Your thoughts on caffeine page 5

[hypnotik]

I take a caffeine pill (200mg) instead of drinking coffee, only because coffee slows me down too much in the morning because it's so relaxing. Not sure if a pill is unhealthy or anything.

[lizmint]

I think there must be those who can tolerate caffeine in their diet (unless they're all in denial), and those who can't. I'm one of those who can't. Giving it up was most definitely worth it for me. I find it difficult to understand how anyone committed to healthy living could accept being addicted to something, and I was definitely addicted to caffeine. It took me far longer than the time commonly stated to give it up - many weeks of headaches, nausea and feeling lousy. I occasionally give in to chocolate, but very rarely any other form of caffeine (including 'decaffeinated' coffee).

[TorMag]

Love it!

So...are you a Mentat?

My boss thinks so.........

[CaveWeirdo]

Dado, why are you getting so worked up about this and insulting me? You think you know me inside out based on a few forum posts? You didn't even guess my sex right for a start...

You think I can't handle a headache? Or feeling a bit crappy? Actually I can handle those things just fine. I have been chronically ill for several years, so a few weeks of withdrawal isn't going to bother me that much.

What I had trouble with the last time I tried to quit caffeine, was the fact that I was sleeping for 16 hours a day, sleeping through the alarm, and arguing with my other half which is totally out of character for me. This was after cutting out completely from a starting point of ~200mg of caffeine per day, so not an excessive amount.

I just wanted to know if anyone had some thoughts on how to cut down/quit without putting my life on hold. I didn't expect to be insulted!

Thank you to everyone else who has made some good comments.

[CaveWeirdo]

I think there must be those who can tolerate caffeine in their diet (unless they're all in denial), and those who can't. I'm one of those who can't. Giving it up was most definitely worth it for me. I find it difficult to understand how anyone committed to healthy living could accept being addicted to something, and I was definitely addicted to caffeine. It took me far longer than the time commonly stated to give it up - many weeks of headaches, nausea and feeling lousy. I occasionally give in to chocolate, but very rarely any other form of caffeine (including 'decaffeinated' coffee).

Yes! This is the thing I've been thinking lately when reading people's opinions on whether caffeine has a place in a primal lifestyle. I would prefer to think of caffeine as part of my 10% cheating, but many others, like me, have said they can't function without it, and I think there's some denial going on for some people. Of course some people can have it as an occasional thing or drink it out of habit, but most coffee lovers for example HAVE to have their morning cup.

It's easy enough to say 'just cut down' if you are not addicted to something, or not interested in quitting yourself. It's easy enough to dismiss an addiction as just a lazy habit or a personality flaw. But to have withdrawal symptoms for up to 2 weeks, and to feel like going to the shop to buy some cola, several times a day all that time, that means simply that the biochemistry in your body is borked and needs fixing.

I am definitely quitting cola, the artificial sweetners are making me feel really bad. I just hope I can find an alternative that satisfies me, and which doesn't come with toxic problems of its own.

[Paleobird]

Yes! This is the thing I've been thinking lately when reading people's opinions on whether caffeine has a place in a primal lifestyle. I would prefer to think of caffeine as part of my 10% cheating, but many others, like me, have said they can't function without it, and I think there's some denial going on for some people. Of course some people can have it as an occasional thing or drink it out of habit, but most coffee lovers for example HAVE to have their morning cup.

It's easy enough to say 'just cut down' if you are not addicted to something, or not interested in quitting yourself. It's easy enough to dismiss an addiction as just a lazy habit or a personality flaw. But to have withdrawal symptoms for up to 2 weeks, and to feel like going to the shop to buy some cola, several times a day all that time, that means simply that the biochemistry in your body is borked and needs fixing.

I am definitely quitting cola, the artificial sweetners are making me feel really bad. I just hope I can find an alternative that satisfies me, and which doesn't come with toxic problems of its own.

Yes, I agree that there is a lot of denial and a lot of rationalizing going on.
I would agree with knifegill that kombucha would be a good place to start on busting that soda habit. In place of coffee I would suggest rooibos tea. It has a sturdy enough flavor to keep a reformed coffee junkie like me happy (as opposed to herbal teas which are often flowery or fruity).
I quit cold turkey but, having your first seizure after an all night study session fueled by chocolate bars by the stack and many pots of java will knock some sense into you that way.

[Chaohinon]

I have an openly abusive relationship with caffeine. It hurts so good.

[Bron]

I have never liked coffee (sucks to live in a town with a coffee making factory!) but love my dark chocolate. However I don't think I eat enough to get any sort of hit, and just realised I haven't had any in 3 days and never even thought about eating any.

[paleo-bunny]

I find caffeine (in the form of coffee) very healthful. As do the Mediterraneans.

[impala454]

Found this thread after a horribly failed cold-turkey attempt today. I'm a big coffee drinker, mostly in the mornings.

I'm curious, some people talk about the number of "cups" they drink. So the actual "cup" of coffee according to the coffee maker is ~6oz correct? That's all fine and good except my coffee cup is enormous, ~20oz or so. I drink 2-3 of those between 6am and 10am almost every day. Never saw much problem, I drink it black.

Just decided recently I'd see what happens if I go for a day or two without it. It's unbelievable to me how addicted I must be to it, as I had probably the worst headache of my entire life. It started small and I figured, ok I can manage this, but it got worse and worse, until I found myself chugging cheap gas station coffee and within an hour or two of that the massive headache has subsided. I'm not that concerned with caffeine being bad for me or whatever, I just don't really like the fact that I *have* to have it.