Are You Addicted to Caffeine?
Small doses of caffeine can increase alertness and improve concentration. But higher doses can result in anxiety, feeling "jittery", and other types of discomfort. And addiction is possible - I've often heard people complain of unpleasant symptoms ranging from headaches to difficulty concentrating when they haven't had their daily caffeine fix. But does this mean these people are truly addicted?
According to doctors at Johns Hopkins University, caffeine addiction is possible even for people who drink only the equivalent of one cup of coffee per day (a cup of coffee can have from 100-250 mg of caffeine, depending on the strength of the coffee and the size of the cup). The Hopkins researchers conducted a type of study known as a literature review, which means they identified and examined every published study on caffeine addiction. They looked at 57 separate studies in the medical literature that encompassed 170 years.
The major types of caffeine withdrawal reactions were identified as:
- headache, fatigue or drowsiness
- depressed, irritable mood
- difficulty concentrating
- flu-like symptoms of nausea and/or vomiting
- muscle pain or stiffness
In some people, the symptoms were mildly annoying, but others reported severe illnesses similar to the flu in their intensity. The withdrawal symptoms typically began 12 to 24 hours after the last dose of caffeine, became most severe after one to two days, and lasted for two to nine days.
One thing many people don't know - especially those who sip diet sodas to quench hunger - is that caffeine can actually make it more difficult to lose weight. Caffeine stimulates insulin secretion, which reduces serum glucose, which increases hunger.
If you're interested in reducing caffeine consumption, take it slowly. Cutting down by small increments over days to weeks can help you avoid withdrawal symptoms.
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Technorati Tags: caffeine, soda, diet-soda, caffeineaddiction, caffeinewithdrawal
8 Comments:
I'd like to know if one SHOULD be worried about the caffeine addiction? I know I'm addicted. But I love my coffee...Should I "withdrawl" from time to time or are the antioxidents helping more?
Thanks
Last year, my new years revolution was to qiut drinking coffee. However, I found it too hard to quik cold turkey, as I felt sick all day. So instead of putting the normal amount of grounds in the pot, I slowly started putting less and less until I didn't need it anymore. It didn't taste that great, but it kept my cravings down.
I Drink almost 7 cups of coffee a day when im at work but on the weekends i feel no need to drink it.
I have no need to cut down so im gonna stick things out.
I was an on enforced withdrawl from diet cole for a period of four days, doe to a hosptialization and to lack of funds. Last night I had an extreme attach of Acid Reflux, which resulted in my vomiting three times and landed me in the emergency room and back out with a prescription in my hand. Was the reflux a result of withdrawl, in which case drinking some Diet Coke will ease my symptoms, or was it a reaction to long-term caffiene use, in which case I should cut the Diet Coke down or out?
I drink alot of diet soda and been trying to cut back with hardly any success. Even when my doctor informed me to cut back due to fibroscystic breasts.
I was drinking at least a 2liter of cola a day. I reduced it to one 12oz can a day, then water, juice and milk the rest of the day. I have noticed that Im hungry less and that if I dont get one can a day, I no longer have my caffeine headaches. Ive already lost about 5 pounds in 2 weeks, which I have not been able to do in years.
I just turned 60 and don't remember when I started drinking coffee. I quit cold turkey once and had the damnest headache about the 2nd day I have ever had.
Until a MD can give me a good reason to do otherwise I'll have several cups per day, Hot Straight and Strong. Besides it's a high potassium food.
please explain clearly how caffeine makes us more hungry. when I have a soda with caffeine during a meal; I feel even more full.
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