6 ways to cut out (or cut back on) caffeine

all of you ppl are ridiculous. There is nothing wrong having a cup of joe to start the day. Yout body need all different sources of nutrients throughout the day to stay hydrated while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Listen to your body rather than what ppl want you to do.

Thanks for the article. Insightful.

The mere fact that upto 90% of North America adults (and probably mankind) consume caffeine in one form or another means that caffeine, including coffee, isn't bad at all. Sugar in the coffee or the chocolate is more likely the culprit. As in most food types, consumption of excessive quantity of a food type is often a cause of a health problem.

I do not know what is your health issue, perhaps you will like to be more specific. Coffee is good for me. There is also more evidence from recent studies that decaf is more of a health risk than coffee itself.

I like to share a personal experience. In 1999, i went into a serious depression for 3 years. I didnt take medication , recovered 3 years later.

As I looked back, 1 possible cause might be I cut back on coffee too fast. The sudden deduction of caffeine might have cause a chemical imbalance, causing depression in my case.

I know this article says cut back slowly but not totally. Nevertheless, people apply speed differently. So go slow really gradually and carefully....

I agreed with some readers that studies show some caffeine is good for the body. So i m still drinking coffee.

I've also read studies that show a little bit of caffeine a day is actually good for the body. I see nothing wrong with cutting back...but cutting it out completely is a bit overboard when it's been proven that a small amount is a good thing.

I HAVE to have my coffee in the mornings, only mornings though. I use to drink up to 3 cups a morning before I could get moving. I am trying to have a baby and my Dr. has instructed me to only one cup a day. So far so good............. I drag that one cup as far as it will go lol.

Thanks for the article, great advice !!
Yall have a great day,
Heather :)

Celestial Seasonings makes some great herbal teas, I've been cutting back on the high octane stuff a bit myself due to hypertension.

I drank five 6oz.Coca Cola and 4 cups of tea a day and cut back to no coca cola to two cups of tea a day. It was a process which began with me being aware of what I was doing. Here is some of what I did. My hands would automatically prepare or reach for my drink of choice even before my brain made me aware of it. Where ever I am in the process I stop myself. I would buy my cola divide it in two and addd water to it. I was drinking five times but in a diluted form. Then I cut back on night drinking; after seven no tea nor cola passes my lips. During the Lenten season I used abstainence from these drinks as my challenge to improve myself. If someone was drinking cola or tea close to me I would walk away. I got a jar and put in the money saved from non drinking to give to a good cause. If I start to drink or bought a cola I would give it away to the first person I see. You won't believe how this has added positively to my image on work. I say to myself everytime,"You are worth this effort!"

nice article, But no it is not that easy for me to cut back. I get an average of 4hrs of sleep a night, i can't control it. Coffee is the only way i am able to function during the day. Im actually sitting here right now with a Venti Starbucks double shot in my hand which has 6shots of expresso. I get about 2 a day. Along with my pot of coffee in the morning. I barely eat and coffee is keeping me alive! lol like i said nice article but i dont think its going to work for me, sorry!

I thought coffee only have caffine,tea don't have.It is good that i am updating myself......Thanks for the information

For health reasons, I was instructed to quit coffee a year ago (which I loved - even the aroma of the coffee aisle...yummy). I couldn't have done it without Teeccino. This product comes in different varieties (the Maya blends are most like coffee in flavor) which you brew exactly the same way as coffee. You can even use it to gradually wean yourself off the real stuff. Find it online at www.teeccino.com the website also has great information about the health dangers of coffee and caffeine. :D

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a respected advocacy group, just published an article in their Nutrition Action Healthletter, saying that regular caffeine is one of the best ways to help ward off dementia in later life. Some of their reporting on other research on caffeine can be found in this NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/health/05brod.html. Most of the research indicates that caffeine is actually beneficial and has few bad effects. I myself don't drink coffee or soft drinks, but am considering increasing my caffeine intake.

Hockey fan - I don't think the answer is banning everything under the sun...I think the answer is that people need to learn a little bit of self control and learn how to function by consuming things in moderation. It's the EXCESS of anything that gets people into trouble.

My hubby vowed to cut back on coffee after a friend of ours, who is my age(35), had a heart attack. Hubby still drinks a lot of coffee, but, has cut back quite a bit.

