Negative Side Effects to Caffeine
Caffeine is big business. There are new coffee shops popping up
all over the place. You can't go far without running into a
Starbucks. "Let's get together for coffee. Time for a coffee
break. Coffee pot goes off before my feet hit the floor. Travel
mugs for sipping coffee on your way to work. I'll just have this
chocolate bar to pick me up this afternoon." Caffeine - It's
everywhere! It's everywhere!
Many people have grown so accustomed to having their morning
coffee or soda that they don't even consider the damaging
effects caffeine has on the body. On the contrary, most will
tell you that they NEED their jolt to get them moving in the
morning or to keep them upright throughout the day. Caffeine is
present not only in coffee, but also tea, soda, chocolates and
in certain pain relievers, such as aspirin or acetaminophen. It
is also sometimes used in combination with an antihistamine to
overcome the drowsiness caused by the antihistamine.
If you don't think it's addicting, try going off caffeine, cold
turkey. See if you don't have a headache for two to nine days.
That's caffeine withdrawal! You don't need to be a coffeeholic
to experience negative physical symptoms. Even as little as one
to two cups a day can negatively affect you.
You may be experiencing a number of physical ailments that could
be caused solely from caffeine. The most common side effects of
caffeine include dizziness, headache, irritability, muscle
tension, nausea, nervousness, stuffy nose, unusual tiredness and
jitters.
Too much (overdose) of caffeine can give you all sorts of grief
such as stomach pain agitation, anxiety, restlessness,
confusion, seizures, dehydration, faster breathing rate, fast
heartbeat, fever, frequent urination, increased sensitivity to
touch or pain, irritability, muscle trembling or twitching,
vomiting, sometimes with blood, fibrocystic breast disease,
ringing or other sounds in ears, seeing flashes of "zig-zag"
lights, and trouble in sleeping. If you are diabetic or insulin
resistant, caffeine causes your body to produce more insulin and
you don't want that. Caffeine makes all aspects of a menstrual
cycle worse. Isn't that bad enough some months?
The next time you experience any of the above symptoms, try
cutting back on caffeine. That may be all it takes to take care
of the problem. Reduce caffeine intake gradually to prevent any
symptoms of withdrawal. Cut back on your intake or combine a
mixture of caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages until you're
totally weaned off. People can, and do, survive ridding their
bodies of all caffeine. And they're feeling much better for it!