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The downsides of coffee and chocolate
How to assess your caffeine addiction
And how to become caffeine-free
Last updated: 21/05/14
G.Moller 2007
Gary Moller
Inter Clinical Laboratories Registered Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis and Medical Nutrition Consultant
Academic Qualifications:
DipPhEd, PDip!eha", PDip#port$ed %&tago'
(ithout )ail, a"out e*ery mo+th, a+other report is released a"out the wo+der)ul health
"e+e)its o) a good cup o) co))ee or a "ar o) chocolate. (e hear little or +othi+g a"out
the dow+side o) their co+sumptio+. (hy is this, -as it a+ythi+g to do with the )act
that the co))ee "ea+ is a multi."illio+ dollar glo"al i+dustry, seco+d o+ly to oil i+
commodity tradi+g, /ou "e the 0udge. 1he chocolate i+dustry has a *ery similar
patter+ o) ra+dom out"rea2s o) good +ews.
(e hear that co))ee a+d chocolate are )ull o) healthy a+ti.o3ida+ts. ood )or your
heart, )or pre*e+ti+g ca+cer, 4l5heimer6s a+d so o+. (hat we do +ot hear is that a+
apple or 0ust a"out a+y other )ruit, let alo+e "erries, co+tai+s more a+ti.o3ida+ts per
ser*i+g. 7) the a*erage co))ee dri+2er replaced each o) their daily cuppas with a piece
o) )ruit, "erries or a )ew +uts, they would "e much more disease resista+t a+d would
"e addi+g years o+to their li)e e3pecta+cy, tha+ would e*er "e gai+ed through co))ee
or chocolate co+sumptio+.
I want to make it known before I go any further, that I really enjoy a good cup of coffee and am
equally partial to a block of chocolate. But too much of a good thing can be quite harmful. I am
going to explain the downside and then show you how to minimise the risks while still enjoying
the pleasures of a good coffee or block of chocolate.
7 co+cede there might "e a health "e+e)it . somewhere . "y co+sumi+g co))ee a+d
chocolate, "ut 7 remai+ s2eptical, "ecause "ig 8uestio+s remai+ o*er the impartiality
o) much o) the research "ei+g pedaled a"out. 1his is compou+ded "y the scarcity o)
research i+to their ad*erse e))ects a+d its lac2 o) pu"licity. 7 guess there is +ot much
)u+di+g )or this 2i+d o) research a+d 7 dou"t there are a+y massi*e corporate media
machi+es at the ready to e+thusiastically spread the "ad +ews a"out a product that
may "e ma2i+g hu+dreds o) millio+s o) dollars )or them.
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What is the downside?
7 am +ot e3pecti+g this to wi+ a+y )rie+ds "ecause challe+gi+g o+e9s addictio+s
usually ge+erates a hostile respo+se. 4+d the pro"lem with chocolate a+d co))ee is
they are highly addicti*e. 7t is "ecause they co+tai+ ca))ei+e which chemically addicts
i+ 0ust a matter o) days.
(e are a ca))ei+e.soa2ed society. :a))ei+e is a stimula+t. 7t is )ou+d e*erywhere . i+
tea, chocolate, cocoa, ma+y pai+.2illers such as ;uro)e+.Plus, <;o.Do5e= pills,
her"al party pills, so)t dri+2s, sports a+d e+ergy dri+2s, e*e+ i+ e+emas . a+d co))ee .
o) course>
:a))ei+e is e3tremely addicti*e a+d, "y e3te+sio+, so is co))ee . a+d a+y other product
or com"i+atio+ o) products that co+tai+ it. 7t is addicti*e "ecause ca))ei+e mimics the
"ody6s +atural +eurotra+smitters. 1oo much stimulates the +er*ous system i+to o*er.
dri*e a+d the +er*ous system respo+ds "y reduci+g its ow+ productio+ o)
+eurotra+smitters. 7+ +o time at all, the "rai+ a+d +er*es "ecome relia+t o+ the
e3ter+al source o) stimulatio+ 0ust to )u+ctio+ +ormally. 1he e))ect is *ery similar to
+icoti+e, which e3plai+s why smo2ers are i+*aria"ly hea*y co+sumers o) ca))ei+ated
products . a co+ditio+ o) cross addictio+ or reductio+ o) o+e addictio+ "y
su"stitutio+.
