says
re: Mandy I know it is caffeine
Mandy I know it is caffeine because it is the fatigue that started with caffeine wd that makes my life a problem at the moment, if that would stop, none of the stuff I described is a problem for me…
The way I deal with agoraphobia doesn't result in the symptoms you describe, or I wouldn't do it at the moment. Anyway, I am certain that it is all due to caffeine, and nothing will shake my conviction about that. It is just like any withdrawal from any drug, but in a minor way (compared to benzos), and it will take as long as it takes.
Mandy says
re: youve a lot going on too
youve a lot going on too then, and this is the thing: how do we know its caffeine withdrawal we feel as opposed to stress and anxiety ? you bravely push through your agoraphobia but the cost of that huge success is a body filled with adrenalin with resultant symptoms. (i am sorry if i have gone too far, i dont presume to know you better than you know yourself.)
Mandy says
re: ah Jackie you are being very
ah Jackie you are being very hard on yourself indeed. i have realised how i feel and function now is not all about the caffeine battle, but something about the caffeine battle has brought all the other issues into sharper focus, same for you perhaps. I'll say as i have before i can only stay off caffeine because of how scared i was during something like a hypo dehydrated panic attack thing where my brain did a ten second whirl and whoosh, and believing that caffeine was a part cause got me off it; i had been trying to quit unsuccessful ly for several years.
User (60 year habit) says
re: what i mean is, maybe
what i mean is, maybe caffeine doesn't give you a problem as it does me because I have suddenly become "allergic to it", If it wasn't for that, I would probably still be drinking it, and I can't remember what effect it has on you, and if none, why put yourself through the withdrawal process, although the fact that you have bad wd symptoms indicates to me that you may very well have a serious problem with it, and could therefore look forward to eventually feeling really really well!
User (60 year habit) says
re: and Jackie, one thing I do
and Jackie, one thing I do know that helps everyone, is
take things a day at a time, don't look forward or back, just take it one day at a time.
It is so much easier to stay off caffeine for just one day….
very very best wishes
User (60 year habit) says
re: Hello Jackie,
it so nice to
Hello Jackie,
it so nice to hear from you again, I also have been thinking a lot about you.
I also have an incredibly stressful life at the moment and it never ever lets up, I sometimes feel I won;t actually mind when I have to leave this planet, but I am not at all suicidal, just completely worn out with stress and never ever ending housework etc (caused by illness (not mine), but I am the one who has to keep things going. I wouldn't think of resorting to caffeine because I now know how ill it makes me feel, and I am wondering if you have ever lost your tolerance to caffeine so that it made you feel crap when you went back on it? That might be part of an answer to your question re how to help you.
I know that habits are extremely difficult to break because I am battling with agoraphobia (amongst other things) and I have to repeat a journey to an unfamiliar place over and over again (and I usually have to start by breaking it down into small bits, ie 1 tube stop , and building up to the complete journey. So I do know what you are talking about, but for some reason I can override my liking for sugar, caffeine etc etc. I have had to be extremely determined to get through some of the terrible life events that have been mine, but I don't feel particularly strong. I think that I never ever want to be addicted to anything again (I have mentioned my addiction to prescribed meds that took years to recover from, and the drugs that my idiot GP had me on for 40 years which are far more difficult to get off than heroin, so although caffeine is a complete pain to get off it is only an inconvenience and not the complete and utter hell that I went through getting off the prescribed stuff) (that may be why I am not as sympathetic to some posters on this site as I might be). Anyway, I am just trying to think my way around this (and not getting very far).
I think that you possibly don't really believe that getting off caffeine will really be that big a deal for you, you may not believe how "wonderful" you will feel, but I can tell you that getting off prescribed benzodiazepines was such an awful experience that I was suicidal for years, but when I finally recovered life was such bliss, that that experience has given me the confidence to realise that life can be even better without caffeine (to which I have become "allergic" to anyway). So what I am trying to say to you is that if you could see how well you will feel when you are off caffeine, nothing at all could induce you to drink it ever again.
