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General health

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Original poster

has anyone given up tea and /or coffee? why? how was it?

17 replies

donnie · 29/09/2006 11:04

I am seriously considering it. I have a rather acidy stomach and I know it is affected by tea and coffee, plus too much caffeine makes me feel sick and wired. I did give up coffee a few years ago and had awful headaches from withdrawal, but felt better for it. Am back on it now though.

Anyone else? would really like to hear people' s reasons for doing this and how it was/is.

OP posts:

Original poster

donnie · 29/09/2006 11:14

OP posts:

madmarchhare · 29/09/2006 11:19

I used to drink lots of coffee and would feel all shaky and jittery by the evening on some days.

Thinking that this couldnt be good for me, I decided to go cold turkey and felt really crap for about a week or so.

Ive got back into one on a morning though.

Seriously, I have been wondering lately about its addictive properties and have been thinking about reading up on it more.

NomDePlume · 29/09/2006 11:19

I don't like coffee and caffeine gives me stonking migraines so tea is also out. I was never a big tea drinker anyway so I really don;t miss it. I drink peppermint tea instead (naturally caffeine free)

mancmum · 29/09/2006 11:20

I did it a few years ago and it was hell for 2-3 days as the caffeine withdrawal was worse than I expected.. but I did notice huge increase in my energy levels and drop in anxiety -- I did drink a lot of coffee!

I have slipped back into it though as I do find the alternatives quite dull although did quite get into peppermint tea after dinner... but am considering another go as I notice I feel quite bad after a coffee and given my addiction to it, I tend never to have just one .... just love the stuff... the thought of no drinking coffee seems really miserable.. but I can see benefits... so might give it a go ...

madmarchhare · 29/09/2006 11:20

Ive been drinking a lot of fruity tea types, esp camomile on an evening. I think I sleep better for it.

FoghornLeghorn · 29/09/2006 11:22

I once went cold turkey on tea and coffee when i was office based at work and it gave me horrific headache's but i think that is because I went from drinking quite alot to nothing at all.

I now only have maybe 1 or 2 cups a week and don't suffer for it at all

Original poster

donnie · 29/09/2006 11:23

does the peppermint tea make you stomach hurt though NDP ?

OP posts:

NomDePlume · 29/09/2006 11:59

no, why would it ? [bemused]

Peppermint tea is actually GOOD for the digestion.

lorina · 29/09/2006 12:07

I did a detox about ten years ago. Felt headachy for a few days but felt marvellous afterwards. I have never had coffee again since. Very occasionally I am in a social situation where I feel it would be rude not to drink a coffee someone had given me ,but it makes me feel like death.
Still drink tea

FrannyandZooey · 29/09/2006 12:08

Donnie if you stop cold turkey it will make you feel dreadful. Caffeine withdrawal is actually being classed as a mental disorder

Cutting down slowly can avoid almost all the nasty effects. I don't drink tea or coffee because I don't like the shakes and the rollercoaster / cravings effects. I drink Redbush instead which is naturally caffeine free and contains lots of anti-oxidants.

Original poster

donnie · 29/09/2006 12:46

thanks for that FaZ, I was seriously considering cold turkey but will definitely not do that now, a gradual weaning process sounds better.

NdP the reason for my question was because often when I have tried fruit or herbal teas they have given me acid pains in my stomach.

OP posts:

Clarinet60 · 29/09/2006 13:14

I'm also a redbush fan, gave up caffeine 2 yrs ago. Feel much better, sleep really well. The biggest benefit is that when you wake up in the morning, you feel awake straight away and don't have caffeine withdrawal.
(Peppermint tea also gives me tummy-ache)

mrspink27 · 29/09/2006 13:24

Another vote for redbush here! Actually feel ill now if i drink ordinary tea and coffee.

serenity · 29/09/2006 13:26

I used to drink at least 7 or 8 mugs of tea a day until I got pg with DD. For some reason I developed a real problem with dairy during the pg, and had to give up tea over night as I couldn't stomach milk in it, but hated it black. Dairy problem pretty much went after I finished BFing, but I seem to have lost the taste for tea (but not the desire unfortunatly ) I drink loads of water and peppermint tea instead. I didn't notice any withdrawal problems, but then again the smell of my own skin was making me sick at the time, so I probably just didn't notice!

fridascruffs · 29/09/2006 13:35

I gave up caffeine a few years back on a whim, and had such a terrible headache that painkillers didn't touch that I stayed off it for a year or two as I was a bit horrified at the effct giving up had on me. I gradually went back on it though, and then I gave up again when I was pregnant with DS in 2003, as I thought he'd be addicted to caffeine too and have that awful withdrawal when he was born (don't know if this happens but why not?)
I do love coffee though so I drink a couple of cups of filter decaf in the morning, and either redbush, decaf tea, or other herbal teas the rest of the time. I won't take up caffeine again as it makes me shakey and really hungry about an hour after I've had a cup.

Original poster

donnie · 29/09/2006 15:24

I think I am going to give the redbush tea a try!

OP posts:

bran · 29/09/2006 15:45

I gave up caffeine when I was having IVF and pregnant, I found it really hard to concentrate properly without it and I missed it, I only had a very mild headache though. I only drink a little now, one cup of coffee in the morning and about 4 cans of Pepsi Max a week. I really like green tea which only has a very small amount of caffeine in it, I usually have a supply in my desk at work in case I fancy a hot drink in the afternoon.

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