BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Nutrition Caffeine addiction and use

I just read the article going over research into how caffeine really effects energy, alertness and withdrawal symptoms. I drink a lot of coffee and caffeinated beverages, have for years.
To think if I really quit or cut back, I will have the same level of energy, and a study said so? I have beens auspicious for years if I quit I would have the same or increased energy.
So, now I have a little bit of proof. Time to think about how to cut back or stop! anyone else having similar 3experiences with caffeine use?

I never drank caffeine until I became a personal trainer and had to get up at 4 a.m. to train clients. I figured it would help wake me up but it never did anything for me. I did enjoy drinking something warm at that hour in the morning (especially with others trainers who were into going to Starbucks) so it soon became a habit (different from an addiction). When I'm away on vacation with no access to my coffee machine I tend to not drink it at all and have zero issues with not having it.

I know that an excess of anything can't be good for you so this year (10 years since I started drinking 8-10 cups a day) I started trying to cut back and right now I'm happy with about 4 cups a day, some days less some days more but generally 4 cups a day. I see no major change in energy levels either way (up or down).

Uneducated people who have not studied Metabolic Typing or Biochemical Individuality like to make generalizations about how caffeine or carbs or fat (or whatever food they're hating at the moment) are bad for ALL people but I know tons of people who get no buzz from caffeine or who don't get fat eating tons of carbs and some need tons of fat to be healthy. It all depends on your metabolic type.

Caffeine doesn't make me all wired then crash me down even if I drink 10 cups in one morning. I've never experienced the infamous caffeine buzz/crash (wish I could). If you feel you need to cut back because you would like to see if it helps your energy levels then try eating more dark leafy greens or take a green superfoods supplement. It helps a lot with cravings for it. So does drinking chia water and herbal teas.

I never got a serious caffeine buzz, just more like it woke me up some and kinda stabilized my energy. What stinks is the headaches if I don't drink it. I don't like being dependent.
The article kinda pointed out that not everyone reacted the same, I should have put this in the first post, here is the link:http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art176594.asp.
I haven't tried taking green supplements to help with caffeine cravings, I will give that a try.
and it's awesome you cut back to a level you find better for you!

If you cut the caffeine, you'll have headaches and fatigue for about a week. But after that, everything is ok! :)

From what I've read and experienced, caffeine only makes us more alert as a side-effect of stressing us out; and that its long term effect leads to exhaustion and dependance The industry makes so much money that they easily influence our thinking through the media. I recommend Stephen Cherniske's 'Caffeine Blues', or just googling 'Caffeine Blues'. If you just google 'caffeine' or 'coffee', you'll read how it's the runaway cure for pretty much ever ailment and disease known to man.

I can totally identify with this. I can always tell if I have not had caffiene - fatigue, headaches, dizziness, a really bad mood. Fortunately I have been able to cut it down to 1/2 a can a day is all I need not to feel horrible the next day.

I don't like it because when the "withdrawals" start I can drink the 1/2 can and I feel the improvement. Scary "addiction"

I don't care for coffee but I do enjoy a diet cola now and then. I don't get a big buzz or anything, but it gives me a little boost in energy. I try to limit myself and drink lots of water during the day.

On occasion I also use the soda as a stimulant to deliver ibuprofen quickly into my system when I have a migraine, and I do it on an empty stomach. Most of the time it works wonders to alleviate my pain.