So I hope you can find a way to believe in the healing that comes from being caffeine free. Please write back and tell me what you think, because I feel that caffeine may not be a big problem for you, in which case why give it up?
Jackie says
re: Anon - 60 year habit
Hello, thanks for asking about me - it really touched me, as I'm feeling lost at the moment and stuck in the same old rut. Btw, yes, it was me who replied to Sarah. I thought you might guess it was me - but it made me laugh that you did!
If it's OK, I'd like to do a post about how I'm doing and then speak to you and Mandy in another post, later, about how you're doing etc - I've had some thoughts about both of you but my post might be long and my brain isn't working too well to do it all.
First, as you might suspect, I haven't posted because I haven't been doing very well. Some better days but a lot of bad days, especially over Christmas. I'll be honest and 'fess up - I've felt too ashamed to come back on and say how I've been really doing.
I'd been doing well with the taper - but then too much continual stress regarding 20 year plus family health/relationship matters, all sorts of pressures and my own health/coffee addiction sometimes got the better of me and I'd foolishly resort to coffee to 'relieve the stress'. I know that everyone has their problems but, if I can just say it, sometimes I just can't take all the pressure of my life and it seems that coffee is the ONLY thing that relieves it and gives me some respite. Very sad but true - and, of course, it might make me feel better for a little while but the repercussions are terrifying. I also know it's a false reality.
Anon, I remember you once said to me something like - why are you still drinking it when you know it is poison?. Part of the reason is above i.e. relieving the stress of my life (which never goes away) but there are other factors, too. I've been trying to give it up for nearly 3 years and have always wondered why I always seem to automatically slip back into the old ways (like Rob used to - and I hope he's doing well with his latest abstinence). I've talked before about habits becoming ingrained and becoming a part of us before but I don't think that I fully realised or was fully conscious of how true that really is. Christmas showed me this. I'm not sure if I've talked about this before (my memory is very poor) but I got addicted to sugar/junk food when I was very young (under 5, I'd say) and started drinking coffee when I was about 14. So, for the vast majority of my life, I was creating very strong habits. Over Christmas, it was like I was completely back 'in the habit', with over-eating, chocolate, cakes etc, coffee, even alcohol! We went out for my daughter's birthday on 2nd Jan and I completely over-indulged - and I suddenly realised, Jesus, I'm 64 years old and I'm STILL back where I was when I was really young. Same old patterns, same old failure to CHANGE those habits. I have always beaten myself up about my complete failure. I think there was an ingrained BELIEF that I COULDN'T do it, as well. But then I came across a site and it gave me hope. It's Redbird - and it talked about how repeated behaviour create a neural pathway and that is does become completely ingrained in our automatic nervous system("life-time neural habits")......and that a life-time of eating/drinking coffee etc becomes part of who you are and that it's very, very difficult to change it. It said that you have to "overwrite a new habit" or re-write the neural network with a new habit - and that it can take 18 - 224 days DEPENDING ON LENGTH OF HABIT. Eureka! No wonder my habits are so strong - 60 years of sugar, 50 years of coffee (with a few years abstinence in the middle). Reading this was like a kind of final realisation for me about the REALITY of my addiction. So I'm trying to put it into practice. I also read this somewhere and it's obviously true - with a new habit, 'you have to have MANY repetitions for it to become a part of you'. I just wanted to remind myself that I also have the habit (or used to) that if I blew my diet or went on the coffee, I'd be 'oh, I've blown it, so might as well indulge and start again tomorrow' - 50 years and that becomes a ingrained pattern of behaviour, too. So I'm trying AGAIN - I have taken a liking to fresh ginger tea which I always have in the afternoon. I do think I've beaten the Costa temptation ( I take the ginger with me and ask for hot water) and the pm coffee is mostly out of the door. BUT the am coffee is still a massive pull which I can't seem to get rid of, especially when I'm feeling depressed or stressed. I do sometimes have more than the tapering amount. If I can be honest, if I had a 'normal' life with all the usual ups and downs, I think I could do it, but the constant pressure is what steers me - sometimes, I feel like the coffee is the only thing to relieve it. A false god, I know. But then I have to face up to the reality of how my life is. I either deal with it or not. It's up to me.
