Have you decided to give up coffee? Be careful, this is what stopping caffeine (too) abruptly can cause

Improved memory, fight against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, reduced risk of diabetes or prostate cancer… Drink in reasonable quantities – four cups per day maximum – coffee has many benefits for our health, in particular thanks to its polyphenol content, which fight against free radicals and therefore limit cellular aging.

However, too much consumption can, conversely, become dangerous for health (from six cups) and even toxic in certain categories of people such as pregnant women. From heartburn to acid reflux to palpitations, all these counterparts make you want to take a break from caffeine.

“Caffeine increases the heart rate, tires the heart, can cause sleep problems depending on the level of consumption for non-decaffeinated coffees. Drinking in large quantities, coffee also prevents the proper assimilation of iron by the body. It can thus cause anemia, which will itself lead to fatigue.indicated to Top Health Dr Chevallier, nutritionist, in a previous article.

Stopping too suddenly affects your mood

But be careful, a sudden stop can also cause certain symptoms. When you stop drinking coffee when you are used to drinking several a day, the blood vessels relax and an unexpected amount of blood is pumped into the brain causing the headache. They usually begin 12 to 24 hours after stopping caffeine and can last for several days, peaking after one or two days.

Caffeine also increases the production of two neurotransmitters: dopamine – which influences mood and feelings – and norepinephrine which increases heart and respiratory rate, as well as blood sugar. Stopping caffeine can therefore lower their levels and cause a deterioration in mood, as well as an overall drop in energy.

Stopping can cause concentration problems

Caffeine not only has effects on fatigue, but also on concentration. Indeed, it can have an effect on certain chemical substances present in the brain including glutamate, necessary for learning and memory. Once it wears off, the pace becomes slower, with a feeling of brain fog.

It can cause withdrawal symptoms

In very rare cases, the dependence on this hot drink is so intense that the weaned person begins to tremble. However, these symptoms pass after a few days. “If you experience withdrawal symptoms, it’s a sign that you have consumed too much and become dependent on it.”says nutritionist Kim Pearson at MailOnline. Hence the need to reduce your caffeine consumption.

So, before eliminating it completely, start by reducing your consumption by half for two weeks. Then choose the alternative hot drink (caffeine-free) that will comfort you during the winter to help you give up caffeine.