To caffeine or not to caffeine?

This is such a sensitive subject because it’s like going through a possible break up. Caffeine is one of those friends that is loyal and consistent... until you stop answering her calls. That’s when the headaches, anxiety, fatigue, irritability and depressed mood can creep in.
 
I was 22 years old when I got my first stove top espresso maker and it felt like the first kiss; I fell in love with coffee. OMG! Caffeine was my best friend.  She gave me energy, warmed my heart and soothed my soul. I was ready to take on the world! I loved  the ritual, until one day my dad said, “Are going to make coffee? If you are leave it on the table.” I thought, what do you mean? "You didn’t drink your coffee yesterday, son.” That’s when it hit me. I had lost my temper with a colleague the day before and it was completely out of character. The scary part was I felt that I had no control over my anger and irritability! I started to ask whether I could function without coffee? That week I ended my relationship with coffee and switched to black tea. But then I got hooked on tea and so I learned that any caffeine was not good for my body type. (But remember everyone is different. My dad can drink coffee at night and sleep like a baby!)
 
According to Ayurveda, an ancient Indian science of self healing based on the idea that disease is caused by an imbalance or stress in a person's consciousness, there are three body types (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and each person has a unique fingerprint of which body type they are. 
As a predominantly Vata-Pitta body type, coffee can cause irritability, make me jittery and anxious, and disturb my sleep. That’s me to a tee!  My Dad is a Kapha body type which does fairly well on coffee.
 
You will have your own experience with coffee, and so "to caffeine or not to caffeine" is a decision based on whats important for you. How does caffeine sit in your lifestyle, your body type and your whole experience with coffee? It’s creating the space for self-empowerment to make better decisions. 
 
You’re probably reading this because in some level of awareness you may be sitting in-between "something is not right" and  "I should do this but I don’t / I shouldn’t do this but I do".
 
 

Something is not right

  • I drink way too much coffee to function 
  • I don’t sleep well at night 
  • I lose my temper easily 
  • I have no energy 
  • I experience a midday slump 
  • I have bloating, cramp and reflux 
  • My skin is breaking out
  • I’m feeling unusually anxious 
 

You might be thinking...

  • I want more energy 
  • I want better quality of sleep 
  • I want to keep calm and be in control 
  • I want to maximize my time to squeeze every single drop of juice from life 
  • I choose to function without caffeine 
 

I should do this but I don’t / I shouldn’t do this but I do

          A. Stop drinking coffee? Or
          B. Reduce my daily intake of coffee?
 
 
Remember, when you abruptly stop caffeine you could experience withdrawal symptoms, such as:
    • headaches
      • anxiety
        • fatigue
          • depressed mood
            • difficulty concentrating

              • tremors

                • irritability

                   
                   

                  Action steps

                   
                  Decide...
                  1. How does drinking coffee support you with your lifestyle?
                  2. Are you drinking too much coffee?
                  3. Can you make coffee healthier by choosing less sugar, a healthier sweetener or a functional blend?
                  4. When do you know that you mustn’t drink coffee?
                  5. If you chose not to drink coffee, what's a healthy alternative without the jitters or taxing your adrenals?
                   

                  Resources

                  There are some resources money cannot buy such as commitment, discipline and consistency.
                   
                   

                  Tips

                  1. Drink coffee in moderation. Stick to 1 to 3 cups a day based on your body type.
                  2. You can add Shroom Magic to your coffee or enjoy it on its own without any coffee. Packed with 5 Adaptogenic Mushrooms and 9 spices, it's a powerhouse of goodness with no added sugar or caffeine. Be empowered to make better choices! 
                  Whatever choice you do make make, learn from it. You can go back to your old habits or choose to create even better habits through your own decisions to do the right thing and recognizing where you are in your life at that moment in time. 
                   
                   

                  Remember!

                  There are lots of other factors that could effect you, so always speak to your physician about your health.
                  It’s also important to look at your stress levels and perhaps create a plan to make some actionable changes to restore balance. Click here for The 3 Steps to Restore Balance. 
                   
                   

                   

                  References:
                  https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-and-anxiety#symptoms

                  https://www.drkeesha.com/ayurvedic-body-types-and-coffee/