Well, I truly am SORRY to have written such a long post but I don't talk to anyone about this (I can't worry my family) and it's really helped me to write it all down. I guess the only place we can start is where we are - and just try to overwrite those habits. Anon, I thought some of what I've written might ring true for you (although you probably know it all, too) but, anyway, it makes me realise how strong you were to get off the damn stuff. I hope you and everyone is doing awap and I will post to you and Mandy, either later today or tomorrow. Thanks, again, and, I'll just say, I'm not expecting you to have any solutions for me but if you do have any practical tips, I'd be grateful. TC Jackie
P.S. I've just read this through and feel genuinely upset as I've finally realised that my whole life has been driven by my eating and drinking habits. But at least I DO realise.
User (60 year habit) says
re: I always understood that
I always understood that caffeine is an appetite suppressant, so your weight gain doesn't surprise me, plus I don't know about you, but since I have been off caffeine, food tastes so GOOD!!! I still go for a walk every day, no matter how bad I feel, so I haven't put on any weight, but I have eaten so healthily for many years now(I have to, I am allergic to every food additive that exists, unfortunately), and I meditate etc etc, I think although all these things obviously help, it is only the passage of time that will cure me of my fatigue, back ache, extreme irritability, leg cramps, stomach problems etc etc. I already feel better than I did on caffeine, because caffeine made me very depressed and I am rarely if ever depressed now, although extreme stress will make me depressed for a very short time now (as opposed to a very very long time before).
If you could get into the habit of walking (you may already be doing this) every day, that would probably help you lose the sedentary habits enforced on you by caffeine wd, I find it difficult to do it every day because my fatigue is so severe, but I just make myself go by thinking of all the benefits of sunlight, fresh air, etc etc. It certainly helps my frame of mind to walk somewhere green and leafy….
I wish that Jackie would let us know how she is getting on with her slow taper, I so wish I had had more patience and come off more slowly. Jackie are you there? I suspect you are the "Anon" who is giving good advice re diet etc etc.
Oh and by the way Mandy, thanks for telling me about how your progress has 'plateaued"
because that is exactly how I feel about mine, and I am so very very far from being back to normal that I KNOW my wd process is not over, so if I were you, I would have faith in the fact that you are still recovering and can look forward to feeling a whole lot better with or without any other huge changes in your lifestyle.
If only I had known what I know now years and years ago, I think it takes longer to recover from anything in your 70's, sod it. ButI am so grateful that I have found out what has been plagueing me for so many years, I expect loads of people never ever suspect their daily cup of tea may be wrecking their health
As you say, pats on the back all round!
oh and by the way, don't forget that the woman who wrote "welcome to the dance" also said (I have posted this before) that because caffeine is fat soluble it takes 3 years to completely clear our bodies.
Mandy says
re: that makes total sense then,
that makes total sense then, that even the smell of coffee would smell so horrible to me, thanks for telling me that. my recovery seems to have plateaued i would say, or perhaps the improvement s are so minute, still there but minute. i know ive never felt as bad as i did in those first 8-12 weeks so that tells me the caffeine withdrawal was the cause not all the other diseases i worried about having. i think what has complicated things for me is that the caffeine use compensated for an unhealthy lifestyle, i always felt well on it, until the very end, so i never needed to pay attention to eating regular meals, stress management, work life balance, i certainly never drank water. what i am left with now is a life thats caffeine free (cognitive fog free, addiction free as in addictive behaviours like not been table to settle if there was no diet coke in the house) but is still not healthy so so ive actually put on two stone in weight since quitting, i think there are some clear reasons for this mainly because i felt so dizzy i became anxious i would collapse so became much more sedentary and caffeine is a stimulant, hence faster metabolism isnt it so i was unknowing ly using it to control my weight. anyway i suppose what i am saying is i realise getting off caffeine and through withdrawal is only part of the picture, i have to add eating well, exercise, stress mangemet and relaxation, totally alien lifeskills for me and this i where i am struggling at the moment. i hope that a healthier lifestyle will maximise the caffeine free benifits and I'll feel well more often than not. and what do i read on this site? many posts saying how important healthy lifestyle is, caffeine free may not be enough to feel well i need to do the other stuff aswell, afterall i used caffeine for a reason, to feel good. stay in touch . And do not give up or feel disappointed in the process. is there anything you can add to your life? could you switch your thoughts about not feeling quite right yet to what else could i do - how about some mindfulness meditation or a massage or swimming or something? i struggle to eat regulary and healthy so im not trying to patronise. pats on the back to us for getting this far, indeed to evryone giving this thing their best shot.
