Caffeine, a chemical stimulant, can have a significant impact on plants, stimulating growth, enhancing reproduction, and improving nutrient absorption. It can be found in coffee grounds, tea leaves, and other plant materials, such as coffee leaves and seeds. However, excessive caffeine can negatively affect plant growth, slowing down root formation, stopping shoot growth, and increasing pest pressure.
A high concentration of caffeine in nutrient mediums can have a negative effect on plant tissue, slowing down root formation and preventing shoot growth. Coffee grounds can also be used in garden lawns to make plants grow faster, but they can also inhibit and stunt plant growth if provided in large enough concentrations. Caffeine interferes with the plant’s ability to regulate its cellular calcium, which can lead to stunted root development and reduced growth.
Caffeine is found naturally in many plant species and can be used to manage pests like slugs, snails, bacteria, and birds. However, studies have shown that caffeine stunts root development by reducing protein production. The green coffee bean will not improve plant growth. When coffee leaves drop, they contaminate the soil with caffeine, which curtails the germination of other plants and lessens growth.
Caffeine has mixed effects on plant growth, with some plants benefiting and growing faster when added to the soil, while others become stunted or grow slower. A concentration of caffeine in excess of 0.1 has a negative effect on plant tissues, slowing down root formation, shoot growth, and causing stunting.
In conclusion, caffeine has both positive and negative effects on plant growth, acting as a chemical stimulant that increases biological processes in plants. While coffee grounds are a popular soil amendment for gardens, their exposure to caffeine can inhibit seedling growth and induce early senescence by decreasing the expression and activity of Rubisco.
📹 The Shocking Effects of Going Caffeine-free for a Month
Caffeine is the most widely consumed mind-altering drug on the planet. Find out what would happen if you stopped consuming …
Do coffee grounds inhibit plant growth?
Coffee grounds contain caffeine, which can suppress plant growth by reducing competition for space, nutrients, water, and sunlight. The amount of caffeine in used grounds is debated, and some plants may be more sensitive to caffeine. It is advisable to avoid spreading coffee grounds around seeds or seedlings as they may inhibit germination and growth. Coffee grounds alone for mulching could be detrimental as they are very fine particles that can clump together, creating a barrier that resists water penetration, leading to plant death.
To avoid this, mix coffee grounds with other organic matter like compost or leafmold before using them as mulch or rake them into the top layer of soil. Acidity in coffee grounds can vary, from very acidic to slightly alkaline, so it is not expected to acidify higher pH soils.
Why does caffeine deplete nutrients?
The mild diuretic effect of caffeine increases urination, which results in the depletion of water-soluble vitamins, including B vitamins and vitamin C, due to fluid loss. Additionally, elevated caffeine levels have been demonstrated to impede the absorption of vitamin D, as evidenced by research findings.
Does caffeine inhibit germination?
The study investigated the impact of different caffeine concentrations on seed germination of Bambara groundnut. The seeds were pre-soaked in distilled water for 12 hours and exposed to different caffeine doses. Three replications of the treatments were made and sown with each seed in a pot using a Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD). Seed germination was scored for seven days and the germinated seedlings were observed for nine weeks. The results showed that increased caffeine concentrations reduced the germination percentage of the seeds.
The concentrations of 1. 75-2. 0 recorded no germination, while 0. 05-0. 25 concentrations recorded over 90 germination. The highest shoot length was recorded at 0. 5 caffeine concentration, with no significant difference in stem girth. Lower caffeine concentrations showed an increase in Bambara groundnut germination, potentially improving crop yield. The study highlights the importance of caffeine in promoting germination and crop yield in Bambara nuts.
Does caffeine cause growth restriction?
Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial for pregnant women and their developing fetuses, including being mindful of caffeine consumption. While consuming caffeine during pregnancy is generally safe, there is a lack of accurate information about its effects on fetal development and inadequate education on the risks of excessive caffeine intake. A review of current literature on the impact of caffeine consumption during pregnancy on fetal development revealed that caffeine intake during pregnancy has notable effects on human fetal development.
It increases fetal breathing and heart rates but can lead to reduced growth and a lower birth weight. Although it does not affect gestational length or cause hypertension, caffeine increases uterine contractions, potentially resulting in spontaneous abortion. In some cases, it even contributes to the development of pre-eclampsia in the later stages of pregnancy. However, the data on the association between caffeine consumption and the risk of congenital disabilities remains inconclusive.
More extensive research is needed to fully understand the impact of caffeine consumption on the development of congenital disabilities in infants born to caffeine-consuming pregnant women. Gaining a deeper understanding of how caffeine affects fetal development and pregnancy mechanisms is crucial.
Is coffee a growth inhibitor?
The study investigates the impact of caffeine on growth hormone secretion in rat anterior pituitary cells. The cells were incubated in a medium containing 10(-5) to 10(-1) M caffeine overnight, and the growth hormone content was measured. The results showed a dose-dependent stimulatory effect of caffeine on growth hormone secretion. The study concluded that caffeine, like other xanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitors, stimulates growth hormone secretion directly on pituitary cells. This suggests that galanin also stimulates rat pituitary growth hormone secretion in vitro.
Why does caffeine inhibit cell growth?
High concentrations of caffeine have been used in in vitro studies, but their physiological application for cancer chemoprevention may not be feasible. High blood concentrations of caffeine can cause adverse effects in humans. In a previous study, oral administration of caffeine led to an approximate 7 μg/ml serum caffeine concentration in mice, which inhibited the migration of glioma cells and increased mean survival in a mouse xenograft model of glioma.
This study demonstrates that caffeine induces cell cycle arrest at the G0/G 1 phase by inhibiting Rb phosphorylation and reduces cell proliferation through increasing p21 expression. Additionally, caffeine induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in U87MG cells. Caffeine activates PKA via increasing PKA phosphorylation, causing the phosphorylation (and subsequent inactivation) of GSK3β by PKA.
