Why I Kicked Caffeine and How You Can Too
Caffeine. The world’s most popular psychoactive drug, oh how I once loved thee. So bold, so delicious, so comfortable it made me feel. Or did it? I’ve been drinking coffee since I was in college (almost 6 years ago!) and have never considered myself a caffeine addict. Some days I’d have one cup, other days I’d have 3. I was always a mood to moment kind of girl, so if I already had one cup but my friend wanted to meet up at the local coffee shop, you bet your ass I was there drinking another one with her. The point is, drinking coffee became something I couldn’t go a day without. Not until recently did I realize how much it directly affects my hormones and more specifically my skin and gut health- two things in which I have been struggling with for a long time.
Caffeine is a stimulant and directly affects the endocrine system. The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones directly into the blood and works hand in hand with the central nervous system. It performs pretty much the same functions- communication, integration and control. In addition, hormones are responsible for the regulation of metabolism and reproduction. A key player in the relationship between caffeine and our endocrine system are the adrenal glands. The adrenals sit on top of each kidney and each layer secretes different hormones. Cortisol, being one of them, is released by the adrenal cortex and caffeine significantly increases cortisol levels. This sends signals to the body that you are stressed even when you may not be and leads to adrenal fatigue. If your adrenals are depleted of cortisol, you may experience things like brain fog, depressive mood, poor sleep and anxiousness.
Did you know that most people cannot efficiently process and eliminate caffeine? To put it simply, this is because we do not have the right enzymes to break it down in our bodies. Caffeine remains in our bodies (in women longer than men) for 24 hours! A lot of caffeine in the body leads to the buildup of estrogen, another hormone responsible for balancing your PMS. If you experience awful period problems, it very well could be from estrogen dominance.
Here’s how you can get on the right track!
If you struggle with skin issues, digestive/gut problems, sleep, mood swings, PMS, endometriosis, blood sugar levels, reduced fertility or any of the symptoms I listed above, consider ditching caffeine. A simple way to start is to kick your morning cup of joe (and afternoon cup) for a week and switch to decaf. See if you notice any changes. It helps to track your days in a journal or notebook so that you don’t forget any details. How often you had a bowel movement, your energy levels, how your skin looked, how many hours of sleep you got, etc. the following week try eliminating the decaffeinated beverages as well. Proceed with your notes and then eventually the goal is to be consuming something that sustains you like your morning cup used to without the caffeine side effects. Adding things like adaptogens, MCT oil, collagen peptides and maca root to your cup of naturally decaffeinated tea or nut milk are great ways to replace the caffeine in the AM. I also incorporate a progesterone essential oil a few times a week which helps to balance high estrogen levels. I still drink a quality cup of decaf coffee a couple times a week, but the elimination of caffeine significantly reduced a lot of the crappy symptoms I was experiencing and I hope it does the same for you!
If you have any questions or just need more support on the topic, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Happily decaffeinated,
Ro
References:
https://www.floliving.com/caffeine-intolerance/
*Although I am a CHNC (Certified Holistic Nutrition Coach) please note I am not a Doctor, medical professional, therapist or lawyer. I do not intend to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure disease. My blog posts are for informational purposes only and intended to motivate and empower readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider. The information I provide is not intended as medical advice, nor as diagnoses to determine treatment for a medical condition. Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease.