Why I quit drinking coffee…

“You quit drinking coffee??!!! What would possess you to do something so irrational?! I could never give up coffee!”

Yes, I quit drinking coffee a few months ago. It wasn’t easy. I may have cried a few times, not really. It was however a rewarding experience, and I will tell you why I did it and what I have experienced because of it. I’m not here to convince the world of the evils of coffee, but if you ave come into some of the same experiences I have, it may be worth giving a shot.

MMMM Coffee……

I didn’t have my first latte until December 2012. I only remember that because it was during a rather tough time in my life. I can’t say that I was smitten with my first taste, but it didn’t taste too bad, and it gave me some really great effects that warranted some further experimenting. I was really excited about the energy that I got from drinking coffee, espresso to be exact. I felt awake, I had a mental clarity and focus that I was lacking previously. To be completely transparent, I loved the bowel stimulating effect that coffee gave me. For someone who has struggled with constipation, that is a lifesaver.

So over the next few months, I got really into coffee. I bought an espresso machine and was making my own drinks everyday before work; it was just a really fun addiction…I mean hobby. I eventually worked my way up to drinking drip coffee, though lattes were my beverage of choice. I quickly learned that I could only handle one cup of coffee a day, because of the caffeine. I eventually started roasting my own beans, which was a lot of fun and tasted amazing.

This was all fine and dandy until a few years later when the effects started to wane. I wasn’t getting the same results in the bathroom(tmi I know). I was getting wired but tired on the caffeine and the acidity was starting to get to my stomach. Despite all of that, I kept drinking coffee daily. I eventually discovered cold brew which is 65% less acidic but also has more caffeine. It helped for a while but my body began to respond to that as well.

The Decision to Quit

After some research, I finally decided to quit coffee. I had done this before but I couldn’t find a good substitute so I inevitably went back to my daily coffee. This time around I did a lot of research. I ended up landing on matcha green tea. Matcha comes from the same plant as green tea, but it is harvested and processed differently. Matcha is ground up into a fine powder and has more chlorophyll and antioxidants than regular green tea. It is an alkaline tea and its caffeine is processed slower in the body which makes for a more steady energy boost. I highly recommend matcha green tea,

Reasons to Quit Coffee

• Acidity– Coffee is very acidic. The acidity of coffee is associated with digestive discomfort, indigestion, heart burn, GERD and dysbiosis (imbalances in your gut flora). I was getting acid reflux to the point that it just wasn’t worth it anymore.
• Anxiety– Coffee promotes anxiety. I would get anxiety with coffee, not like a panic or worry but general restlessness type of feeling.
• Sleep– Coffee can affect your quality of sleep. I noticed after I stopped drinking coffee that my sleep got better.
• Tolerance– Your body can become tolerant to the energy promoting effects of coffee, causing it to lose its efficacy over time.
• Addictive– Coffee/Caffeine is addictive. Your body starts to rely on coffee to get you going every day. Your body doesn’t need this and can be reset to live without caffeine.
• Teeth– Coffee can cause tooth decay and stain your teeth. I noticed that my teeth got white when I stopped drinking coffee.
• Absorption– Coffee can hinder the absorption of vitamin and minerals like iron, magnesium, and b12.
• Hormones– Coffee can wreak havoc on your hormone levels. Quitting coffee has been shown to help balance out your hormones.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few reasons to why it could be beneficial to quit drinking coffee. To be honest, I still may have a latte about once a month but my daily habit has definitely been replaced. If you have any of these symptoms listed, it may be worth a try to get off coffee for a while. It is worth it to take care of your body. You only get one life and you don’t want to live it being sick and tired. Live free and live healthy!

-Adam