User says
re: P.S. Oh, and, if you can
P.S. Oh, and, if you can manage it, don't drink alcohol - for obvious reasons! Good luck.
Anonymous says
re: Sarah
Hi, Sarah. I'd say it's important to eat very healthily while you're detoxing as your body needs all the nutritional support it can get. Eating loads of junk food and sugar will only put extra stress on your liver etc and is toxic and addictive, anyway. Eat lots of good quality protein (chicken, fish, beans, lentils and no red meat, if possible). whole grains, veggies/salad, fruits and a good quality oil eg. olive or canola and drink lots of filtered water. Fresh air and getting outside does help - and plenty of sleep/rest. Good luck and congrats on your 4 week abstinence!
User (60 year habit) says
re: Hi Sarah,
I don't think any
Hi Sarah,
I don't think any of your symptoms are uncommon, if you have time to read through all the older comments on this site, I am sure you will find them all. I have had all of them at one time or another, but have not had the nausea after the first few months thank goodness. I think it might be a good thing that you are avoiding processed foods because of all the additives etc etc.
As far as advice goes, the only thing that will help is time without caffeine, and learning to go gently with oneself whilst going through the process. I think you will be able to do workouts etc eventually, in the meantime, my advice is to go for some gently walks somewhere green and fresh.
Sarah says
re: Trying to make it through this journey
First I would like to say, thank you for all of these amazing and inspiring stories. It has really helped me in moments of temptation.
I would like to ask some advise on symptoms and possible ways to deal with them in a healthy manner. Some personal background: I am a student and have been working at bars for the past few years. I decided to quit my addiction over winter break when I was home with my family. I have been drinking caffeine for about 6 years now and was up to ingesting around 1000+mg a day for the last few years.
I had all the usual symptoms when I quit 4 weeks ago (severe headache starting behind the eyes, dizzy, lightheaded, depressed, nauseous and irritability). Some symptoms I am a little concerned about are:
-I am still nauseous; highly processed foods I was once able to digest make me sick and am overly sensitive to odors
-My body feels week and fragile; I get out of breath easily and once easy workouts now feel impossible
-My alcohol tolerance has decreased significantly
I know detoxing is a process but I was hoping for some guidance in dealing with these symptoms. I am accustom to headaches and migraines so I have those under control but I would love some help with the other less common symptoms. Thank you all for listening and good luck detoxing!!
Userwith 60 year habit says
re: Mandy it is good to hear from
Mandy it is good to hear from you, and very reassuring for people like me (if there are any) that it can take a long time to fully recover, so thank you for your post. The real reason I am replying is because I got in contact with the woman who wrote "welcome to the Dance" last year and she told me to avoid even the smell of caffeine, because it is indeed toxic to people who are sensitive to caffeine (in the same way, I suppose, that cigarette smoke is toxic to people (like me) who are allergic to cigarette smoke.
And I share your morbid fear, and I am sure all my friends think I have gone mad too… whereas I think how mad they are to be so complacent about their caffeine use. I know so many people who show all the symptoms of caffeine sensitivity, but I have had to give up trying to convince them, I just hope that when I finally recover they will be convinced, but at the moment I cannot function properly because of the severe fatigue, back ache, muscle weakness etc. All my symptoms have improved by about 40% but I have bee off for 21 months, so I have no idea how long it will take me to recover. I just hope it speeds up a bit. I am wondering what sort of pattern your recovery took, because I no longer seem to have great highs and lows, just a sort of mediocre gradual improvement.
