Many people forget that caffeine is a powerful drug. Not only can it be addictive; it can also cause a wide variety of negative health effects. Certain people are more sensitive than others to caffeine, and you may find you have to cut out caffeine from your diet entirely to avoid these effects.
About Caffeine
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. This means it can affect your mental processes to make you feel more alert, awake and energized. There is no nutritional need for caffeine, and you can eliminate it without harm unless you are addicted. Caffeine can be man-made and is commonly present in coffee, tea, diet and regular sodas, energy drinks, diet pills and medications. It also occurs naturally in kola nuts.
Side Effects
Drinking too much caffeine can cause headaches, restlessness and anxiety. Other side effects include a fast heart rate, depression, insomnia, nausea, tremors and frequent urination. Prolonged usage may interfere with absorption of calcium needed to make bones dense, thereby causing osteoporosis. Caffeine can also interact adversely with certain medications, so it is imperative to remember that it is a drug and to discuss its use with your doctor if you are taking medications. People who should be especially careful with caffeine include those who are pregnant, as well as people who have problems sleeping, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, fast or irregular heartbeats or chronic headaches. Caffeine may exacerbate these conditions.
Addiction
Many people become psychologically and physically addicted to caffeine. If you are addicted to caffeine, you will notice withdrawal symptoms when you go for a long period without caffeine. These include cravings, drowsiness, headaches, irritability, nausea and vomiting. Therefore it is better to taper your usage slowly than to stop cold turkey.
Cutting Back
According to Mayoclinic.com, if your caffeine intake is more than 500 or 600 mg a day, you may want to cut back. If you are sensitive to caffeine, this number is much lower. A cup of coffee contains between 95 and 200 mg caffeine. A cup of black tea contains between 40 and 120 mg. A cola soda can have 35 to 40 mg caffeine, and energy drinks can have anywhere from 75 to over 200 mg. Cut back by switching to decaffeinated coffee beverages and teas or herbal teas.
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