Let me tell you a couple of stories:
Cathy %+ot her real +ame', i+ her early 209s had "ee+ o+ wor2er6s compe+satio+ )or
most o) her short wor2i+g li)e, su))eri+g chro+ic pai+ a))ecti+g her upper "ody, arms
a+d ha+ds. #he was e+rolled i+ a physical reha"ilitatio+ programme. #he was also
u+der the care o) a gastroe+terologist a+d had "ee+ u+dergoi+g +umerous tests )or
se*ere "outs o) a"domi+al pai+. ;o progress was made with her reha"ilitatio+ or
a"domi+al pro"lems. 1he reaso+s "ecame o"*ious whe+ her )ather approached me
a+d as2ed i) her co))ee a+d Diet :o2e co+sumptio+ might ha*e a+ythi+g to do with
her health pro"lems. 7t tur+ed out she was dri+2i+g two 2i+g.si5e "ottles o) Diet :o2e
per day, plus se*eral cups o) percolated co))ee> #he was a ca))ei+e addict. 7t still
"lows me away that +o+e o) her medical specialists had co+sidered the possi"ility o)
her dietary ha"its "ei+g a )actor with her a"domi+al pai+. (e )ailed to properly
reha"ilitate her "ecause we were +ot allowed to deal with her addictio+ %#uch are the
restrictio+s o) medical ser*ice co+tracts' a+d 7 would +ot "e surprised i) hal) her
i+testi+e has si+ce remo*ed.
John %+ot his real +ame' was a you+g tradesma+ who su))ered disa"li+g migrai+es.
4ll the doctors could do was to place him o+ power)ul drugs that ga*e some relie).
$y )irst clue was that the migrai+es happe+ed mostly duri+g the wee2e+ds. ?po+
8uestio+i+g, 7 disco*ered that he co+sumed eight pea+ut sla"s, plus se*eral cups o) tea
duri+g each wor2 day. @ecause he was co+sumi+g much less i+ the wee2e+ds, he was
goi+g i+to stimula+ts withdrawal, triggeri+g a migrai+e.li2e headache.
Peter %+ot his real +ame', a you+g 71 specialist approached me "ecause he was losi+g
muscle weight. 1he )irst clue was he tur+ed up to the )irst co+sultatio+ clutchi+g a
"ottle o) diet co2e. 7t tur+ed out he dra+2 up to A liters o) :o2e per day, se*eral cups
o) "rewed co))ee a+d he smo2ed a"out 25 cigarettes per day> -is diet co+sisted
e+tirely o) ta2eaways. 7t came as +o surprise that he had de*eloped 1ype 77 dia"etes a
)ew years ago, progressi+g to re8uiri+g daily i+suli+ shots. ;o wo+der he was losi+g
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muscle> 7 was )urther asto+ished that his li)estyle a+d diet had recei*ed less tha+
passi+g atte+tio+ "y his medical specialists.
:athy, Boh+ a+d Peter all )ace li*es that will "e seriously hi+dered "y ca))ei+e
addictio+ a+d co+se8ue+tial health a+d li)estyle issues. 1hey ser*e to "low the myth
that ca))ei+ated products are all "liss a+d good health. 1here is a dow+side a+d it ca+
"e catastrophic. Cortu+ately, the co+se8ue+ces are less dramatic )or most people.
I can't stand the taste of coffee, so I will never be a coffee
addict. I drink Coca Cola (or Pepsi) occasionally, but have never
understood why it should be considered to be a central element of
western (at least merican) civilisation. I will happily eat lots of
chocolate, however ! but the hi"h su"ar and fat content rather than
the caffeine content is what compels moderation.# Gregor.
Too much caffeine is harmful
#ome o) the )ollowi+g may "e partially due to reactio+s to other su"sta+ces, such as
arti)icial sweete+ers )ou+d i+ ca))ei+ated products li2e *arious diet so)t dri+2s.
Digesti*e upset a+d damage to the gut, i+cludi+g ulceratio+s a+d polyps
E3treme )atigue, especially i+ the mor+i+g
Psychosis, especially i) com"i+ed with a *ery low )at diet
7mpaired co+ce+tratio+
-yperacti*ity
4ggressi*e "eha*iour
;er*ous tics, tremor, sha2i+g a+d muscle spasms
7mpaired athletic per)orma+ce %athletes ta2e +ote'
Disio+ pro"lems
#leepi+g disorders
!aised "lood pressure
$igrai+es a+d headaches
#tai+ed teeth, rotte+ gums a+d "ad "reath
Are you a caffeine addict?