Please do keep in touch when you have the time, it is so encouraging to hear from you.
PS I am wondering how Rob and Jackie are doing too, and wish them a speedy recovery (and everyone else on this site)
Mandy says
re: good to be back on this site,
good to be back on this site, I'm still caffeine free after quitting cold turkey dec 2nd 2013, but still dont feel quite right, its like a malaise now with the woozy full feeling head still, even after a year and still not quite right! so its good to be back reading the posts because this is the only reassurance that really resonates, works for me, so thank you. i read them over and tick off all the "symptoms" people have but all the same thoughts too, all the worries, all the hopes, just the same. and it calms me, takes me out of my self and encourages me. dyou know i wouldnt dare use caffeine again, ive become scared of it, bit dramatic yes, because of how i felt coming off it i guess. i was at a friends house over xmas and they were brewing coffee and i said, in a very over the top patronising way: this smells like poison, cant you smell it, you think it smells nice.. I've gone mad i think. but thanks again everyone, keep posting, its helps so much.
User says
re: TMI
This is gonna be TMI but anyone suffer from virtually no libido before getting off of caffeine? I suffer from adrenal fatigue and candida and of course caffeine is a huge culprit.
I'm only on day 11. I went cold turkey for 4 days. Then had 6 Oz of coffee per day and now dropped all coffee for 11 days. I have cheated twice with a small coke. Not sure how much it has set me back. I'm up at 3 am again but have 9.5 hours of work tomorrow.
I've also lost a lot of weight, anhedonia, and such from depression. Meds just make things worse.
I'm in fear that I won't stick with this. I've read it takes 2 months. 3 months for adrenal fatigue but it see several cases of this taking several months to 1 to 2 years. I'm afraid I won't last that long.
User with 60 year habit says
re: Hi On my way, I had to do the
Hi On my way, I had to do the same thing, (go back on and come off more slowly) for the same reasons, and it was easier, so I think you did the right thing. I just wish I had had access to all this info when I was your age, I am in my seventies now, and I have been off for 21 months and am still feeling crap, but not as bad as when I started. I think the length of time one has been consuming this toxic drug must affect the time it takes to recover, so you an be sure it won't take you this long, lucky you…..
Best wishes for 2015 to all struggling with caffeine!
On my Way says
re: Hi everyone
Hi everyone
I have really enjoyed reading your comments, and I would like to thank you all for sharing your stories.
I am a 33 year old woman who has consumed caffeine in one form or another all her life. When I was in my 20s my coffee consumption really got away on me. I was very naïve to the potential for harm, I really wish more people would talk about it.
Anyway, I have been trying to quit for a while now and have established that cold turkey is disastrous for me. The anxiety is horrendous. So I have cut back to one small flat white for now and even though that is enough to cause withdrawal it is manageable. My plan is to stabilise on that and then go for half strength etc. I know this isn't ideal, but I can't seem to function doing it cold turkey.
Hope to chat to you all soon.
And here's to a healthier 2015 for us all!
User with 60 year habit says
re: 3 years to recover!! I am not
3 years to recover!! I am not alone, so relieved to read this post on Corbett Barr"s blog:
February 7, 2010 at 11:12 am
A london bank had the most excellent espresso in little cardboard shot cups. I drank these as doubles. One lunchtime I counted 20 – twenty – little cups lined up on my desk. At that point I decided to give up. Cold turkey – No tea or coffee. It was hell. The first 3 months I was a mess – the biggest problems were head aches, lack of concentration, fatigue. It took about 3 years to totally get over it. During that time if I had one sip I could feel the effects for 3 days. Now a tiramisu will still keep me awake all night. I gave up 10 years ago.
I do feel a lot better now.
I hated the thought of being addicted to something.
User with 60 year habit says
re: a comment from
a comment from Smithsonian.com:
you only need to get through about 7-12 days of symptoms without drinking any caffeine. If you can make it that long, your addiction will be broken.
Yyyyyessss, it's just that simple! Bulk wrap.