Cell cycle progression from the G0/G 1 to the S phases is mainly controlled by two proteins, p21 and Rb. p21 negatively regulates cell cycle progression by inhibiting the activity of cyclin/cdk2 complexes and plays an important role in cell senescence and apoptosis. Rb phosphorylation leads to the disruption of the Rb/E2F transcription factor complex, which triggers the activation of genes required for the G0/G 1 -S phase transition.
GSK3β, a multifunctional β serine/threonine kinase, regulates various cellular pathways involved in the cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, caffeine increased GSK3β phosphorylation at Ser9, which was controlled by PKA. In normal cells, constitutively active GSK3β negatively regulates the proto-oncogenic protein, β-catenin, via phosphorylation-induced degradation, limiting its expression.
Interestingly, caffeine-induced GSK3β inactivation is independent of the perturbation of β-catenin, suggesting that caffeine may induce GSK3β inactivation without hyperplasia by deregulating β-catenin in glioma cells.
Why does caffeine inhibit plant growth?
Caffeine, a chemical stimulant found in coffee plants, has various biological purposes beyond keeping us awake. It builds enzymes in the N-methyltransferases gene, which are found in all plants and build various compounds. When coffee leaves drop, they contaminate the soil with caffeine, which curtails the germination of other plants and lessens competition. Too much caffeine can have a detrimental effect on plant growth.
Caffeine increases biological processes in both humans and plants, such as photosynthesizing and absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. It also decreases soil pH levels, which can be toxic to some plants, although others enjoy it. Studies show that initially, cell growth rates are stable but soon the caffeine begins to kill or distort cells, resulting in dead or stunted plants.
Caffeine is also used as an insect repellent in the garden, killing slug and snails, mosquito larvae, hornworms, milkweed bugs, and butterfly larvae. However, high doses of caffeine are toxic to insects, but the nectar of coffee blossoms contains trace amounts of caffeine. When insects feed on this spiked nectar, they get a jolt from the caffeine, helping them remember and revisit the plants, thereby spreading their pollen.
Coffee grounds contain potassium, which attracts earthworms and releases some nitrogen. The introduction of other minerals in the grounds does not affect plant growth, but the introduction of other minerals. If the idea of caffeine in the garden scares you, use decaf grounds and allow them to break down before spreading the resulting compost.
Is the caffeine in coffee grounds bad for plants?
When adding caffeine to plants, it is important to consider the expected effects. Avoid adding caffeine to germinating plants and freshly seeded areas, as they have allelopathic properties that can stunt growth. Decaf grounds are suggested for both new and used grounds to avoid associated problems. Fresh grounds can be strategically placed to deter weed growth and push back pests like slugs and snails.
However, this method is not foolproof, as slugs don’t exactly like coffee but won’t run away from it either. It is crucial to consider the potential effects of caffeine on plants and their growth before implementing it in your garden.
Is caffeine a plant defense mechanism?
Caffeine is a plant’s defense mechanism, as it is part of their elaborate chemical warfare system to discourage herbivores from eating them. Plants have more genes than humans, and these compounds are often used in recreational drugs like nicotine, opioids, and tetrahydrocannabinol. Caffeine, a bitter alkaloid, deters the biter by either stupefying or killing the animal that tries to munch the plant. This complex defense mechanism is part of the reason why plants have more genes than humans.
Can I just sprinkle coffee grounds in my garden?
Coffee grounds can be used as a fertiliser in gardens due to their high nutrient content, particularly nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. However, it is recommended to spread the coffee in a thin layer to distribute nutrients and minimize the impact of caffeine on specific areas. Fresh grounds typically contain more caffeine, but the content of used grounds is debatable. It is generally assumed that used grounds have lower caffeine content, but there is a high likelihood of high caffeine content in some grounds.
Unused ground coffee is an expensive alternative to conventional fertilizers, as they are a waste product and should be avoided unless necessary. Fresh grounds have their regular use, so it is advisable to avoid using them unless necessary.
📹 Grow your own caffeine
Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub that produces leaves used to make black, green, white, and oolong teas.
Been off caffeine for over 2 years now (and seriously abused it before then in the form of energy drinks). Went through crappy withdrawal for about 2 weeks (and I mean, it sucked – sick, dizzy, etc.), then my body recovered. Took 6 months before I was ‘over’ the cultural aspect of it (missed drinking it and missed the ‘buzz’). Now, I could care less about it. Energy is smooth and even all day, even on long road trips (don’t get tired/sleepy). Go to bed and fall asleep quickly, wake up, ready to go. I exclusively drink water – that’s it. No sugar, no caffeine – all day, every day. You CAN do it, but be prepared to suffer for a bit before adjusting.
121 days -100% off caffeine here. It’s been quite an awakening. Sleeping better than I ever have in my adult life. When I lay down at night I’m out like a switch. When I get up in the morning, I’m rested, sharp, clear, calm, focused, and really awake… Which has been a stunning revelation. My dream cycle became richer and more regular. I’ve noticed a dramatic increase in mood balance and stability. All anxiety vaporized. Digestion improved. Yes, teeth have whitened, too. Withdrawal was arduous, lasting about 20-30 days. By 60 days, with pristine clarity, I realized that the mass of people are junkies, unaware they are genuine drug addicts that just happen to be using a physiologically non-essential, legal, schedule one, psychotropic drug, because the use of it is so ubiquitous and normalized. Quitting for 30 days is ONLY the beginning, as things start to actually, finally, improve around day 30. Quitting for 30 days is merely dipping a toe in the pool. My experiential wisdom: Get strong, go long.