7) you are +ot a mor+i+g perso+, i) you +eed that early mor+i+g cuppa to get goi+g, or
i) you )i+d yoursel) co+ti+uously thi+2i+g a"out the +e3t tea "rea2, the+ you might "e
hoo2ed o+ ca))ei+e. 7) you ha*e daily ca))ei+e )rom a+y sources e8ui*ale+t o) 2.E
cups o) percolated co))ee or more, or ha"itually ha*e e*e+ 0ust a si+gle cup "ut always
at the same time o) day, the+ co+sider yoursel) hoo2ed to some e3te+t.
7t is curre+tly the cra5e i+ ma+y competiti*e sporti+g acti*ities to ta2e massi*e doses
o) ca))ei+e. 1his is +ot healthy, with ma+y you+g athletes "ei+g suc2ed i+to this a+d
co+se8ue+tly "ecomi+g addicted, to the e3te+t they +eed their pre.competitio+
ca))ei+e hit 0ust to )eel <+ormal=, let alo+e o+ )ire>
Are you hooked on caffeine?
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1a2e the test to disco*er i) you ha*e a ca))ei+e addictio+. 1his is importa+t, whether
you are a+ a*erage perso+ who 0ust wa+ts to 2eep )it a+d healthy, or a serious athlete,
see2i+g sporti+g supremacy. &+e o) the "est measures that you ca+ do )or your health
a+d per)orma+ce is to get your "ody a+d "rai+ completely )ree o) ca))ei+e, so that
they ca+ operate optimally u+der its ow+ steam.
The caffeine addiction test
1his is really simple to start, "ut may +ot "e that easy to complete. :hoose your day
care)ully a+d the+ #1&P> 7 recomme+d you start o+ a (ed+esday so that you are
goi+g through the worst o) a+y withdrawal Criday a+d the wee2e+d a+d hope)ully o+
the way up "y $o+day.
-a*e +o more ca))ei+e or other stimula+ts o) a+y 2i+d )or 10 days i+ a row. 1o do this
properly, you +eed to read medici+e, )ood a+d dri+2 la"els *ery care)ully. :a))ei+e is
e*e+ )ou+d i+ some ma2e.up products to supposedly to+e the s2i+> @e especially
cautious o) her"al products, sports reco*ery )ormulas, weight loss product a+d her"al
teas. ;asal deco+gesta+ts a+d headache remedies may ha*e stimula+ts added,
i+cludi+g ephedri+e a+d ca))ei+e. 7) there is a hi+t o) a stimula+t, ditch it.
No pain-killers please!
/ou will )eel )i+e )or the )irst day or so, "ut "y day 2.E do +ot "e surprised i) you
"egi+ to su))er withdrawal symptoms which may "ecome 8uite se*ere:
#plitti+g headache/migrai+e
$uscular aches a+d pai+s
E3treme tired+ess, sleepy, do5i+g
$uscle wea2+ess
Poor e+dura+ce
Clu.li2e symptoms
@ad temper
1rou"le sleepi+g
Poor memory
Poor eyesight a+d sore dry eyes
Dry mouth, sore throat
:o+stipatio+
:o+sta+t cra*i+g )or a cup o) co))ee
7) the a+swer is <yes= to a+y o) the a"o*e, the+ you are hoo2ed. Depe+di+g o+ how
hoo2ed you are o+ ca))ei+e a+d other stimula+ts, the symptoms will ra+ge )rom mild
to se*ere.
Detoxify
;ow you ha*e to get all o) these to3ic stimula+ts out o) your "ody a+d gi*e your "ody
time to throw se*eral physiological switches to "egi+ to recomme+ce ma+u)acturi+g
its ow+ +eurotra+smitters as it should "e. 1his is +ot easy )or the hea*ily addicted
perso+ a+d +eeds at least 10.14 days o) "ei+g completely ca))ei+e.)ree to deto3i)y.
Warning! 1a2e care whe+ dri*i+g, or doi+g ha5ardous acti*ities that re8uire
co+ce+tratio+.
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old turkey
:old tur2ey is the o+ly way to do it. Duri+g the 10 days you must +ot gi*e i+to
temptatio+. ;o matter how "ad the headache, )atigue or the cra*i+gs, you ha*e to
tough it out . +o pai+ 2illers at all . +ot e*e+ a+ythi+g as i++ocuous as a+ aspiri+. ;o
chocolate dri+2. 1o o*ercome the addictio+, your "ody has to reset its physiology:
e*e+ the slightest wa*eri+g )rom your goal a+d your "ody will )ail to reset a+d
deto3i)y.
Duri+g this period a+d )or E.4 wee2s a)ter this, it is a good pla+ to a*oid situatio+s
where you are e3posed to ca))ei+ated products, or )eel pressured to ha*e <0ust a little
"it=. 7 ha*e "ee+ assumi+g that you are a +o+.smo2er. ;icoti+e )ree. 7) you smo2e,
all o) this ad*ice will come to +othi+g. 1he assumptio+ is also made that you are +ot
o+ prescriptio+ medici+es li2e a+ti.depressa+ts.
