Caffeine Withdrawal: Symptoms, Duration, and Effects on the Body

Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / stokpic

If you decide to stop drinking coffee, you may experience caffeine withdrawal. This is usually accompanied by unpleasant side effects. Here’s everything you need to know about caffeine withdrawal.

Coffee not only gets us on our feet in the morning, it is also very popular because of its taste. Though it’s scientific controversial is whether caffeine really addicting, burdened For many, it affects the body when you stop drinking coffee. Inner unrest, Insomnia, nervousness or even stomach problems can result. The same applies to caffeinated lemonades or energy drinks.

What caffeine withdrawal does to your body

Adenosine allows our body to calm down, but is inhibited by caffeine.
Adenosine allows our body to come to rest, but is inhibited by caffeine.
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / leninscape)

There are several in the brain Receptorsthat contribute to well-being in certain processes. These include the adenosine receptors. They make sure that you can relax. At the same time, the production of stimulating messenger substances such as dopamine or norepinephrine is reduced. As a result, the heart rate drops and your body finds peace.

When you drink drinks like coffee, the caffeine takes the place of the adenosine receptors. Now the opposite is happening. The body wishes for a break, but it is stimulated. When you drink coffee regularly, the body is in a state of enduring stress. The brain tries to counteract this situation by producing even more adenosine.

If you now decide to stop drinking coffee, there is an overproduction of adenosine and few activating messenger substances. Your body is in a complete imbalance and there are unpleasant symptoms.

Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal: this is what it feels like

Exhaustion and tiredness are part of caffeine withdrawal.
Exhaustion and tiredness are part of caffeine withdrawal.
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Wokandapix)

The first Symptoms caffeine withdrawal already sets in twelve to 24 hours after the last cup of coffee. How severe the symptoms are depends on how much coffee you have previously drunk and how fit you are in general.

These symptoms may occur with caffeine withdrawal:

  • a headache
  • Exhaustion and loss of energy
  • Restlessness and insomnia
  • Circulatory problems and nausea
  • constipation
  • lethargy
  • Irritability and lack of concentration

How long these side effects last varies greatly. The body tries everything to bring itself back into balance. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

This is how caffeine withdrawal works

Exercising helps combat the symptoms of caffeine intake.
Exercising helps combat the symptoms of caffeine intake.
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / stevepb)

If you’ve decided against caffeine and coffee, now comes the hardest part: withdrawal. You either put your body on cold withdrawal or sneak the caffeine off. Tapering off means that you gradually reduce the dose of caffeine so that the body can gently adapt.

Cold withdrawal means that you won’t have any more coffee from now on. The symptoms of your withdrawal symptoms will now be more severe, but the spook will be over pretty quickly.

We have a few tips to ensure that the caffeine intake is successful and that you do not reach for a cup of coffee again:

  1. There is often a routine associated with enjoying coffee. You should skip this routine or replace it with a new one. For example, do you enjoy having coffee with your colleagues in the afternoon? Instead of simply giving up your coffee, it would be better to meet up for a ten-minute walk in the fresh air. This also gets the circulation and gray cells going.
  2. Do sports. To get rid of an addiction or addiction, get physically active. By moving, you lose the desire for coffee, unlike when lying on the couch.
  3. Most people find it hard to resist the smell of coffee in particular. So let your family and friends know about your project. Ask them to be considerate of you and not to put fragrant coffee in front of you.
  4. Become aware of why you drink coffee. Is it the taste? Then give it a try Coffee alternatives as Lupine coffee out. Are you too tired without coffee? That goes away after caffeine withdrawal. Otherwise, you should make sure you get enough sleep and give your body more breaks. Or do you drink coffee because your digestion gets going? Then resort to alternatives such as dried fruit or Wheat bran back.
  5. Find a replacement drink for your coffee. This is also suitable Green tea, although the caffeine also keeps it. With green tea, however, the caffeine is absorbed much more slowly and carefully by the body than with coffee. As a result, green tea is still a pick-me-up, but a healthy one.
  6. If you want to do without caffeine completely, there are numerous alternatives to coffee for you too. These include herbal teas, using hot water ginger or hot water with lemon.

Read more on Techzle.com:

  • Prepare matcha tea: it tastes best with this technique
  • Awake: These natural remedies help against fatigue
  • Restlessness: Effective Remedies to Help With It

English Version Available: Quitting Coffee: Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms and How to Beat Them

GET THE UTOPIA NEWSLETTER


Recent Articles

Related Stories