I started drinking coffee in university. Landed in hospital once when the regular barista at my regular coffee place gave me a 6-shot mocha one morning. Doctor told me to quit. I kept right on. It took me many, many failed attempts over more than 13 years to kick caffeine. No matter whether I went cold turkey or tapered down to zero intake, the relentless symptoms lasted for weeks—much longer than 12 days—and eventually I would pick up a cup of coffee because I couldn't think, concentrate, or get anything done; I couldn't function and the bills and incomplete work would pile up. And that one cup would invariably make the next day's cup almost impossible to resist.
From time to time I managed to quit for a couple of months and the withdrawal symptoms would start to go away, then for whatever reason within 2 days I was back to daily use. Despite the obvious negative health effects—the gastrointestinal upset, the disrupted sleep cycle, the energy peaks and valleys all day long—I kept relapsing.
Finally, after many years, many quits, and many relapses, I kicked it for good. I no longer consume caffeine—not even "decaf" coffee, which just contains less caffeine, not no caffeine. I guess there may be inconsequential amounts in dark chocolate I sometimes eat, but that's it.
Do I miss coffee? Yup, sometimes I still do, and most of all I miss coffee ice cream. I found a decaffeinated brand and gave it a try; it was delicious, but the next morning brought the familiar old uphill struggle to get out of bed. Apparently I am enduringly hypersensitive to even small amounts of caffeine. But life is much, much better without it. I wake easily in the morning; it's no longer a hideous, painful struggle to drag myself out of bed and I am no longer a slave to the coffee machine (nor is my wallet a slave to the coffee shop). I no longer hit that zero-energy wall in the afternoon. Both ends of my gut are much happier; no more heartburn, no more acid reflux, no more gobbling Tums like candy, no more running to the washroom. My urine doesn't stink as it did.
User with 60 year habit says
re: I should have added that if
I should have added that if we want our guts to get back to normal asap, taking meds will only disrupt our systems even more.
Plus I am even more sensitive to any meds atm because of caffeine wd, so that makes things even worse if I take them.
User with 60 year habit says
re: yes i have still got stomach
yes i have still got stomach issues from caffeine wd, although they are gradually improving, but I wouldn't ever take meds for it, in my experience only time will sort it out.
I have copied and pasted the following:
If any of the following side effects occur while taking omeprazole, check with your doctor immediately:
Rare
Back, leg, or stomach pain
bleeding or crusting sores on the lips
blisters
bloody or cloudy urine
chills
continuing ulcers or sores in the mouth
difficult, burning, or painful urination
fever
frequent urge to urinate
general feeling of discomfort or illness
joint pain
loss of appetite
muscle aches or cramps
pain
red or irritated eyes
redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of the skin
skin rash or itching
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, in the mouth, or on the genitals
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Drowsiness
fast, racing, or uneven heartbeat
mood or mental changes
muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching seizures
nausea or vomiting
trembling
If any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking omeprazole, get emergency help immediately:
Symptoms of overdose
Blurred vision
confusion
dryness of the mouth
flushing
headache
increased sweating
Some omeprazole side effects may not need any medical attention. As your body gets used to the medicine these side effects may disappear. Your health care professional may be able to help you prevent or reduce these side effects, but do check with them if any of the following side effects continue, or if you are concerned about them:
Less common
Body aches or pain
chest pain
constipation
cough
diarrhea or loose stools
difficulty with breathing
dizziness
ear congestion
gas
heartburn
loss of voice
muscle pain
nasal congestion
runny nose
sneezing
unusual drowsiness
Zac says
re: Stomach problems
Thank you for the reply. I've only been drinking the kefir for about 3 weeks. The stomach problems have been persistent since early November.
Betsy says
re: stomach problems
I don't know how long you have been drinking the kefir, but I got terrible GERD, bloating, discomfort & heartburn from drinking kefir. Once I eliminated it, the symptoms slowly disappeared. It was not related to coffee withdrawals!!
Zac says
re: Stomach Issues
Anyone having stomach issues several months after going off caffeine?