"There is no human requirement for caffeine in the diet. However, moderate caffeine intake is not associated with any health risk. Three 8 oz. cups of coffee (about 250 milligrams of caffeine) per day is considered an average or moderate amount of caffeine. Ten 8 oz. cups of coffee per day is considered excessive intake of caffeine. Pregnant women, and people with coronary heart disease or peptic ulcers may be advised by their health care provider to restrict or avoid using caffeine. Caffeine is frequently added to over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, appetite suppressants, and cold medicines. Excessive caffeine intake can lead to a fast heart rate, excessive urination, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, anxiety, depression, tremors, and difficulty sleeping. Moderate tea or coffee drinkers probably have no concern for their health relative to their caffeine consumption provided other lifestyle habits (diet, alcohol consumption) are moderate as well. Abrupt withdrawal of caffeine may cause headaches, drowsiness, irritability, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. Reduce caffeine intake gradually to prevent any symptoms of withdrawal.
(The above information comes from MedlinePlus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002445.htm)
I myself am a coffee drinker, tea drinker, soda drinker, etc...to sum it all up, I do use caffeine. Use your own judgement. You know your body. Consult a professional if need be. I try to moderate. If I'm going to have 3 cups of coffee in the morning I will try to limit any other caffeine the rest of the day. This doesn't work on nights I am on the go constantly (I'm in EMS). Sometimes I grab that Mtn Dew for the boost. If I know I am going to be on the go, I will try to limit my coffee in the morn to allow for my intake in the eve. Anyhow, check out the website, and not just that one. Search for some good scientific info. Here are a couple of other things from other sites.
The American Cancer Society states on their site "A new study has found that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption do not have an effect on ovarian cancer risk, while caffeine intake may lower the risk, particularly in women not using hormones. The study is published in the March 1, 2008 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society." As well as "Moderate intake of green tea is generally considered safe. Asians have consumed this tea for thousands of years with few dangerous side effects. However, some people may develop allergic reactions and should stop drinking it. Drinking large amounts of tea may cause nutritional and other problems because of the caffeine content and the strong binding activities of the polyphenols, which may reduce absorption of certain medicines and iron supplements. Always tell your doctor and pharmacists about any herbs and supplements you are taking.
The following is from the American Dietetic Association. "While moderate caffeine intake has little influence on bone health, studies of connections between caffeine and health have found that consuming caffeinated drinks can contribute to calcium loss through your digestive system. Research indicates that you lose the amount of calcium in about one teaspoon of milk for every cup of regular coffee you drink.
To counter caffeine’s calcium-reducing effect and even boost your calcium intake, increase the amount of low-fat milk in your coffee drinks." Tc everyone and happy researching.

Actually, for the women...caffeine actually depletes the bones of calcium:( I am guilty of drinking it, thus aiding in bone depletion... however, since I am in the process of having my teeth whitened I will try and make a cut from caffeine. It is hard though, as I like my Pepsi and my very sweetened coffee. I have tried the caffeine free Pepsi but it really doesn't have the same "kick" flavor as the regular. Like the other writer wrote-everything in moderation... Good article but sometimes old habits and vices are hard to break or eliminate.

Why not put the health into the habit? Coffee drinkers can drink coffee with Ganoderma in it. The Ganoderma neutralizes the caffeine as well as provides many known health benefits. My grandmother had to stop drinking coffee but now she's fine when she drinks the coffee with the Ganoderma in it. She orders it at wholesale from www.organohouston.com. But, people can also but a single box at a time without worrying about shipping from www.wix.com/organo.OrganoHouston. Good luck everyone. And for those who don't like the idea of changing the coffee you drink, always remember everything is fine in moderation.

I love my coffee, but I only drink one, maybe two cups a day, everything else is water. Too much and I shake! It can be healthy for you, but not for everyone. I'm pretty sure this is why my dad still has a liver, apparently it helps repair damage, and he was a very heavy drinker for a long time, but he always had his coffee too...

Ok people there is some truth to this. There may not be alot of info given but think you should have the where withal to contact a physician and/or nutritionist, lighten up. Sounds like you may have had too much caffeine today. Also, coffee can be related to digestion problems. I only drink coffee in the morning no more than 2 cups. Celestial seasonings has some great teas. Green Tea is good as well.
I will share something that disturbed me, one day I was had business to tend to at my husbands benefits office. It was probably about 10 am or so. the setting was a long counter in the front, behind that counter were serveral desks arranged in sections of four facing the other. I was standing there waiting for the lady to return with some infor for me. As I looked out at the sea of desks, I saw little slender cans and tall cans or go girl, monster, redbull, etc. I just got very concerned. As women we have to keep ourselves pumped up with something to keep from falling over. It was crazy to see all those cans. some were sodas, coke pepsi. What are we doing to ourselves. No I don't have answers but we should be mindful of our bodies and what we put into them. But realistically, moderation is where to start.

I didn't know alot about caffeine effects but after reading this article it sure is a wake up call. I drink 3 cups of tea in the am but i think i will start cutting back slowly like they suggest. thanks for the information very helpful