There seems to be an endless amount of detoxes in this world – skin detox, diet detox, social media detox. The list goes on. But how familiar are you with ‘’caffeine detox’’? Especially if you’re a heavy caffeine consumer? Truth is, our bodies work hard when it comes to detoxification: our livers, kidneys, bladders, digestive systems, skin, etc. They are all working to get rid of toxins from our bodies as they enter through environmental and voluntary input. So, needless to say, our bodies are in desperate need of some detox.
Related article: Simple Ways To Maintain Your Morning Energy Without Caffeine
The idea of ditching our favourite iced latte can send some of us spiraling – or even make us grumpy. However, according to Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, “Caffeine is a substance whose effects are highly individualized. Because of the uniqueness of each individual’s microbiome, some people react to caffeine – even the smaller amounts in a cup of matcha or green tea – in a way that can be overly stimulating and even cause hyperactivity, stress, or anxiety over time.’’ She then continued, “Caffeine can give us a ‘boost’ in our alertness and focus, but leave us with an all-too-familiar ‘crash’ when it wears off. And if you’re getting your caffeine from energy-boosting or focus/alertness beverages on the market, you may be overloading yourself with both caffeine and added sugar.’’
Literally, they may feel like an energy-feeder, but are actually feeding us more anxiety.
“However, refraining from caffeine for a designated amount of time, or in essence, a detox, can eventually provide individuals with a sense of calm, improve sleep, and reduce feelings of anxiety […] depending on each individual’s sensitivity, abstaining from caffeine can provide us with an improved sense of natural stimulation and recognition of body intelligence, one of my pillars of nutritional psychiatry,” Dr Uma stated.
To summarize, when we manage to remove ourselves from the cycle of ‘powering up’ by using unhealthy caffeinated drinks as our daily booster, we are best able to tap into our body’s needs, and choose to fill up our proverbial cup with nourishing food, adequate sleep, and a vibrant lifestyle.
Now you better switch to some good herbal tea, instead.
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