Caffeine may protect you against Parkinson's disease, diabetes and liver cancer according to a 2010 article at MayoClinic.com. But for some people who are sensitive to the chemicals in caffeine, its negative effects outweigh the positive. For those people, continuing to drink caffeine is not an option. And when they do stop drinking what Johns Hopkins University professor Roland Griffiths calls "the world's most commonly used stimulant," they may experience unpleasant effects.
Headaches
According to a study conducted by John Hopkins University, as little as 1 cup of coffee a day can make you addicted and produce classic withdrawal symptoms such as headaches if you stop drinking it.
In the study, 50 percent of people had headaches, of varying severity, 12 to 24 hours after stopping caffeine, with symptoms peaking within one or two days and lasting for two to nine days. According to MayoClinic.com, caffeine withdrawal might be one of the triggers for migraine headaches as well.
Other Withdrawal Symptoms
Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, nausea and muscle pain are classic stimulant-withdrawal symptoms that the John Hopkins study also found in people suffering from caffeine withdrawal. The symptoms occur with withdrawal from either coffee or from two to three 12-oz. cans of caffeinated soda according to Griffiths.
As a result of the John Hopkins study findings, caffeine withdrawal will appear in the next edition of the official "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" and the World Health Organization's "The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems."
Depression
As with the other withdrawal symptoms, depression may occur in varying degrees once you stop drinking caffeine. Daniel Hall-Flavin, writing at MayoClinic.com, explains that there is not a clear-cut connection between caffeine and depression. However, he goes on to note that for people who are sensitive to the chemicals in caffeine, stopping consumption, especially if done so abruptly, can increase depression.
Reduction of Blood Sugar Levels
If you have type 2 diabetes, 2 to 2 1/2 cups of coffee a day may cause an increase in your blood sugar level, even if you drink the coffee with a meal, according to Maria Collazo-Clavell in an article at MayoClinic.com. The effect may not occur with everyone, but Collazo-Clavell suggests that people who need to monitor their blood sugar levels closely may see a benefit from eliminating caffeine from their diets. (See Reference 7)
Reduced Pain from Breast Cysts
While scientific studies do not confirm the effect, many women find that eliminating caffeine relieves pain caused by breast cysts, according to Sandhya Pruthi, writing at MayoClinic.com. Pruthi notes that studies about this effect have had differing results, but that stopping caffeine is worth trying and might work for some women.
References
- MayoClinic.com: What Does the Research Say About Coffee and Health? Is Coffee Good or Bad for Me?
- John Hopkins Medicine: Caffeine Withdrawal Recognized as a Disorder
- MayoClinic.com: Migraine Headaches
- John Hopkins Magazine: The Buzz in Pop
- MayoClinic.com: What's The Relationship Between Caffeine And Depression? Does Caffeine Make Depression Worse?
- MayoClinic.com: Does Caffeine Cause Breast Cysts?