I went 68 days without caffeine And sugar just to see what would happen This was 3 years ago Omg amazing! Anything and everything of the body cleared up and I was like a newborn. It was hard the first two weeks I encourage anyone to get thru the withdrawals because it’s so worth it! I now only will eat a natural sugar of fruit Very little Still no caffeine If I need energy I get it from an avocado or a teaspoon of olive oil. Or many other things My body’s fuel is of fat not sugar Go for it everyone One day at a time ok One little step at a time Is suggest take a weeks vacation and give into the downside of feeling bad as your body resets itself I did this because I knew it would be hard to reverse Best decision in life so far for me 🧡
I am a regular gym goer so I consume about 300mg of caffeine before I work out. Today If I decide to stop consuming caffeine, in about 3 days I will feel all of the negative side effects, such as headaches and etc. But during Ramadan when I was fasting for more than 16 hours a day, I decided not to consume any caffeine all month during my 8-hour feeding window. Shockingly I didn’t get a single headache or any bad side effects. The correlation between fasting whilst quitting caffeine is very interesting.
I am software engineer. I quit coffee because I noticed that I feel too tired in the afternoon. When I quit previously I could spend 2 hours a day on self improvement, reading and then do my job well. When I started consuming caffeine, I stopped self improvement and couldn’t do anything except my job in the first half of a day.
I’m now 8 months in with very limited caffeine, I limited coffee to maybe one cup per Month on special occasions. I now drink some tea but this is a fraction of the caffeine from the coffee I drank. My results: Naturally feel tired and fall asleep each month No energy dip. Constant energy throughout the day. No mood fluctuations or dependence on coffee. Great to watch this affirming article. Hope others can follow.
Sharing Dr Berg notes on this great episode! Let’s talk about what would happen if you cut out caffeine for 30 days. Over 85% of adults in the US consume caffeine, and children also consume a tremendous amount of caffeine. Some studies show that caffeine consumption can increase conceptual memory, reasoning, reaction speed, and spatial memory. It can also affect your mood. However, many people experience symptoms associated with consuming caffeine, including: • Anxiety • High blood pressure • High pulse rate • Arrhythmias • Loss of fluid • Digestive problems Caffeine also increases adrenaline and stimulates the adrenals, which can lead to all kinds of health concerns. There can be high levels of two different types of mold found in overly processed coffees and decaf coffees. These types of mold can lead to allergies and irritation in the liver. Coffee can also deplete vitamin B1. If you’re going to drink coffee, it’s important to consume high-quality organic coffee and keep it at one cup a day. Potential benefits of not consuming caffeine for 30 days: 1. Less anxiety and a higher sense of calm 2. Better sleep and more energy throughout the day 3. Lowered blood pressure and pulse rate 4. No more arrhythmias 5. Healthier teeth 6. Healthier liver function 7. Healthier adrenal function The best ways to come off caffeine: • Switch from coffee to tea • Try herbal coffee substitutes • Take vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 • Take adaptogens like ashwagandha and lemon balm tea Thank you Dr Berg!
I quit caffeine/tea and coffee 3 months ago. Finally after a 10 years my iron levels are normal! Got tested a few weeks ago and my ferritin levels are at 43! My entire life I could never get my levels past 30. I read that caffeine can inhibit iron absorption. I’m hoping over time I can get my levels in the 50’s-60’s!
dr berg, thanks to you and dr khalid jamil, my father is no longer diabetic. he had diabetes since 2013 and has been following you since 2021. Now finally he’s reversed it, and is now in the pre diabetic stage. thanks for all the time and valuable information you put in your articles. we really appreciate it, you’ve changed my family’s life and we’d forever be grateful to you.
I went off caffeine for 2 months years ago after a severe “panic attack”. I thought it came from too much coffee. As a cyclist I have to say I really felt amazing, really did not have coffee cravings (perhaps I was too scared to use it), and the most important thing, my performance boosted. But then slowly I went back on coffee and I am struggling to quit it. I am really trying to use it “right” way, not to abuse it.
Are you some kind of wizard? I’ve literally decided to stop drinking coffee for the next two weeks from today and this article comes out?! I’m a big specialty coffee lover, so this is a big step for me! I usually drink around 2 cups a day, but looking forward to see how I’ll feel at the end of this challenge.
Good article! One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was giving up coffee about 8 month’s ago. My sleep greatly improved, my mental focus improved, my vision improved because the caffeine is no longer blocking the little blood veins connected to the eyes. I recommend reading the book “caffeine blues”. It’s an eye opener.
I used to take 6 scoops of a 1 scoop recommendation pre-workout drink. Over years, I developed such a tolerance that I needed 6 scoops to achieve the bare minimum effect. One day, I decided to stop. I went through heavy withdrawals and depression for about 6 months. After getting over it, I’ve found that energy levels are balanced all day, and I have zero need for caffeine. In fact, people are often shocked to see how well I perform without it. They often don’t believe it to be possible (that someone could exist without caffeine in their diet).
I’ve recently been told about not having coffee until one and a half hours after you wake up. apparently you start off on the adrenal system and move to a different system, however drinking coffee first thing eliminates the body’s ability to produce the right hormone later on. Would love this fact checked by Dr Berg. Thank you for your articles, so good!
Great article Dr. Berg. For us middle aged men who have sensitive bladders and suffer from nocturia,, cutting back on caffeine included drinks is a huge must or it will be a busy night back and forth to the washroom. Some teas have very high caffeine counts so you need to check the content before consuming. Also keep an eye on the chocolate intake.
It’s taken me about half a week to give up coffee and I feel much better! I’ve been drinking green tea and hope to give that up too eventually. One thing that helped me out before hand was forcing myself to drink the coffee black. I was addicted to the milk and sugar too. I’ve given up all of those things except for butter and I feel so much better!
I quit caffeinated tea and coffee nearly 2 years ago. I did replace it with drinking cocoa (no sugar), so now i consume roughly 12mg caffeine per day . This has been a big health journey for me. Getting in touch with my genuine energy levels, having to rely on good diet and sleep (no ‘short cut’ burst of energy or dopamine). It’s given me a better connection to the ‘real me’.