!eep up the nutrients
Duri+g this period o) deto3i)yi+g, it is stro+gly recomme+ded to ta2e i+
suppleme+tary *itami+s a+d mi+erals o*er the wee2s o) resetti+g your meta"olism.
Dri+2 o+ly water a+d ple+ty o) it, "ut do +ot o*erdo it . too much water ca+ actually
cause a se*ere headache. 7 stro+gly recomme+d that you co+tact me a"out getti+g a
prescriptio+ )or Dr (ilso+9s 4dre+al Catigue Programme. 1his programme will help
to calm the +er*es, reduce the se*erity o) head aches a+d migrai+es, calm "lood
pressure a+d reduce muscle cramps. -ere is a li+2 to more i+)ormatio+ a"out adre+al
)atigue, i+cludi+g Dr (ilso+9s "est seller "oo2 o+ the su"0ect.
"a#e a sauna twice a week
4 sau+a helps rela3 the "ody a+d mi+d while assisti+g deto3i)icatio+ o) the "ody.
Please read this article here a"out how to use a sau+a )or health.
4)ter a"out 10 days:
$ou will start to feel great
/ou will )i+d it easier to get out o) "ed a+d to get goi+g )irst thi+g i+ the mor+i+g
/our head will )eel clearer a+d your me+tal )aculties sharper
/our cra*i+g )or ca))ei+e will "e much dimi+ished or go+e completely
/ou will ha*e more stami+a
/ou will ha*e )ewer muscular aches a+d pai+s
@lood pressure a+d pulse will "e more co+siste+t
/ou will "e wo+deri+g what o+ earth to do duri+g tea "rea2s at wor2>
%taying free of caffeine addiction
&+ce 2.4 wee2s ha*e passed with "ei+g ca))ei+e.)ree you will )eel great. 1he
challe+ge +ow is to 2eep that way "y:
Li*i+g a li)estyle that is completely ca))ei+e )ree . choosi+g ca))ei+e.)ree products
li2e caro" chocolate a+d deca) co))ee or ca))ei+e )ree her"al teas, or +o+e o) these at
all.
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@ei+g a *ery sporadic ca))ei+e co+sumer. 1he sporadic optio+ is the o+e that 7 ha*e
chose+:
&+ly dri+2i+g tea or co))ee o+ special occasio+s, such as whe+ meeti+g a )rie+d )or
a cuppa "ut this must "e irregular.
;e*er ha"itually ta2i+g i+ ca))ei+e daily
;e*er ta2i+g ca))ei+e at the same time o) day, o+e day a)ter a+other, otherwise the
"ody9s circadia+ rhythms will ad0ust to this
&)te+ deli"erately goi+g se*eral days or wee2s i+ a row without a+y ca))ei+e
Limiti+g occasio+s o) ca))ei+e i+ta2e to a si+gle cup or e8ui*ale+t
&) course, ma+y people will opt )or their daily cuppa, pre)erri+g +ot to co+)ro+t the
Dar2 #ide. ;ot a pro"lem . it6s their choice, "ut certai+ly +ot )or meF "ecause, i+ my
"oo2, addictio+ o) a+y 2i+d mea+s loss o) choice a+d ris2i+g my health. @ei+g a"le to
e3ercise real choice represe+ts i+depe+de+ce a+d )reedom.
affeine and athletes
1here is much power)ul commercial hype, "ac2ed "y *olumes o) 0u+2 scie+ce that has
literally suc2ed the sporti+g commu+ity, i+cludi+g coaches, trai+ers a+d e3ercise
physiologists i+to "elie*i+g that ca))ei+e is a+ i++ocuous a+d esse+tial ergoge+ic aid
)or sport. 7t is +ot i++ocuous: ca))ei+e i+gestio+ is a practice that leads to i+co+siste+t
per)orma+ce a+d premature "ur+out. 1he lo+g term health co+se8ue+ces are real.
$y e3perie+ce is that e+dura+ce athletes who are addicted to ca))ei+e ca+ impro*e
their stami+a "y up to a whoppi+g 20G without ha*i+g to do a+y e3tra trai+i+g, i)
they 0ust )ollow the guideli+es i+ the article a+d "ecome ca))ei+e.)ree> 7) you are a+
athlete or coach a+d you do+6t "elie*e me, the+ ta2e the ca))ei+e test a+d pro*e me
wro+g.
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