I'm at the six month mark and I'm having acid stomach/GERD, bloating, and general discomfort almost daily. I've been taking omeprazole for about six weeks now, as well drinking kefir and eating yogurt, with limited success on easing thing up.
Anyone experience anything similar?
Rob says
re: 4 Weeks Today
Hi all, just a quick note to wish everyone a happy and caffeine free Christmas and New Year. It's been 4 weeks since I quit cold turkey and things are improving slowly but steadily. I find I'm sleeping better, am beginning to think more clearly and coherently, have more energy and am saving alot of money not going to coffee shops. On the downside I've still got a very muzzy head, tingling in my hands and feet, a sore liver/stomach and a bit of muscle tension in my back.
The sum of the negatives is still way less than the way I felt when drinking coffee though, so I'm just going to keep plodding along, a day at a time, and see what happens. I feel like I'm slowly climbing out of the dark, dingy pit of caffeine addiction into a brighter, clearer future.
User with 60 year habit says
re: Yes, I am exactly the same,
Yes, I am exactly the same, to smells, sounds, light, food additives etc etc, I do hope it isn't permanent. I am having a strange reaction when I take a deep breath, I have a sort of chest irritation which makes taking a deep breath impossible, It makes me cough. I must have become allergic to something in my environment, but I don't know what. Food tastes a whole lot better too, although anything hot or bitter tastes worse.
I too would welcome any other feedback on this, is it permanent or does it stop eventually?
Paul says
re: Ultra sensitive while going through withdrawal
Anyone else notice an increased hypersensitivity while going through withdrawal? Several weeks into it, I find myself very hypersensitive to certain foods, supplements, pain killers, air quality, etc... almost like my body is on some sort of high alert where things that wouldn't previously bother me really seem to cause upset.
Would love some feedback on this...
User with 60 year habit says
re: magnesium
How to Increase Your Magnesium Intake
If you think you might be low in magnesium, your best way to address this issue is to start consuming foods that are high in magnesium.
Buying foods from your local farmers market and foods that are certified organic may have higher levels of magnesium. The soil from conventional farms is depleted of magnesium because they do not rotate their crops or let the land rest. Also, they typically only put nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium back in the soil, but leave out magnesium.
Typically, the foods you’ll find that are highest in magnesium are green leafy vegetables which are packed with chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is known as the “life blood” of a plant and has the ability to absorb the sun’s light and turn it into energy.
One major difference between human blood and chlorophyll is that human blood has iron at the center of the cell, but plants have magnesium at the center of the cell.
That being said, green leafy vegetables aren’t the only foods rich in magnesium and chlorophyll, here are the top 10 foods high in magnesium that you will want to add into your diet.
Top 10 Magnesium Rich Foods
(Men RDA 400mg and Women RDA 310mg a day)
#1 Spinach 1 c: 157 mg (40% DV)
#2 Chard 1 c: 154 mg (38% DV)
#3 Pumpkin seeds 1/8 c: 92 mg (23% DV)
#4 Yogurt or Kefir 1 c: 50 mg (13% DV)
#5 Almonds 1 oz: 80 mg (20% DV)
#6 Black Beans ½ c: 60 mg (15% DV)
#7 Avocado 1 medium: 58 mg (15% DV)
#8 Figs ½ c: 50 mg (13% DV)
#9 Dark Chocolate 1 square: 95 mg (24% DV)
#10 Banana 1 medium: 32 mg (8% DV)
Other foods that are also high in magnesium include: salmon, coriander, cashews, goat cheese and artichokes.
Zac says
re: Magnesium
Cold Turkey,
I started using magnesium oil in early October. It seems to have some positive impact on my anxiety and muscle aches/tension.
Two things to consider:
- In pill form, magnesium can be hard on your stomach. If you get nausea or diarrhea after taking it for a while, step back your dosage.
- Studies are coming out that indicate regular magnesium use can alter hormone levels in males. If someone has hormone issues or related health considerations, they may want to ask a doctor first before supplementing.
Cold Turkey says
re: Trying something
I've been doing some research and it sounds like a lot of what we experience from caffeine withdrawal can also be attributed to low levels of magnesium. Also, drinking caffeinated beverages can lower your body's magnesium levels.