In April I had terrible symptoms of lightheadedness and dizziness, and worst of all panic attacks accompanied by hyperventilating breathing. Long story short I ended in the ER, heart test were good. I did a stress cortisol test at home and at my docs office as well. Sure enough my cortisol was shot and low. Adrenal fatigue is real! I used to drink 4 Expresso shot lattes and more for many years. I’m on the road to recovery and definitely NO MORE CAFFEINE!
I couldn’t drink coffee until I was in my 50s. It used to give me a headache. After gaving up sugar and nasty carbs my headaches went away and now I can drink it. I love the habbit of getting up in the morning and drinking a cup of black coffee. Its so relaxing. I have one cup 50/50 caffeine/decaf in the morning and a decaf in the afternoon after lunch, sometimes with stevia and cream. Its my relax time.
I was caffeine free most of my life and only really started drinking coffee regularly (1-2 cups 4-5 days a week) the past few years since i had a 2nd child. The only difference I notice is it helps me during the afternoon lull of energy where i have to keep working for another 4-5 hours. No issues otherwise. On a side note your education about carbs/keto really turned that afternoon lull around and I noticed i no longer had drain of energy in the afternoon – likely due to higher carb load in the am
I unintentionally quit soda/coffee/energy drinks/alcohol a month ago and I think I’m going to just run with it. Haven’t had much for cravings, I’m hoping to see more benefits down the road. I’ve had a slightly harder time maintaining a proper sleep schedule but that might be attributed to a life change that is less physically and mentally demanding.
I drink basically light roast coffee which is the least processed and highest in caffeine with heavy cream as a meal. I have skipped coffee for a few days and the biggest side effect was depression. I always check my blood pressure before consuming and sometimes have taken it to raise it and boost my mood more than my energy. It doesn’t make me anxious but gives me a positive outlook. Since I don’t drink any alcohol, I’ve drank coffee at parties to be more relaxed and sociable. I’ve also used it as an expectorant. I would like to drink tea as a substitute to wean myself off caffeine and gain benefits not in coffee but find its harder on the stomach.Most days when I’m alone, one cup is all I need, the other is to be with friends and they are paying my Starbucks.😅
I abstained from consuming caffeine for eight years until I resigned from my position and established my own companies. The challenge arose when I required enhanced focus and alertness, prompting me to reintroduce caffeine in the form of coffee. My daily intake is limited to a single small cup. One may question the potential issue. However, abstaining from coffee consumption for even a single day results in severe headaches and withdrawal-like symptoms that significantly impair my functionality. Sometimes, I experience difficulty eating and a sensation of nausea upon attempting to consume food. It is astonishing how profoundly caffeine affects me. This experience prompted my initial cessation of caffeine consumption for eight years. Regrettably, I underestimated the enduring impact it would have on me, assuming that my sensitivity had diminished over time. I am perplexed by the unique manner in which caffeine affects me compared to others. My primary objective is to eliminate these debilitating headaches. Is there a way to avoid getting headaches if I stop for one day?
One small cup of freshly brewed light coffee in the morning is more than enough for me. I sometimes substitute it with a cup of green tea with mint. I can also go the whole month of Ramadan without a single drop of coffee, causing only a bit of drowsiness the first three days or so, and only have the occasional green tea with mint after my meal.
My body is very sensitive to caffeine and I didn’t know it for years, I had all 4 of the first negative symptoms you’re talking about. My mistake was going cold turkey and quitting right away, I’ve never had more anxiety/depressed emotions than the 2-3 weeks after quitting. But now I don’t have any heart palpitations, and anxiety is so much better!
As a coffee connoisseur for 5 years, I drink coffee mainly because I like the taste. I went into the rabbit hole of specialty coffee and there’s no turning back. Milk drinks like cortado or Cappuccino are nice too, the milk compliments the espresso taste notes. Never do I ever drink espresso, cortado or cappuccino with sugar. Not is sugar bad for you, but it also masks the great tasting notes from coffee. That being said, I rather drink no coffee or tea than drinking bad coffee 😀
Great vid. I quit it for 3 months last year. Felt better in pretty much all the ways you describe. However, I did miss it as a pre-workout, and appetite suppressant during fasting. I never got to the point where my workouts felt as good as previous, caffeinated ones (where often I’d take a caffeine pill 100mg, then drink a coffee, for). I ended up going back to it for those reasons, now I probably drink 3 a day, all before 1400. And pretty much all during fast. I would like to quit it again, but with work it’s tough. I have to be switched on and fast in meeting for my job, and the quitting period’s ‘brain fog’ is a killer.
I went off caffeine for a month and man, it was bizarre how much better I slept and the amount of energy it gave me. It made me think, if this is affecting our sleep so much, which I dont think any health guru wouldn’t agree is the main pillar of health we are facing a massive health problem here. There are probably millions of people with various health issues and not realising that quitting this drug could potentially improve their health and well being enormously by just getting real sleep. Im not saying curing, but improving their quality of life for sure. Worth going off it and trying at least to experience the difference I say.
I quit caffeine, a week of migraines/nausea/cravings and then I starting sleeping without waking up. For the first time in so long I slept without waking up ten times at night. Only problem was I became so chilled out my family started telling me I was depressed. So I started drinking it again, and was suprised how high I felt when I had it, but back to waking up ten times a night.
I drink a Maca Chocolate tea in the mornings now. I steep tea bags in cold filtered water for 8-12 hours and have it in the morning with Silk creamy creamer and Stevia. It is so good and it’s a fantastic replacement for coffee. It looks like coffee and tastes very similar. The brand is called Teccino and you can find it probably online but I buy it at my local health food store. It’s caffeine free, acid free, prebiotic free and organic 😊
I’ve started drinking coffee around 2017 or so, so I was ~26 years old. initially, I used it as a booster for my weight training. I still do it and drink 3-4 cups a day, still workout, still sleep well, still drink 5-6 liters of water a day. but I’m not addicted – I could quit any day. I really only use it for focus
Excellent article! I gave up all caffeine for 6 weeks in 2002, never felt so CALM. And then i was dumb enough to try a cup of instant coffee. I had explosive diarrhoea exactly 15-20 mins afterwards. This article is motivating me to give it up again, but for good this time. I’m simply way too psychologically addicted to stop at one cup.
I used to go caffeine free for a week every month because after a while the effect of keeping you awake diminishes and the effect of raising the blood pressure accentuates. I noticed very good effects also with 3-4 days of withdrawal. When you begin again you have again the full positive effects and no negative ones for a while. So no need for extreme measures, just cycle it!
Over 30 years ago I was bedridden from surgery for several weeks. I took advantage of that moment to give up caffeine for 9 months. I felt better and saved cash. Point i’m making here is that I’ve been a servant to coffee for so many years. After today again I’m going work my way off caffeine in the next several days.
I’ve been off caffeine for a few weeks now, and I already feel like a different person. Here are the best things I’ve noticed so far: – I wake up in the morning and feel fully alert in less than five minutes. – I have consistent energy throughout the day with no afternoon crashes. – I feel calm and relaxed, with no heart palpitations (which I used to get even after just two cups or about 220 mg of caffeine before lunch). – At night, I fall asleep almost immediately. There are many more benefits, but these are my top highlights.
Today is my 8th day without caffeine. I’ve had insomnia for over 5 years, most nights only getting 2-3 hours of sleep. I was only having one strong coffee in the morning just because I liked the flavour (I didn’t notice any energy boost or anything) and sometimes a coffee in a cafe for brunch. Anyway, in the last week without any caffeine I’ve been sleeping through the night!! For the first time in years!! Also my anxiety has diminished by about 80%. I now think I must be hypersensitive to caffeine 🤷♀️
Wow. How ironic. Today marks 30 days without caffeine for me. Being a swing shift worker the last decade I was heavily reliant on it. Or so I thought. I don’t think I’ll ever go back, I feel so much better without it. I never realized I was in an almost permanent fight or flight response due to being on it so long. Sleep significantly easier and can remember dreams now, which I legit thought I was broken because I haven’t remembered a single dream since childhood. I don’t feel tiredness all day long whereas I used to keep upping my dose to keep up to the point of illness. I did narrow down to one cup of coffee a day for a month before quitting, then had a terrible headache for about 4 days once I quit before feeling normal again. I do drink non caffeinated herbals teas now, which I find extremely enjoyable and hydrating compared to coffee. Highly recommend getting off it, people everywhere will call you crazy, but now it kinda feels like everyone else is crazy. Lol.
Once a year I take a caffeine break. After 2 weeks, I start sleeping much deeper, longer and much, much better. It’s as if my body is catching up to lost sleep, which it might be. Then after 2-3-4 weeks, I want a cup of coffee, and coffee REALLY works then. I continue to drink 1-2 cups before noon from now on. After 8-10 months it’s a bit ‘meh’ and I start wondering “what’s the point?” So, from this year and moving on, I’ll go on a coffee break 2 times a year, maybe in a year or two, 3 times a year. Edit for spelling.
This is perfect for me right now because I’m trying to reduce my consumption significantly. Last week, I would drink coffee every other day, so Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and will again tomorrow. But starting tomorrow for next week, I’m gonna have TWO days without coffee in between days with it. Until eventually the gap gets bigger and I will just not want it as much anymore. WE’ll see how it goes.
I’d been drinking caffeinated coffee since I was 5 (seriously), and was fully addicted to it. A couple years ago at age 26 I stopped drinking it to see if it would help my debilitating pms pain. It did! Resolved it 100%. The withdrawal symptoms after giving up caffeine were only hard for a week or so, but it feels great to be off of it, having natural energy, great sleep, and not dehydrating myself first thing in the morning.
I was totally addicted to coffees & Frappes with added espresso etc all day long for years and have developed fibroids, an endometrioma and hirtuism. I’m REALLY SURE the coffee habit with all the cows milk hormones, caffeine and sugar has caused this. I’m on day 15 now of switching to Matcha tea with almond milk and monk fruit sugar and already feel a change in my health.
At 40 I stopped coffee cold turkey. it’s been 2 years and I sleep so much better. The most noticeable change is waking up without snoozing 20 times and do not feel groggy anymore. I did experienced bad withdrawal the 1st week and lasted another 2 weeks. I used to own a coffee shop and drank coffee most of my adult life. Reason I quit was because I notice if I dont drink by 2pm I will suffer unbearable migraines. I realized for many years that my body is addicted. I was also experiencing high stress and my mood was bad plus I would be depressed and angry. So glad I quit!
I used to drink coffee with milk and sugar when I was in college and when I started working. Later, as I learned that sugar is not good for me, I stopped adding sugar to coffee, and later (a few years ago) I stopped adding creamer or milk to coffee. I also learned that I like Arabica coffee which has a mild taste, but has less caffine, but when I need the caffine, I mix the Arabica coffee with Robusta coffee which was bitter and has more caffine. I can go without coffee for the whole day without any withdrawal symptoms, but I haven’t tried going coffee-free for more than a day so far.
I’m very surprised that you did not include these benefits of drinking coffee: Improve overall health. … Protect against Type 2 diabetes. … Control Parkinson’s disease symptoms. … Slow the progress of dementia. … Safeguard the liver. … Promote heart health. … Reduce melanoma risk. … Lower mortality risk.
I used to drink maybe 5 or 6 cups of coffee a day. Following advice from a ‘health fanatic’ friend I stopped instantly and spent 2 days of being ill, wanting to vomit, feeling like death. I went back on to it and slowly weaned off it, over a period of about 4weeks. Feel so much better since. I have it now as a treat perhaps once a day, but not every day.
I wasn’t drinking much coffee lately but this week I’ve started training for a new job and I drank a couple cups each day and I was feeling things I hadn’t felt in a while. Headaches midday. More irritability. You mentioned irritability during withdrawal and I recognized I hadn’t felt irritable in the same degrees as I used to in a long time. Thanks for the article.
Quit a few years ago and it was incredibly difficult, but it was such a positive change. Breaking the addiction made me realize how bad it was. These days, I still like to drink decaf and occasionally will have a regular drink if someone offers it. But it doesn’t run my life and the sleep I’m getting now is something I dreamed of for my entire adult life.
I bet you read my comment the other day on your post about the adrenal glands and I said “to fix your adrenals you have to quit the caffeine”.. and here you here are making a great article out of it. Thanks doc for making it known to the world. Edit: it can take up 6-12 months to feel completely better IF you have abused caffeine for a long period of time, but it will be worth it. You’ll get that teenager energy again 🙂
Went 9 months without coffee just to see if it would be beneficial in any way. It wasn’t. The withdrawal was intense, heavy sweating and extreme tiredness, but after that I was just more sleepy when I got tired, and had no energy to push through. The energy that coffee gives me. I work a lot on the computer, extreme long hours, have my business, edit articles, I train every day, etc. Coffee is a blessing!
Been drinking one cup of (glorious loose leaf) tea at breakfast ever since I was a kid. Never made the transition to coffee, it always was too much. I’m aware of my addiction, but never break the rule so keeping it in check 😅 PS. Truly believe such things need to be introduced at young age to establish proper culture
Tried caffeine withdrawal several times. 2 weeks of incredible leg cramps during detox. Couldn’t be bothered ever going off it again I’m 60 fit and healthy thank God. I can drink two double espressos after a late evening meal, go to bed within an hour and sleep all night. Caffeine seems to have little effect on me except helping convert morning anxiety to active energy.
What of coffee’s positive effect of reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s or dementia? I love coffee and will continue on the daily. And, I’m grateful for you Dr. Berg and your content. Thank you 🙏 with this information I’m able to mitigate the negative effects as best as possible. I recently switched to instant from organic whole bean. And, I’ve been sneezing upon the first sip.
I will drink coffee on a daily basis until the day i die, according to dr berg and the other experts we’re not supposed to live, might as well wrap ourselves in bubble wrap and stay indoors tucked under bed for our own safety. I am all for a healthy lifestyle but there is a point where it’s gone too far and i feel like these articles are causing more harm than good by scaring people away from literally everything.
One thing I would really like to emphasise is the effect on the oesophagus. Myself and so many of my friends suffer with heart burn, acid reflux and then the throat feeling like it’s closing in or tightening (almost like being strangled). This is something I have experienced every time I drink too much coffee. I thought I was the only one until my friends said they had the same experience and didn’t know what it was until they stopped drinking coffee. I have very bad acid reflux which ruined my life tbh. I’ve definitely learnt my lesson. Thanks for the article!
Thanks to you, Dr. Berg, I quit sugar, grains, alcohol, snacking, and stressing. But coffee… When I tried to go cold turkey on coffee it was painful, headache and vomiting for 2 days straight. It was really bad. So I decided to reduce the amount and increase the quality of my coffee, and it worked. There is so much sun in my country, you would feel like zombie in the afternoon without a nice Cyprus coffee, it is pretty much engraved in a local culture, together with a nice midday nap 😅
Have been off caffeine for 2 years, back to it though and I do as follows: 1. I grind coffee beans ( tastes awesome ) 2. I drink my first coffee after about 1:30 hours after waking up. 3. I limit myself to at most 2 cups a day 4. I do not drink coffee at least 7-8 hours before sleep. So far so good, no issues sleeping, blood pressure is fine, feels great, don’t have energy crushes.
I did it differently. I use four scoops to make my pot of coffee…. for 2 weeks, I used one scoop of decaf… then at about 3 weeks… I used two scoops of decaf… and I am stopping… 3 scoops of decaf and one scoop of regular. I do this because I love the ritual of coffee. The habit of having it in my hand. Also I replaced 1 cup of milk in my protein drink with a cup of coffee… it’s hardly noticeable.
I don’t understand. I drink three cups of black coffee a day (30 years now). Usually, last one is by 12 pm. Asleep at 845 pm. I sleep like a baby and I wear an Apple Watch and Oura Rin to track sleep. I have no issues. My blood pressure yesterday after my second cup was 100/65. HR through the day is in the low 70s resting is 54. No medications. Are some people just no affected? Am I just lucky
I once tried going caffeine free for 2/3 weeks ( I’m a caffeine addict ) it was one of my best decisions made for my future and health . I used to drink 3/4+ cups and it was derimental to my heatlth, I’m back on caffeine but the max I do now is 1 small cup black coffee a day, much more healthier than 2/3+ cups and esp more than the ones with sugar and milk. After experiencing the benefits going caffeine free, I now choose not to go overboard 🎉, guys try it ur energy ur health will thank u
I gave up caffeine and the first 3 days was rough. I had aches and pains and my brain felt like it wanted to come out through my eyes. I have kept caffeine off the menu for over a month now and I feel 100%, my energy levels are back up again and my body feels fine. I can’t say my cognitive skills have drastically changed, nor my sleeping habits. I am going to keep with it for 6 months and see what happens
I quit caffeine for at least a few weeks now for sure. I can for certainly say it has improved my quality of life in terms of energy. I don’t feel sluggish and tired drawn out as before. I think if you’re struggling with getting through the day, you may want to try quitting caffeine for a month and see what happens. Great article! Also perusal Wim Hof has been helpful for energy and mental health.
