Some individuals will claim they can’t function without their morning cup of coffee or another sort of caffeine. They might think they’re exaggerating, but their dependency can be just as powerful as any other kind of chemical addiction.
While caffeine might seem like a pretty innocuous substance, especially compared to things like alcohol or nicotine, it can contribute to many health issues, both mental and physical.
When individuals are feeling constantly on-edge and dealing with headaches on a regular basis, they might want to reconsider whether the energy boost is really worth it.
Health Benefits of Going Caffeine-Free
To help everyone better understand, these are some health benefits of going caffeine-free.
1. Lower Blood Pressure
If individuals drink coffee on a regular basis, their blood pressure is unlikely to be affected as a result of their body becoming adapted to the effects of caffeine.
However, those who are infrequent drinkers should be mindful of the spikes in blood pressure that can occur. High blood pressure is linked to cardiac problems, strokes, as well as kidney issues.
Should an individual have blood pressure they need to keep an eye on, it might be in their best interest to either not drink caffeine or to do so in very limited quantities. They should avoid heavily-caffeinated drinks like espresso or energy drinks. Having lower blood pressure is key to cardiovascular health.
2. Reduction in Anxiety
Caffeine doesn’t cause anxiety to manifest out of nowhere, but there’s ample evidence indicating it can seriously exacerbate it for individuals who already have anxiety disorders.
When someone prone to stress and anxiety consumes caffeine, they can find themselves feeling far more jittery and worked up about what could go wrong.
They might have the energy caffeine is meant to provide, but it comes at the expense of having to contend with being too nervous to actually get anything out of it. Patients with anxiety need to do as much as they possibly can to reduce their stress.
If individuals drink caffeine on a regular basis, they might not even realize how much stress it’s been causing them until they quit. The reduction in anxiety will make individuals much better-equipped to face any challenges.
3. Increased Sleep Quality
Do you find yourself tossing and turning in bed, feeling like you’re trying in vain to fall asleep? Caffeine is meant to wake us up, but the flipside means it can be a hassle to fall asleep.
For someone with a voracious caffeine appetite, the link between their habit and not being able to fall asleep is plain to see. Individuals don’t have to drink a cup of coffee right before bed either, as caffeine can course through the body for hours. If an individual is going to continue consuming caffeine, they need to be aware of when to stop for the day.
While a cup of coffee in the morning won’t make any real difference and individuals will also probably be able to get away with having a pick-me-up cup after lunch, continuing to drink it throughout the day is just asking for trouble.
If individuals find themselves getting sleepy when they need to be awake, they should use non-caffeinated alternatives like a cold glass of water or try brief stretching or light exercise. When it comes time for bed, individuals can have increased sleep quality based on how easy it is to drift off.
4. Whiter Teeth
It might seem a bit like vanity, but not having white teeth can be a powerful reason for why individuals might want to cut back or eliminate caffeine from their diet.
Though individuals might think they’re in the clear if they’re not a coffee fan, drinks like black tea can also take the shine out of teeth.
It’s still possible to have white teeth when drinking caffeine, but individuals have to do regular maintenance to compensate, such as making sure their dental products are specifically designed in a way to combat stains. They must also be particularly thorough with their dental hygiene.
If individuals can’t manage to keep up with these demands, they might need to reconsider whether or not it’s worth it to continue drinking coffee or tea.
5. Fewer Headaches
Individuals who abstain from caffeine get to enjoy a much clearer mind and avoid headaches. Dependency on caffeine, even in the form of a couple of cups of coffee per day, leads to the brain’s blood vessels opening up when deprived of caffeine.
This means individuals feel quite a bit of tension in their head and need to use caffeine to combat it and must continue to drink caffeine to keep this at bay.
Those who are going caffeine-free can keep themselves from developing a chemical dependency and be much more productive as a result. If individuals want to have fewer headaches, then, they might need to give up caffeine.
Individuals going caffeine-free, particularly when the goal is to reduce their headaches, should do so gradually to reduce the symptoms of going caffeine-free.
Via: Prevention