Kimberly Snyder Tells Us The Health Benefits Of Living A Caffeine-Free Life
For many of us, a cup of coffee or tea in the morning is more than a delicious pick-me-up to start the day – it’s an absolute necessity. If Starbucks runs through your veins, you’d probably never dream of giving up coffee, but there are so many benefits of quitting caffeine that may make you a whole lot healthier, so you might want to consider taking the plunge.
We know, it seems unfathomable to imagine a life without glorious caffeine, but believe us when we say there are lots of good things that happen to your body when you quit caffeine, and giving up coffee for good could change your life in positive ways. We chatted with two nutrition experts, who give us the low-down on the benefits of a caffeine-free life.
HelloGiggles spoke with Kimberly Snyder, C.N., nutritionist and New York Times best-selling author of four books, including The Beauty Detox Solution: Eat Your Way to Radiant Skin, Renewed Energy and the Body You’ve Always Wanted, to get the scoop. She gave us some facts that may shock you – and have you switching to decaf ASAP.
Here are 11 health benefits that rain down when you give up caffeine.
1) You’ll sleep better.
This one shouldn’t come as too much of a shock to latte lovers, but it’s worth repeating. “Caffeine is a stimulant,” Amidor tells HG, “which can lead to restlessness and difficulty sleeping. Taking it out of your diet may help you sleep better.” Yeah, unfortunately, it’s true – the same reason we look forward to a caffeine buzz to wake us up is the very thing that leads to restless nights.
2) You’ll have less anxiety.
Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, which gives you a good boost when you’re trying to plow through your to-do list. But it also does a number on your blood pressure, temporarily spiking it and giving you a shot of adrenaline. If you suffer from anxiety, this could make you feel kinda terrible.
“Drinking loads of caffeine can cause an increase in anxiety. Removing it from the diet can help minimize anxiety. Those who already have anxiety should be consuming minimal caffeine,” Amidor confirms. Many of the physical symptoms of anxiety (sweaty palms, racing heart, etc.) are therefore then alleviated when caffeinated beverages like energy drinks and coffee are nixed.
3) You’ll be able to absorb calcium better.
Strange but true: your morning java can have a negative impact on your bones. According to Amidor, “Caffeinated beverages like cola, tea and coffee contain compounds that don’t allow calcium to be absorbed into the body. This can lead to osteoporosis, or brittle breakable bones, later in life. Laying off loads of caffeine can help your bones stay stronger in the long run.”
4) You’ll actually be able to absorb many other nutrients better as well.
Snyder agrees, adding that caffeine inhibits absorption of all nutrients in our bodies. “Not drinking coffee helps avoid B vitamins deficiencies that are often associated with heavy caffeine intake and allows us to better absorb nutrients from the food we eat.” Noted.
5) You’ll have fewer headaches.
6) Your teeth will be healthier.
7) Your bloodstream could be affected in a good way.
8) Your hormones might regulate.
9) Your liver might thank you, too.
10) You’ll have more energy – no, but really.
11) Your overall health and mood could improve.
The bottom line is that this can make us crave sweets a few hours later, which can result in crazy dips in our energy, as well as moodiness. So don’t be surprised if your whole body feels steadier and more calm after you kick your caffeine habit.
Source: hellogiggles.com
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