Nice graduation present -I’ve been off coffee for just over 2 months now. The first month I had 1-2 cups of decaf, just for taste craving, but now some decaf herbal tea. No soft drinks. I had quit and gone back a few times. Prior to this time, I had no withdrawals so figured ‘I’m not addicted, so why not?’ and went back. But then I noticed it didn’t really wake me up, it amped me up, but I could still be kinda drowsy. Now there are more vids like this so I felt I had more support and went to quit for good, as a challenge. I previously didn’t have difficulty going to sleep, as much as waking up way too early, and not able to return to sleep. I also urinated bright yellow ALL the time, now it’s clear almost all the time. I realized this time that it was more just habit, especially if you like coffee. But like candy and cigarettes (assume) you eventually don’t miss it. I’m still adjusting and fine tuning, but I appreciate the feedback. The ‘tell’ should be about all the sleep meds and remedies out there. America is clearly overdrugged on this stuff, feeding the pillow/mattress/remedy/drug markets. ‘Just say no.’
I love good coffee but am sensitive to caffeine. I must keep to a minimum and sometimes take a break, BUT I have learned two things.. First the amino acid l-theanine pairs very well with caffeine (actually improves memory and focus), like for studying. The best l-theanine is called “Suntheanine”, this is the original patented form and is noticeably stronger.. The other thing I do is take Magnesium (powder).. there are different forms, do a little ‘google-ing’ and/or experiment for you.. Btw, both of these also help sleep. Cheers, ☕️
I gave up soda & Sugar! I hated coffee, but I started drinking a cup every morning with 1/2 & 1/2. Gave up carbs,eat healthy & intermittent fasting 16/8, lost weight, eat healthy, dropped meds for acid reflex, BP meds, not prediabetic anymore. But that one cup of coffee in the morning, Never going to give up! Nope not given it up, its my New Morning joy!❤😊❤
I stopped drinking any coffeine for one month 01.01.2024 to 02.01.2024. Before i was drinking 2 big cups coffee in the morning and sometimes 0.5l coke at the evening. Afzer some days i feel much better. I was so chilles in stress situations and feel so happy over the day. I could better sleep at night and my stamina in crossfit workout was much better(i laso stopped eating junkfood, softdrink and any kind of sweets). At feb 1st i drink a coke and feel bad after 30 mins. Today i drink 2 coffees and also feel bad. So i decided today i will not drink any coffeine in the future. I take now cold showers in the morning to get the same effect that i got from coffee before. I hate these showers but i feel better after
This past month I started cutting out my 2 afternoon cups (aprox 11am-1pm)… I switched to homemade ice tea w/ stevia – after 4 days, I had zero energy & felt horrible. Only one day I had a pounding headache. My experiment has given me negative effects even with having 1 large glass of ice tea instead 😓
I have had a medical condition affect my eye sight and had been advised to lower my blood pressure and eat healthy, I have cut out all sweets, desserts, chocolates, lollies, junk food and coffee 🙁 for just over a month now. First few days I had a massive headache, but didnt take long to get over it, but I have been fairly sort of tired throughout the day, however I am able to do gym still and walk alot, so its not as if its stopping me from doing this. I can say after just a month and half, my eye sight has returned and I no longer appear to have any issues :). I’ve also lost a decent amount of weight.
Yes, I am a heavy coffee user but it was dehydrating my vocal chords so I decided to quit for a while. I am coffee free for a month but still depending slightly on the caffeine from green tea. This time I was able to quit without withdrawal symptoms. Seems shameful to me that I would be that addicted to something that I would have a headache if I didn’t get my dose. Will try to not go back to that level of addiction. Although I do realize that coffee is a form of food when kept in its proper place.
Never had coffee to begin with, but when I do have drinks even with a little bit like tea I get jittery. For me the drawbacks dont really outweigh the temporary benefits. Most people drink caffeine because theyre addicted or they think they need it. But why do they feel they need it? Better to deal with the underlying issues.
Today makes it 1 week without caffeine. Used to drink 2 cups of coffee everyday. Today it finally feels like I’m making progress. Much less grogginess. Feel more alert. No more headache. No more craving the coffee. I almost quit yesterday. Yesterday was the hardest day for sure. I wish I had come off gradually but I just quit cold turkey. This last week has been bad. Almost as bad as when I quit nicotine a few years ago.
I have been drinking 1-2 cups of strong coffee or straight expresso daily since the age of 1 1/2, although as a baby they put milk in it. I have some health issues now, so I am going to quit for 1 month to see what happens. The only days I cannot drink coffee are when I am very sick, then my body flat out rejects it. I will drink hot broth, instead. I do well with an early morning broth, it is soothing, to I will substitute the coffee for broth for one month to see what happens.
I’ve been off of caffeine since 2 weeks ago, I’m trying it for a month and then I’ll see if I want to continue. Withdrawals lasted about 5 days. Since then, the only real effects it’s had are that my sleep is significantly worse since I wake up for hours in the middle of the night (but somehow I’m also less tired in the mornings), and I make way more careless mistakes and get less done. So, so far it’s not looking great. It’s so weird, I feel like I’m missing something.
When I was younger i consumed insane amounts of caffeine (college, USAF, Jobs), but for the past 5 years I have moderated. I have caffeine tolerance and can drink a water glass of espresso and go right to sleep. Coffee does not “wake me up” but I have to have a small amount after a period of sleep or I will melt into the floor. I have a small amount of instant coffee every time I wake up. One thing that helps is a few months ago I started eating dietary yeast.. The low amounts of caffeine and the yeast seems to balance things out well. caffiene is my one addiction.. I don’t drink, eat sugar, or processed food
I have a question, if you can give me your opinion, I used to drink 1 cup per day. Most of the time, espresso, no milk, no sugar, high quality coffee, freshly roasted, grinded for each coffee. For a while, I stopped drinking because it gives me incredible sleep. If I wake up, eat, drink a coffee, I go to sleep and sleep better then during the night. Tried this at 6Am, 8 Am, 11 Am, 3 PM, same effect. I get very very sleepy after coffee. Is this normal? I am drinking coffee for about 16 years, this is happenening in the last year.
