How to kick your caffeine habit for good
COFFEE can be a hard habit to kick, yet there are plenty of reasons to break up with your coffee machine.
Research has found that some people may not tolerate higher amounts of caffeine and can suffer jitteriness, anxiety and insomnia.
Also, a new study, published in the journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine, which examined data from 37 observational studies, has suggested that pregnant women – or those trying for a baby – should consider avoiding caffeine altogether.
Here, we asked experts to give some tips and strategies for kicking your coffee habit for good.
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ESTABLISH A NEW RITUAL...
“AND make it easy,” says Eliza Flynn, pre and postnatal fitness expert for Biamother (biamother. com). “If you drink coffee because it’s ‘what you do’, then why not switch to something else? Hot ginger and lemon is fantastic for clearing away the cobwebs, and many swear by it for easing morning sickness.”
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KICK-START YOUR DAY ANOTHER WAY
INSTEAD of relying on coffee for your energy boost, you can achieve the same buzz by working out instead. “Dynamic stretches and movements, such as arm circles and marching on the spot will help increase blood flow and make you feel more awake,” says Eliza.
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MAKE COFFEE HARDER TO GET
IF YOU’RE serious about cutting out caffeine, Eliza says you should remove it from your house.
“If that feels like too much too soon, place it somewhere which is awkward to get to and set out your new beverage ingredients where they’re in easy reach,” she suggests.
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OPT FOR DECAF
DECAFFEINATED coffees and teas could be an option, says Clarissa Lenherr, nutritionist for personalised healthcare service, bioniq (bioniq. com). The key here is to be mindful, as some decaf alternatives still contain residual amounts of caffeine in them.
BE MINDFUL OF HIDDEN CAFFEINE
CAFFEINE can also be found in some fizzy drinks, energy drinks, dark chocolate, protein bars and some paracetamol blends.
“Replace fizzy drinks with sparkling water flavoured with herbs, minimise dark chocolate consumption and read the labels of protein bars and powders before taking them,” says Clarissa.
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REWARD YOURSELF
IF YOU’RE pregnant and craving coffee, try to focus on the motivation for change. “Remind yourself why you’re giving this up and reward yourself for your abstinence,” says Eliza. “Consider giving yourself an extra five minutes in bed, or putting that money aside to treat yourself at the end of each month.”
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GATHER YOUR SUPPORT GROUP
TELL others what you’re doing and ask them to help you. “This might mean meeting friends elsewhere, rather than in coffee shops where the scent of freshly ground beans might tempt you,” says Eliza. “Or see if they’ll avoid coffee when you’re out together.”