|
|
Going without coffee can rock your world
I remember the first time I tried coffee. It was strong, bitter and, to my 15-year-old taste buds, disgusting. But it seemed like a grown-up alternative to my hot chocolate, and so I gave it another chance.
Nine years later, I can't imagine a day without my regular cup or two, or, well, maybe three. Now, I believe I have a normal relationship with joe. I would gladly, for example, languish in a steaming hot tub of java. The aftermath might be a little gross, but mmm -- imagine the aroma.
But my love for the rich, soothing liquid can be a real pain -- in the head, that is -- if I don't get dosed at the usual times. Sometimes I buy a cup even when I don't want one, or can't really afford one, just to avoid the throbbing behind my eye sockets.
Occasionally a little question pops through the pain: Do I really need all that coffee? My caffeine-enslaved brain screams yes! But the rational part of me says not-so-much.
So a few months back, I vowed to drop the drink cold turkey -- for a week. I also decided to write about my journey. That way, if I buckled under the pressure, my tragic story of denial would be documented. My editors gave me an immediate go-ahead. They clarified: Begin researching; don't cut off the caffeine just yet. (Full disclosure: I immediately ran to buy a super-sized cup.)
I knew I would need professional support, so I gathered medical advice from dietitian Lalita Kaul and psychologist Barry Smith to guide me through. And then, nothing stood between me and my caffeine-free nightmare. Gulp.
DAY ONE: The aroma of coffee tantalized me out of bed. But it's not for me. My boyfriend, Chris, still wanted his morning cup and brewed a pot. I shot glowering looks at him over my coffeeless breakfast. Kaul had warned me about this: "You might be a little grumpy." No kidding. Daggers shot from behind my eyeballs all day and increased tenfold when I passed a coffee shop later that day. While I can't drink coffee, it doesn't hurt to browse, right? I stuck my head in and inhaled deeply. Ahhhhhh. Chocolate-covered espresso beans. Wait -- that's probably cheating. I went to bed with an aching head and didn't sleep well all night.
DAY TWO: I emptied my favorite coffee cup from the dishwasher and delicately placed it on the shelf. Sadness washed over me. "There is a psychological high that people experience when they drink coffee," Smith told me. Life without coffee is a sad, sad existence -- and I'm in it.
DAY THREE: On my way to work I counted coffee vendors galore: Starbucks, Murky Coffee, Cosi, Starbucks, Starbucks. They all mocked me with their big, shiny espresso machines and urns of coffee. I popped four Advil in my mouth to soothe my pounding head and walked to work with downcast eyes. Kaul's words echoed in my head: "Coffee is habit-forming. If you give it up, you get headaches and anxiety." Yes and yes. Is the week over yet?
DAY FOUR: Everyone at work drinks coffee. Why hadn't I noticed this before? Bob has a big smile on his face and a steaming cup beside his computer. Rich is sipping his java while happily chatting on the phone. And I have . . . nothing. I think I need to see a therapist to get me through this week, but Smith laughed at me when I suggested it. "If you need counseling for caffeine withdrawal, you'll need counseling for other things," he said.
DAY FIVE: Chris and I went to a cafe before work. He had coffee; I had hot chocolate. Or so I thought. The barista accidentally served me a mocha latte. Conspiracy! At the first whiff I knew, and after much internal debate and deep thinking, I returned the cup untouched. "You can keep it," the barista volunteered. I woefully shook my head and got my original order, which I later learned actually has a trace amount of caffeine. Double conspiracy! "Some people are sensitive to the effects of caffeine," Smith told me. Oh, I'm beyond sensitive at this point.
DAY SIX: There's coffee ice cream in my freezer. I stared at it. Its java-hued container stared back. One little taste wouldn't hurt, right? It's not like it's really coffee. Chris caught me mid-bite: "Should you be eating that?" Chris doesn't always know what's good for him. "It might take weeks for someone to kick the coffee habit," Kaul told me. "It's a behavioral thing."
DAY SEVEN: I swear I heard Handel's Hallelujah Chorus in my head when I woke up. I raced to my espresso machine, made a latte and took a long gulp. It felt indescribably good. I had survived the week. My friends, family, boyfriend and co-workers remained unscathed. And I'm proud of myself.
As I munched on chocolate-covered espresso beans later that day, I mused on my experience. I learned two things: I have at least an ounce -- hey, that's a whole espresso shot -- of willpower. And I love my daily coffee ritual. I've since cut back to drinking just one cup a day, which is healthier, according to Kaul. I doubt I'll ever fully kick the habit, but I'm sure I'll look back fondly at my caffeine-free week. Fondly, that is, with a steaming cup of coffee in my hand.
Vice is not usually harmful
Let's get this straight: Caffeine isn't bad for you, as long as it's consumed in moderation. While headaches, fatigue and all-around crankiness can result when a habitual user misses a cup or two, dietitian Lalita Kaul and psychologist Barry Smith say the drug is relatively harmless.
"If it is taken within reason -- a couple of cups a day -- it is fine," Kaul says. "It can temporarily raise your blood pressure and can sometimes stimulate your heart, but it's not harmful."
Smith says coffee drinkers experience a "change in brain chemistry" when they have their regular cups of joe, but adds "most people adjust pretty quickly when they stop drinking it."
Smith points out that the verdict is still out on the long-term effects of caffeine, so it's best to play it safe and drink a few cups of coffee or less each day. "Some studies show if you drink it in excessive amounts over time, it may contribute to heart problems, and other studies show it has no effect," he says. "Research has been going on for 40 years or so, and there's still no final answer."
For those looking to cut back on their multiple daily cups of coffee, Kaul recommends a gradual weaning process, similar to that of smokers trying to quit. "You can put more skim milk in your coffee for nourishment as you wean yourself off it," she suggests. "It's habit-forming, and each person has to make the decision to cut it down."
The Washington Post
|
|