I’m drinking 1 cup of a 1/2 diluted black coffee no sugar added for a time now, maybe 2 years. I have no serious insomnia, if I do wake up to go to the toilet, I usually get back to sleep in no time. I drink green tea too. From time to time, I also drink a detox tea from dandelion leaves, burdock root, milk thistle.
5 days for me without Mountain Dew ! I lost 4 pounds in my first 3 days since I stopped drinking that soda . I have probably been drinking Mountain Dew for over 40 years ! I hope I can stay away from it and all caffeine . I am just curious about how much it will help to improve my health . I am getting close to 60 years old and I don’t need any health problems associated with caffeine . Good luck to anyone else who tries to stop any addiction .🎉
I am on about 30mg of caffiene per day. I am sleeping better, much more relaxed under pressure and therefore actually more productive. The withdrawals are rough but it was worth it. I had headaches on and off, but the worst is feeling completely empty inside with no motivation or satisfaction in anything. If this is you, just stick with it. Youll thank yourself.
I went completely caffeine free for 2 months (slowly weened of over the period of a month first) a few years back, had to go back to caffeine again because I got basicly every symptom (constantly nervous, slept worse, less energy, higher blood pressure, speedy pulse, upset stomach, loss of apetite) that the caffeine is supposed to cause by going without (+triple my normal amount of migraines).
I stopped drinking coffee because I noticed I’d crash in energy levels every day around 3 pm and I would need a nap. I stopped drinking tea and coffee and had withdrawal Symptoms for about a week but after that my energy was smooth and level throughout the day and I no longer crashed or needed a nap mid-day.
I drank anywhere 5 to six cups of coffee a day and sometimes shots of espresso for years. I stopped coffee a week ago. I started standard process drenamin and I am looking at your website for anything that will help my adrenals. It was a rough week but I am starting to feel better more relaxed now. My goal to heal my adrenals. I will not lie I miss coffee I love the taste and smell of coffee so maybe one day I can have it in moderation once my adrenals are well.
I haven’t had coffee since 2021. I used to drink two large Americanos a day, it was the only way I could work my insanely stressful office job. My anxiety was so bad I couldn’t even cross a street, lol. The first two weeks were hell and then all the sudden I became so calm… too calm and realized how complacent it made me. I saved up like crazy, quit that job three months later, stopped working and started living again. I have so much real energy, I don’t fall asleep randomly, my heart isn’t popping out of my chest because of nothing and I don’t want to kill people. Best decision of my life and I had zero cravings after I committed to the first two weeks. I still love coffee shops though so having to spend $6 on a snack instead of $3 on an americano is killer. 😢
Can you do this again, but for decaf. I drink one equivalent cup of caffeinated coffee a day, but 4-6 cups total with the rest being decaf. I also add espresso often. The decaf is naturally water decaffeinated…whatever that means. I’m American, so I don’t drink tea…ever. At over 50, caffeine is just no fun and all I have left is black coffee and water. I take blood pressure pills and have eliminated all coffee as a test to measure impact…nothing changed. Back to coffee.
41 years old, never drank coffee directly, meaning i occasionaly have coffee in pastries like traditional tiramisu, but that’s about it, never drank it and never felt the need for it. Tbh it’s not because i don’t like it or wanted to be a contrarian but, when i was very young, i used to smell the fresh brewed coffee in the morning made by my parents,for breakfast, and somehow, when i was very hungry with that sickening sensation of empty stomac, i associated that sensation with the smell of coffee. So, i kinda avoided to be near that smell during breakfast and it kept me away from coffee, at the age when almost everybody want to try it.
I drank a lot of coffee (milk and sugar) until i noticed, that my stomach always felt full (like a fist pressing on my stomach), even when i didn´t eat anything. When i quitted coffee for 2-3 month it was completely gone. now i drink black coffee again. but way less, than before. I have to work hard, not to let the addiction creep in again.😅
Some people drink it because they have insanely energetic little kids & for workouts. I am just literally addicted unfortunately. I tried to quit years ago, got to day 4 and felt like someone was actually hitting me over the head with every step of my run with a sledgehammer. Couldn’t deal with it – went home and drank a coffee. It is scary the effect of it
Now that I don’t drink coffee, I have smooth even energy as another comment said. I got curious and tried coffee in a small amount again, I enjoyed the little kick of feeling awake and fast and less irritable… but started waking up tired again… yea I’ll stick to not drinking coffee. Overall life is nicer when you can wake up and be good to go and not feel an anxious rush in the morning
Coffee allowed me to stay up at night and work, or just stay up and do whatever. I can’t now. Not to say I sleep better, I still battle with myself to stay awake and that causes me to not sleep sometimes, BUT if I put my head down at night I fall asleep, damn near instantly. I’m getting use to it. Gained weight tho.
Dr Berg, many of your viewers on here are saying they switched from caffeine and coffee to cocoa or cacao instead – without realising that cocoa contains cadmium and lead in it. Whether or not it’s organic it doesn’t matter because it is contaminated also. Can you please do a you tube on cocoa/cacao and the cadmium/lead issue to clarify and correct all these people’s misperceptions because they go from the frying pan into the fire, and don’t realise it. Essentially you can’t drink anything except pure filtered clean water and even then THAT can’t be too much either because it causes problems if it’s too much or too little either way. Everything is a problem it seems. Thanks
What makes giving up caffeine so difficult is that, once you’ve not had any for several days, it feels amazing and tastes GREAT. I recommend not having caffeine every single day if you can avoid it. It makes the times you DO have it much more enjoyable, and you won’t get to the point where you’re pushing 200 mg a day just to feel alright.