What Happens When You Quit Caffeine?

There is nothing nicer than that first morning cup of coffee to get you going for the day. Well maybe it’s the second cup that wakes you up. Third? OK so maybe caffeine doesn’t have the same affect on you as it once did and it’s time to cut it out. But how easy do you think it is? Could you forgo your morning cup easily?

Here, we are going to look at what happens when you quit caffeine and the effects it has on your body. To fully kick the addiction, it’s going to take grit and determination, which is why we have come up with 7 reasons why you should quit caffeine too. So, if you are ready to ditch the caffeine for once and for all, let’s take a look at what you are likely to expect over the first couple of weeks. 

The First Few Days

OK, we’re not going to lie, the first few days are going to be rough. BUT… it’s only 72 hours of discomfort in exchange for a life of better health. The symptoms you might find in the first few days will be headaches, down moods, trouble concentrating, crankiness, tiredness and sleepiness. Once you have managed three days of these symptoms, you should start to see an improvement in yourself and your health. 

The Next Ten Days

As your body adjusts to no caffeine, it will begin to form new routines. Your sleep may take up to 2 weeks to get back to normal, but you will begin to have more energy in the mornings and definitely feel less cranky. But amazing transformations are happening inside. Your organs will begin to function better, your body will start producing more healthy hormones and you will feel physically and emotionally more stable. 

Reasons Why You Should Quit Caffeine:

1. It Lowers Your Anxiety

Anyone who has a caffeine addiction will tell you about the caffeine jitters. Known by the shaky feeling across your whole body, the caffeine jitters are usually accompanied by a feeling of dread, heightened alertness and anxiety. By cutting out caffeine, you will start to notice that all of these symptoms subside. For those who are already suffering from anxiety, caffeine can make it a lot worse so it’s really important you steer clear of caffeine. 

2. You Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 10 hours and it’s highly recommended that you don’t drink caffeine for at least 4 hours before you go to bed. So, it stands to reason that you would get a better night’s sleep without it. The reason it affects your sleep so much is that it stops you from entering a deep sleep, the kind of sleep that helps your body and mind to regenerate. Once out of the habit of having deep sleep, it can take weeks for your body to get back into it and as such, can take a little while before you notice yourself having a good night’s sleep. 

3. Slower Ageing Skin

Did you know that caffeine has an adverse effect on the amount of collagen your body produces? Collagen is a protein that is produced by your body to pump up your skin and keep it tight. Without this protein your skin will lose its elasticity quicker and make you more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. By removing caffeine from your diet, you can slow the ageing process!

4. Whiter and Healthier Teeth

Whether your choice of caffeine is coffee, soda or tea, all of these come with added colours that can stain your teeth. As you drink these down, they pass over your teeth and leave a small amount of reside that, when left for a certain amount of time, can stain the enamel on your teeth. As well as this, caffeine dries out your mouth and reduces the amount of saliva that you make. Saliva is a key element in fighting bacteria and as such, your mouth is at a higher risk of bacterial attack when you drink lots of caffeine. The less caffeine in your diet, the less risk of tooth decay. 

5. Lowered Blood Pressure

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is vital for a healthy body and healthy organs, but the more caffeine you put into your body, the higher your blood pressure goes. High blood pressure can put you at risk for lots of different health problems including diabetes and heart disease. By reducing or eliminating your intake of caffeine, your blood pressure will return to a normal level, and this will in turn keep your body healthy too. 

6. More Energy

It’s hard to believe that a beverage we always reach for to get more energy is actually doing the opposite in the long run. The caffeine quick high and then long come down means that people are often more tired than energised by caffeine (unless they are drinking it constantly) and as such, quitting caffeine is a much more effective way to get more energy. After a week or two of quitting caffeine, you will see your energy levels improve and you’ll feel ten times better in the morning! 

7. You’ll Be More Hydrated

Caffeine often acts as a diuretic which can cause you to lose more water than you put in. With our bodies in need of water to function properly, its important to stay hydrated and keep your water in good balance. By cutting out caffeine and replacing it with a healthier alternative, you will be keeping your body more hydrated and allowing your organs to function at a better level. 

The habit of drinking coffee can be such a difficult one to quit. But when the caffeine isn’t working and your body is just as tired as before, it makes total sense to remove it from your life. The health benefits speak for themselves so with some determination and willpower, you’ll have no problem in quitting caffeine.