If you’re a coffee lover like many, you might feel like you’ll be giving up a major support system when you stop drinking coffee. We’re so used to having a cup of coffee every morning as a ritual that it’s hard to imagine being without it. But just like anything else, there can be advantages and disadvantages to drinking coffee daily that may be worth considering before you make a drastic change.
Throughout history, coffee has been consumed as a refreshing pick-me-up to keep up with the demands of life. While it’s true that caffeine is a stimulant, and a beneficial one at that, too much of a good thing can be bad. Studies have shown that drinking more than four cups of coffee per day can have a detrimental effect on our bodies, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, and even anxiety.
Medical experts suggest that we should cut down our daily allowance of coffee to be safe, especially for those with a pre-existing heart condition or blood pressure issues. Also worth noting is that caffeine is highly addictive, so abruptly cutting out one’s coffee intake can have a wide range of withdrawal symptoms including decreased energy levels, headaches, irritability and difficulty concentrating.
So what happens when you cut out coffee? Well, one of the most significant changes is to your energy levels. It’s been shown that those who consume caffeine on a daily basis tend to have less natural energy reserves, causing them to rely on coffee to get through the day. When you cut out coffee, you start tapping into those natural energy stores, providing you with sustained energy rather than a quick fix, leading to increased productivity.
Aside from increased energy levels, the effects of not drinking coffee can be positive in other ways. For one, cutting out coffee can lead to better quality sleep. Caffeine is a diuretic which can lead to frequent trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, interrupting one’s sleep. Not drinking coffee can also give you a natural boost in mood and help to alleviate mild depression as coffee is known to negatively affect hormone functioning in the brain.
Socially speaking, there is no denying the fact that coffee is a common denominator for conversations. But there is nothing stopping you from enjoying other activities such as walking, biking or going to a yoga class. All of these activities come with the added bonus of being physical activities, great for staying fit.
In the end, it is up to you if you want to keep drinking coffee or cut it out of your life altogether. By considering the potential benefits and drawbacks to not drinking coffee, you can make an informed decision that works best for you.
Stress Reduction
On top of the physical benefits of not drinking coffee, there can be mental or emotional ones as well. Reducing coffee intake has been shown to reduce stress levels, as caffeine can cause tension in the body and mind. This can be especially beneficial for those who are prone to anxiety, as it can help to create space for more mindful practices such as meditation.
Additionally, for those who make coffee a social activity, quitting will allow for greater emotional connections with friends and family. Without the distraction of a piping hot cup, we can become more present and available in our conversations.
The key to stress reduction is to create healthy emotional outlets, and when it comes to caffeine, this means finding alternate sources of energy. Exercise, healthy eating habits, and getting enough sleep are all great options for naturally boosting your energy.
Also, don’t forget the power of nature. Taking regular walks, enjoying a sunset, or just being in the presence of trees and flowers are some of the simplest and most effective methods of reducing stress.
Improvement In Mental Clarity
If you’re someone who relies on coffee to wake up in the morning, it’s likely that you’re seeing a decrease in mental clarity. When the caffeine wears off you may find yourself struggling to concentrate. When you stop drinking coffee, you reduce the amount of stimulation and allow your brain to naturally function, giving you more mental focus.
Additionally, coffee can be seen as a crutch for many of us. When making decisions, coffee can give us a false sense of security. Rather than considering all of the aspects at hand, we resort to coffee for an immediate, but superficial, solution.
By eliminating coffee from your day-to-day routine, you’re forcing yourself to view things through a clearer lens. This can lead to better decision-making, better problem-solving, and even enhanced creativity.
But that’s not all. Not drinking coffee gives us the opportunity to recognize our own energy patterns and address any issues that may be there naturally. Without the coffee, we become more mindful and aware of our own mind-body connection, further improving our mental and physical health.
Better Digestive Health
Many people may not realize it, but coffee can have a negative impact on our digestive health. Coffee stimulates the gut, which can lead to increased acid reflux and other digestive issues.
When we stop drinking coffee we can find that our digestive health is improved significantly. By eliminating coffee we are allowing our digestive system to be calmer, leading to better nutrient absorption and overall better digestive health.
But in order to ensure good digestive health on a long term scale, it is important to pair abstaining from coffee with a healthy and balanced diet. Eating real, whole foods that are easy for your gut to digest is key.
Additionally, it can be beneficial to add probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi and fermented vegetables to your diet. These can help to replenish the gut with healthy bacteria and support a healthy digestive system.
Better Skin Health
One of the most apparent changes that come with not drinking coffee is the improvement of one’s skin health. Caffeine can cause dehydration, leading to dry and dull skin. Without coffee, the body will produce more natural oils, leading to healthier and more radiant skin. This is especially noticeable in those who have morning dullness or dryness.
Low caffeine levels can also result in a reduction of inflammation in the skin. Inflammation can cause redness, breakouts and even skin thinning. Therefore, when we reduce the amount of caffeine in our bodies, we can reduce these types of skin issues.
But that’s not all. Coffee is also known to cause the skin to age prematurely, so cutting out the coffee can have anti-aging benefits. Not drinking coffee can help us maintain a youthful appearance and keep our skin looking healthy and glowing for years to come.
On top of this, cutting out coffee can help us get on a better sleep schedule, which is beneficial for skin health. It’s been proven that not getting enough sleep can lead to breakouts, sagging skin, and an aged complexion. Therefore, getting more restful sleep is essential for keeping the skin looking its best.
Lowered Risk Of Cancer
Not drinking coffee can be beneficial in terms of reducing one’s risk of cancer. High levels of caffeine can lead to prolonged DNA damage, which can lead to cancerous cells. Therefore, abstaining from coffee can help to reduce this risk.
Studies have also shown that with regular coffee consumption comes an increased risk of bladder and pancreatic cancer. Therefore, by cutting out coffee, we can help to reduce our risk of these types of cancer.
It is also worth noting that not drinking coffee can help to reduce other types of cancer as well. High caffeine levels can negatively affect the liver, leading to an increased risk of liver cancer. Therefore, by cutting out coffee, we can help to reduce this risk.
Additionally, by avoiding coffee, you can reduce your risk of developing other diseases such as type 2 diabetes, which is linked to high caffeine consumption.
Therefore, drinking less coffee can have a positive effect on our health in more ways than one.
Reduced Anxiety and Abnormal Heart Rhythms
Lastly, not drinking coffee can help to reduce anxiety. Caffeine is known to heighten one’s anxiety levels, and when caffeine is not in the body, this can lead to a decrease in these feelings.
Additionally, coffee can also cause irregularities in one’s heart rhythm, known as arrhythmias. By cutting out coffee, we can naturally reduce the risk of these abnormal heart rhythms.
On top of this, studies have also found that those who drink coffee are more likely to suffer from ventricular fibrillation, a type of abnormal heart rhythm. Therefore, by not drinking coffee, we can reduce our risk of this issue.
Overall, not drinking coffee can have a wide range of positive impacts on our health, from better energy levels to improved skin and digestive health. Even without coffee, we can still enjoy a refreshing pick-me-up with alternate sources of energy.
