Innate Health Solutions help people understand the effects of caffeine on the human body.

Coffee had been around for centuries, so it must be good for us……right?

coffeeBecause coffee stimulates the Central Nervous System, long term caffeine consumption has been associated with muscle tension and nerve irritation in four areas of the body.

These areas or hot spots are:

  • The base of the skull
  • The neck and shoulder blades
  • A band above and between the eyes (across the forehead)
  • The lower back

Have you ever suffered pain in any of these areas? Read on….

The following LONG list of problems has been associated with daily caffeine consumption:

  • Headaches, including migraines
  • Heavy heads or brain fog
  • A feeling your neck cannot support your head ( heavy head syndrome)
  • An ache in the neck and in between the shoulder blades
  • A band of pain above the eyes
  • Heavy & achy legs
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Chronic lower back pain

And the list can keep growing, other well documented effects of caffeine include:

  • Cyst formation, particularly benign fibrocystic breast lumps
  • Insomnia, or inability to sleep well, plus nocturia (night urination)
  • Bloating and fluid retention
  • Chronic fatigue due to caffeine adverse effect on iron absorption
  • Nervousness, agitation and irritability due to caffeine effect on the Central Nervous System
  • Female infertility (Lancet Medical Journal 2: 1988)
  • Sinus congestion and pain

When caffeine is eliminated from the diet certain withdrawal effects are very common, irrespective of how much caffeine is consumed or how weak the beverages, so in other words, regardless of the amount of coffee you consume, it still affects you!

Coffee withdrawal effects:

  • Headaches, sometimes severe.
  • Vomiting, mainly bile, occasionally accompanies the headache especially in females who have consumed 5 or more cups of tea or coffee daily for 10 years or more.
  • A heavy head
  • Nausea
  • Achy legs
  • Extreme fatigue and lethargy “lasting up to 1 week. (Blood sugar levels are no longer artificially elevated by caffeine stimulant.)
  • Virus like symptoms including muscle aches, etc.
  • Weight loss quite rapid in some people.

It is important to understand that the above withdrawal symptoms are only temporary, for a few days at most. By resting and eating lightly you enable your body to eliminate chemical irritants more rapidly.
Only medicate withdrawal symptoms if absolutely necessary, as this adds to the toxic load of the body.

Common Sources of Caffeine

  • Tea
  • Coffee
  • Chocolate
  • Chocolate drinks
  • Cola drinks
  • Energy drinks (Red Bull, Mother)

What should I drink?

  • Herbal teas
  • Substitute coffees like Caro, Ecco, Bambu, Natures Cuppa
  • Warm water with freshly squeezed lemon
  • Mineral water (plain) soda water
  • Freshly squeezed juices (dilute one-third with water)

Important Note: Only drink when thirsty as to not to dilute the acid enzymes in the stomach. Try to wait 45 minutes after a meal before drinking, by doing this it helps eliminate bloating. If drinking before a meal, make it 20 minutes beforehand.

Last Words of advice

Some people eliminate caffeine from the diet without any unpleasant withdrawal effects, but unfortunately they are the minority. The improved symptoms and general health is well worth the temporary discomfort.

For more information regarding the effects of caffeine, contact the team at Innate Health Solutions today.