Caffeine withdrawal

[Green Aura]

For years I only drank decaff coffee and tea, after suffering a quite unpleasant caffeine detox.

But one of our few treats these days, apart from living up here, is a pot of fresh coffee every morning.

We ran out of milk on monday evening and I couldn't be bothered going to the shop (OH can't find it even though there's only one road and it's at the other end of it ) so we decided to go without - can't stomach black coffee.

Oh my - have we paid today. I had to drag myself to the shop with the most dreadful headache and flu-like symptoms and rushed back batting neighbours out of the way to get my fix.

Anyway, after two pots of coffee and paracetamols (which we had to find - so rarely do we use them) we're both starting to feel human again.

I'm seriously thinking of doing a detox and staying off caffeine for good this time. But I do love my pot of fresh coffee - decaff just doesn't taste the same somehow.

[Annpan]

Hellish, isn't it...

Last time I cut out the caffeine, I did it gradually after having many cold turkey attempts... I now have decaf, unless I am out.

I am disturbed that you OH doesn't know where the shop is

[Green Aura]

I think it's not so much a problem of where it is but what it is and what you do in there - I did try to train him but I eventually had to give in - still he's brilliant at computerising and a few other things!

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Since I've discovered that caffine has no harmful effect in the doses in which I take it (and may even have some benefits in protection against heart disease, skin cancer and some other more obscure conditions) I have decided to live a caffinated existence.

Plus de-caf coffee tastes like crap!

I have friends who evangelise about the muck and proffer mugs of stuff that tastes like boiled acorns with the wild eyed stare of someone who would really benefit from a cup of well prepared African arabica, but I'm not getting involved with that caper.

[Odsox]

Since I've discovered that caffine has no harmful effect in the doses in which I take it (and may even have some benefits in protection against heart disease, skin cancer and some other more obscure conditions) I have decided to live a caffinated existence.

Plus de-caf coffee tastes like crap!

I have friends who evangelise about the muck and proffer mugs of stuff that tastes like boiled acorns with the wild eyed stare of someone who would really benefit from a cup of well prepared African arabica, but I'm not getting involved with that caper.

I couldn't agree more.
I have no qualms in admitting that I am a caffeine addict ... and have been most of my life.
AND, what's more I don't have the slightest intention of giving it up.
I drink 5 (small) mugs of black real coffee every day and have done for more than 40 years.

My father-in-law who in all other respects is an intelligent man, drinks not only de-caf instant coffee but de-caf yorkshire tea as well, and swears he likes it.

Take a look at ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaffeination and then convince me that de-caf is better for you.

[Green Aura]

I agree about some of the decaff processes being erm unpleasant.

But have you tried detoxing from it. I used to work with heroin users and after coming off caffeine it gave me a small but vivid idea of what they must go through when withdrawing. I could barely get off the sofa for 2 days.

I try to keep my consumption down - I can't believe that anything that makes you feels so bad when withdrawn can do you any good.

[Odsox]

But have you tried detoxing from it.

Not really.
I heard a doctor on the radio one day say that you get nasty headaches if you stop, so I tried it for a day ... and she was right.
I did give up smoking a few years back after smoking for 45 years, so I do know what it's like.
But I still consider caffeine one of the lesser evils.

[lsm1066]

Drink Earl Grey instead. It has the highest caffeine content of any tea but because it's tea, there's less per cup than in coffee.

I recently heard that there's a substance in coffee (but not caffeine) that causes the body to produce stacks of insulin, thus causing you to hang on to fat. By replacing coffee with ordinary tea (or any other hot drink, even one that contains caffeine), after 6 weeks the average weight loss of the participants in a study was 10lbs.

I'm going to give it a go, because what occurred to me was this. People who don't drink black coffee either use cream or more milk than they would have in tea. Therefore it may be that the weight loss is coming from the reduction in calories and not from the lack of coffee. So since I drink black coffee and tea (can't be doing with milk at all), there will be no change in my calorie intake.

Watch this space.

Lynne

[Green Aura]

How did you know I need to lose weight!!!!

[StripyPixieSocks]

I have always drunk tea... if I drink too much coffee it makes me very poorly indeed however, if I do drink coffee it's usually either a very good quality instant or (and more to my preference) a cup of brewed coffee... unfortunately it gives me a huge caffeine rush and I end up hyper all day so my OH will not let me drink it after 6pm no matter how much I beg

[Millymollymandy]

I drink cheap instant coffee and I don't even really like 'proper' coffee (too strong), unless it is 50/50 with hot milk for a real cafe au lait. I have no idea if I am addicted but I can't imagine not having my 2 cups in the morning to wake me up and get me going! Don't really like tea so I don't know what I'd drink instead - I suppose hot chocolate would be OK.

[Odsox]

Don't really like tea so I don't know what I'd drink instead - I suppose hot chocolate would be OK.

The only flaw in that is chocolate contains caffeine as well

[Millymollymandy]

So that's why chocolate makes me feel so good! There I was thinking it was the sugar rush and serotonins and things that are way too complicated for me to understand.

[lsm1066]

Actually, the chocolate molecule is very similar to the heroin molecule and sits very nicely in the same part of the brain, which is why chocolate makes you feel so good and why you have to keep eating it. Or is that just me? Since I'm allergic to morphine in all its forms, it's the nearest I'll ever get!

Lynne

[Flo]

Ah you lot who have the choice - seems that the arthritis goes with the family and caffeine eventually leaves the diet for comfort.