Coffee
A Difficult Relationship
Coffee… I love it & I hate it! I have been a coffee drinker for more than two decades and I just love the smell and taste of it. But, as I am always curious to explore ways to improve my health, I decided to quit it a month ago and see what the effects would be. After two days with decreased energy, a severe headache and feeling a bit sad, day three made all the difference; I felt so much better that I decided to quit coffee. These days my energy is more stable, I am just more friendly & relaxed and I sleep better.
The thing is, I live in Uganda and in my garden I have about 25 Robusta plants (and three tiny Arabica) that get a lot of love and attention (and NO pesticides). Anyone who has ever seen and smelled flowering coffee plants will understand my love for the coffee plant, regardless of the oh so tasty beverage. So, after harvesting and cleaning the beans I could not help myself; I wanted to taste my coffee! I roasted some beans in a pan, ground them and made myself a cup of coffee. It was delicious! The taste was better than store-bought coffee and knowing it was totally pesticide-free and from my own garden, it made the coffee taste even better.
But what happened next, made me realise I should treat coffee like whisky; it should be a treat to enjoy once a month or less. Or maybe never again. The effects on my body were severe; my heart started beating faster, my hands and armpits became sweaty and I got so much energy I almost became hyperactive. Mood shifted from euphoric to stressed to happy to mildly depressed; very weird. And then came the final nail in the coffin; I could not sleep until about midnight and I woke again at 4, not able to fall asleep again.
I know, many of you reading this will think ‘no freaking way I am going to quit coffee’ and I understand. Been there, done that. It gets easier after quitting bread, beer, pasta, pizza, chips, fries, nuts etc. It is all about control and wanting the best for your body. Many people think coffee gives them the energy they need and they use that as an excuse. But if you try it for a month, you’ll find out that your energy and your overall wellbeing will improve!
Tell me; coffee or no coffee? And why?
Coffee ☕️ every day, certified organic, low acid, central American, dark roast. The views from the back are gorgeous.
I too have a love/hate relationship with coffee. Being of a Finnish heritage where coffee was always brewed and on the stove, I became a lifelong coffee drinker from a young age. It became more of a habit than anything, and the enjoyment faded quickly. Decades later I decided to give it up to see if some health issues would resolve, and I actually found that it was harder to quit coffee than it was alcohol. It was a bit of a tough go for the first while, but I quit cold turkey. The withdrawal’s lasted about two to three days, but I started rapidly feeling better after that. No more caffeine induced reflux, no more panic trips to the bathroom, no more panicking jitters at all either. My stomach and digestive issues resolved. I drank tea in place of the coffee and didn’t suffer any ill effects. After being off coffee for over a year, I tried a cup to see how it felt. It’s amazing how quickly that first cup enticed me the second one..the coffee “addiction” is truly remarkable. I’m not sure if it’s the caffeine or the rest of the crap that is in store bought coffee,but I had to stop once again. Although I miss the aroma and the taste of a good cup, I know it’s of no benefit to me and my body.
Interesting post, thanks!