Starting today, I'm taking a magnesium supplement and I'll keep you all posted on if it works or not. I'm not sure how long it'd take to possibly notice any changes, but we'll see.
If anyone else has tried this, please let me know. I'm curious to see if it has helped.
Paul says
re: Thanks, Zac
I appreciate the encouragement. I expect bad days, but a bad week is really hard to handle. My anxiety gets the best of me and I start worrying that this is my new "normal". And it makes me start worrying that something is damaged in my brain... ugh. Why did I ever drink this horrid stuff. 😐
Zac says
re: Symptom Increase
Don't get discouraged Paul.
For myself, and the majority of people going through this with you, the recovery process is cyclical, not linear. You will have good, okay, and bad days and weeks. But you are getting better, hang in there.
Paul says
re: Nearly six weeks in... nasty symptom increase
This is starting to get very frustrating. I had a nice improvement about 10 days ago and for the past 5-7 days, I've had a severe kickup of anxiety, brainfog, light-headedness, etc... I have not touched caffeine since I stopped nearly six weeks ago. How could I experience a solid week of improvement only to topple back down again? 🙁
6 Year Habit says
re: DAY 253 NO CAFFEINE
I haven't noticed my leg pain until more recently. I think too many other things were bothering me before for me to notice. Right now, the pain feels more in my bone below my knee closer to my ankle. Considering one of the problems with caffeine is that inhibits the body's Vitamin D receptors and I was Vitamin D deficient, I'm thinking my pain is related to that. For our bodies to absorb calcium, we need Vitamin D. So, the bone in my leg is likely painfully reintegrating calcium. With caffeine, my opinion (not necessarily fact) is that there is a domino effect resulting in some things that we experience. In this case, 1. caffeine reduced my Vitamin D intake. 2. I became Vitamin D deficient. 3. I couldn't absorb calcium efficiently. 4. My leg hurt.
The biggest challenge for me was that I would constantly diagnosing myself with catastrophic illnesses. That too seems to be a symptom of caffeine withdrawal.
User says
re: runny nose
the runny nose is a way of the body detoxing the bad parts of caffeine. i had the same thing. i also experienced the same thing with alcohol withdrawal many years ago. so, this is a GOOD thing because it is getting rid of old stuff you don't want. try not to take any decongestants, etc or anything that will dry it up. that just hardens the toxins all over again. let them flow. i went thru many boxes of kleenex but it was worth it. once its over you will feel a very cleansing 🙂
Cold Turkey says
re: Symptoms
Brain fog, headaches, anxiety, heart pounding out of my chest
Tom D. says
re: leg pain
Would you mind describing your leg pain for me when you first went through withdrawal? I am several weeks out and have experienced lots of "leg burning/aching"...
Tom D. says
re: what exactly...
What symptoms flared up for you exactly? I can't shake the brainfog, sadness, mild anxiety, feelings of despair... really low. 🙁
Cold Turkey says
re: Funny you should say that...
Funny you should say that...I've been experiencing the same thing lately. The last week or two have been mostly great, but the last couple of days in particular have been hellish, without a drop of caffeine. It's got to be related.
6 Year Habit says
re: DAY 251 NO CAFFEINE
Coincidentally, leg pain is the only symptom that I am still experiencing to any degree. I have small muscle spasms (twitching) in the calves of my legs. Plus, I have some pain that feels like it's the bone that hurts. It comes and goes. It seems like my leg "twitching" is another vein-reaction type of symptom related to what you're experiencing. I think that I'm just further on down the road. It's mostly after I exercise when the spasms happen. My rule of thumb with caffeine withdrawal symptoms is that if I have any reason to suspect that it's related to caffeine withdrawal, it probably is. Have faith that it will pass.
Tom D says
re: ups and downs
Anyone else experience a rollarcoaster ride with this thing? I was making daily progress for weeks and then the past two days have been filled with heightened brain fog, confusion, dizzy feeling, anxiety, etc... Haven't had any caffeine at all. Seems like the withdrawal is very unpredictable. 🙁