By Melissa Wood, Nutritional Health Coach
How many cups of coffee do you consume daily? If your answer is more than 4 cups a day, then a caffeine detox might be exactly what you need.
Every day, millions of people drink coffee to stay awake, to focus or just for a boost of energy. You’re not alone. Many people can relate–even me! I like to refer to myself as a recovering coffee addict because the stuff is truly a drug, and I was very addicted. I’d be lying if I said I don’t crave it often.
When you become addicted to coffee and the caffeine it contains, you can experience serious withdrawal symptoms–including headaches and even mood swings–if you do not feed your addiction. Most people don’t even realize it’s coffee-related until they rid their bodies of it.
Coffee gives a boost of energy to your body. You feel energized and you’re running on adrenaline (also known as a fight or flight response), but after some time you crash, and you are left wanting more caffeine! This is the downward spiral begins. If you can’t get through your day without a couple cups of coffee, you too may have a coffee addiction!
Why can coffee be harmful to your body and well-being?
Coffee is known to disrupt absorption of vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body to function properly. Coffee can also interfere with your digestion as well. Feeling bloated and gassy? Coffee may be one of the causes!
Related Heath issues Coffee has been linked to:
- Heart Disease
- High Cholesterol levels
- Fluid loss in your body
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Stroke
- Damaged blood vessels
- Insomnia
- Anxiety Symptoms
- Mood Swings
- Depleted calcium and iron levels in women
- Acne
If you drink coffee and you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, you may want to consider a 30-day coffee detox to see whether these symptoms diminish or resolve all together.
How do you detox from coffee?
Cut back gradually by reducing the amount of cups you’re having daily. For example, for those of you who drink 4+ cups per day follow this chart below:
*Follow this chart until you’re completely Coffee-free!
Days |
Consumption |
| 1-2 | 4+ cups a day |
| 2-4 | 2 cups a day |
| 2-4 | 1 |
| 2-4 | Go WITHOUT!!! |
Supplements that can help you become clean:
Supplements: |
Key Benefits: |
| Korean Gingst Elixir | Balanced energy, mental clarity |
| Liquid B12 | Healthy regulation of nervous system and fatigue |
| Power On | 1 Pure energy and focus with NO jittery feelings |
Foods that give you a natural boost:
Instead of going straight to coffee, I now make an all-natural wellness shot with ginger! Believe me, a ginger shot give me more energy and pep than I could ever imagine.
Another great natural boost of energy is having a superfood smoothie in the morning.
Try this!
- 1/2 cup filtered water
- 3/4 cup raw coconut water
- 2 organic dates or sweeten with organic alcohol free liquid Stevia
- 1 cup frozen organic blueberries
- 1 organic pear
- 1 cup organic spinach
- 1 organic celery stalk
- 3 ice cubes
Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender for 30-45 seconds until smooth. Enjoy the natural boost this smoothie will give you!
Coffee vs Green Tea:
Green tea is a much better alternative to coffee. It contains a much lower dose of caffeine than coffee and is packed with antioxidants. However, all caffeinated beverages can become addictive, so I recommend 1-2 cups of green tea a day!
However, coffee does have health benefits that include essential nutrients like niacin, magnesium, and potassium. It has also been shown to improve antioxidant levels.
Ultimately, it’s up to you and your body to decide whether that cup of Joe is improving your life, or adding to your daily stress!