10 Health Benefits of Caffeine-Free Lifestyle

Are you a coffee lover too? Then you wouldn’t dare think about quitting caffeine. Any caffeine addict would prefer a cup of coffee over any other beverage. But did you think about the benefits of quitting caffeine?

But like all good things in life, coffee, if consumed in moderation, is good for health. Too much caffeine intake can cause serious health problems.

Just like loading up on caffeine has benefits, living caffeine-free has its share of health benefits too.

Here we have listed ten health benefits of living caffeine-free life

Benefits of quitting caffeine:

1. Less anxiety

Have you been feeling a lot anxious lately? If yes, then caffeine is to blame. 

No doubt, caffeine sure does give you an instant boost of energy, the reason why most people drink coffee. However, this sudden boost of energy stimulates our flight or fight hormones. 

This increases nervousness—anxiety, heart palpitations, and panic attacks too. Caffeine can make symptoms worse in people prone to anxiety and stress.

Additionally, according to studies, a high caffeine intake increases the risk of depression during adolescence.  

2. Good sleep

Too much caffeine habit can affect your sleep. Studies found that regular coffee intake disturbs the sleep cycle, resulting in improper sleep and drowsiness during the day.

This is more applicable if you consume coffee regularly before 6 hours of bedtime.

Say no to caffeine if you want undisturbed and blissful night sleep, and you will also fall asleep quicker.

3. efficient absorption of essential nutrients

If you don’t drink coffee, your body will absorb nutrients in a much better way than people who are caffeine lovers. This happens because of the presence of a substance called tannins in coffee. The tannins inhibit a lot of absorption of the following nutrients:

• calcium
• iron
• B vitamins

This is more true for people with high caffeine intake, old age, or an imbalanced diet. (source)

A caffeine-free lifestyle ensures that you get all the possible nutrients from your diet.

4. Healthier teeth

Coffee stains teeth- and there is no fighting it. 

This happens due to the presence of tannins in the caffeinated drinks, which causes buildup on the tooth and causes discoloration.

The acidity content of the soda and coffee causes enamel decay and wear.

5. Hormonal balance for women

Women will benefit from quitting coffee. Caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, and soda change the estrogen levels in females.

A study found that consuming 200 milligrams or more caffeine every day elevates the estrogen level in black and Asian women, while there was a slight change in the estrogen level of white women.

There is an increased risk of change in estrogen level if you have health conditions like breast cancer, endometriosis, and ovarian cancer.

While caffeine does not aggravate these conditions, a high estrogen level can increase the cause. Caffeine can also worsen menopause symptoms.

6. Low blood pressure

Saying no to caffeine can be beneficial for blood pressure. It increases blood pressure due to a stimulatory effect on the nervous system.

A high caffeine intake of around 3-5 cps every day increases the chances of cardiovascular disease.

7. Balanced brain chemistry

 Caffeine has a direct effect on mood. Caffeine is known to alter brain chemistry, similar to drugs like cocaine. Research agrees that caffeine fulfills some criteria used to measure dependence on drugs. 

People who consume caffeine occasionally have nothing to worry about, whereas people who drink coffee regularly can experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop.

If you are completely dependent on caffeine, you will start experiencing withdrawal symptoms within 12-24 hours. The duration of these withdrawal symptoms will depend upon caffeine intake. On average, it can last for two-nine days and will be at a peak between 21-50 hours.

8. Fewer headaches

One of the most annoying and common side effects of withdrawing caffeine is headaches. It will show up after a few days.

Have you ever noticed how you get an unannounced headache when you are too busy to drink coffee? This is one of the symptoms of withdrawing caffeine.

Others are:

• brain fog
• fatigue
• difficulty concentrating
• Irritability

A study done in 2004 revealed that even when the symptoms do not show right away, caffeine intake can become a chronic reason for daily headaches.

9. A healthy digestion

Quitting caffeine can benefit digestive issues. Too much caffeine intake can aggravate unpleasant digestive problems.

Coffee has a laxative effect that can stimulate the bowels. Too much caffeine consumption can result in diarrhea. Caffeine also plays a major role in causing GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

10. You age better

If you are worried about aging, then avoid caffeine consumption. Caffeine interferes with collagen formation as it reduces collagen synthesis in human skin.

Collagen affects the skin, nails, and body directly. Avoiding a cup of coffee in the morning could mean delayed aging.

When to avoid caffeine?

Stay away from caffeine if any of the below-mentioned condition applies to you:

• Pregnant or trying to conceive

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid consuming caffeine if they are trying to conceive. Caffeine increases the risk of miscarriage and reduces fertility.

• Prone to anxiety.

People who are prone to depression or anxiety should avoid caffeine consumption. It can make the condition even worse. 

Caffeine also increases some of the psychiatric conditions. It can increase irritability, anxious behavior, and hostility.

• You have a digestive or gut condition like gout, acid reflux, or diabetes

If you have a digestive condition, caffeine can worsen the symptoms. This is very true if you have:

• acid reflux
• Diabetes
• Gout
• IBS

• take certain medications.

Make sure that caffeine does not have any counter effects with your prescribed medications.

 These drugs include:

• antidepressants 
• antibacterial drugs
• asthma drugs

Final words:

While quitting caffeine does not sound like a good idea, it can benefit greatly. Coffee sure does have its share of health benefits too. However, if you do not feel any positive changes in your life by ditching coffee, there is no harm in sipping a cup of coffee occasionally.

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