LOSE WEIGHT AND 7 AMAZING REASONS TO QUIT DRINKING COFFEE NOW

Although caffeine is generally accepted as safe for consumption in moderation, there are some solid benefits of breaking the habit and quitting coffee, energy drinks, tea, soda etc. There are benefits associated with consuming it—like improved memory function and obviously greater levels of alertness—but then you hear from people who quit the stuff and say it changed their life.

You’ll Feel Like Crap 

While every person is different, if you are ingesting upwards of 400 to 500 ml of caffeine per day (that’s about three to four cups of coffee, six cups of tea, or 10 cans of soda), you will probably feel some let-down effects, he says. They typically last seven to 10 days, but you can minimize their effects by weaning yourself off of caffeine, rather than quitting cold turkey. Every two or three days, trim your intake just a bit. Drink just half a cup of tea at a time—or mix regular coffee with decaf. Wesley Delbridge, R.D says that Symptoms include fatigue, headaches, and some pretty hefty mood swings spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. He even recommends telling your friends and family that you are cutting out caffeine before you start so they will know why you are so horrible to be around.

You’ll Gain Weight

Caffeine acts as a stimulant, which lessens your appetite, and it also acts as a diuretic, so it makes you shed water. So if you stop drinking caffeinated coffee and colas, be prepared to be a little more hungry than usual… and possibly gain a little weight.

You’ll Lose Weight

Unless you drink your coffee black. Caffeinated beverages generally add empty calories to our diets that we don’t really need.

Many experts say that sugary beverages are a huge component of the obesity epidemic plaguing the western world.4

A study from Victoria University found that when caffeine is in a sugary beverage it causes people to consumed more of that sugary beverage compared to a sugary beverage without caffeine.

You’ll Sleep Better and Have More Energy

Caffeine can greatly reduce the amount and quality of sleep.² Drinking coffee or energy drinks too late in the day can interfere with getting to sleep since the half-life of caffeine is 4-6 hours.

Even people who have no caffeine after 12 noon report a better quality of sleep after quitting caffeine.

Also, Caffeine alters the mood. Many report being grumpy until they’ve had their morning coffee and others feel lethargic when the caffeine begins to wear off in the afternoon.

Quitting can even out the ups and downs.        

Your Workouts Will Suffer

The American College of Sports Medicine has even come out and said that caffeine improves exercise performance and intensity. And as you know, hitting it hard is key to getting the most results from your workouts.

You’ll Miss Out on Antioxidants

According to research from the University of Scranton, coffee is the number one source or antioxidants in the average American’s diet. Another study published in Breast Cancer Research found that women who drink 5 or more cups of coffee a day are 57% less likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer than those who drink less than a cup a day. And a recent American Journal of Epidemiology study found that drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day could cut your risk of dying from heart disease by 21%. So, if you are cutting coffee and tea from your diet, make sure you are getting all you need from fruits and veggies!

This is a tough one! I love my coffee (and don’t personally plan on giving it up although I could trim my intake). But it seems to me that a little bit of balance is all one needs.

What do you think? Are the benefits worth it? Have you given up caffeine? Did it change your life? Or, will they be prying the coffee from your cold dead hands?

Your Tummy Will Be Happier

Coffee poops are a real thing. That’s because, apart from the fact that caffeine speeds things up in your digestive system, coffee is very acidic, which can also up your risk of the runs, says Delbridge. Skip caffeine and avoid possible emergency trips to the john.

You’ll Feel Calmer

Caffeine is a stimulant, it hits your nervous system’s gas pedal. Caffeine triggers a release of adrenaline, needlessly putting you into “fight or flight” mode. Plus, since caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, narrowing your blood vessels, it raises your blood pressure, says Delbridge. Get rid of caffeine, and you’ll feel less anxious and stressed.

 

 Source : http://thescienceofeating.com/