From The HeyHeyMate Blog: Cancelling Coffee

The suffering is all over their faces. The stress, the concern and the anxiety comes through during deeper discussion. What kind of person is in this state? A coffee addict ending the battle...

During a meeting with my friend today, who works at a high-paced orthopedic clinic, we talked about her addiction. "Walker, I've did this several years ago, and sometimes I would close the door and just cry!" Can you believe that, all from a coffee addiction? My comment on her question: you can do it, and have you tried mate. Her ears perked up at the mate comment and we went to the Pixie website to look further. Clearly, another coffee convert in the works, but why the painful challenge getting off of coffee?

According to the website, YourDrum, who wrote about the challenges of the coffee addiction, the experts write the following about a coffee addiction:

From the Coffee Addict blog. Link

"An acute overdose of caffeine, usually in excess of 400 milligrams (more than 3–4 cups of brewed coffee), can result in a state of central nervous system overstimulation called caffeine intoxication. Some people seeking caffeine intoxication resort to insufflation (snorting) of caffeine powder, usually finely crushed caffeine tablets. This induces a faster and more intense reaction. The symptoms of caffeine intoxication are not unlike overdoses of other stimulants.

It may include restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, flushing of the face, increased urination, gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle twitching, a rambling flow of thought and speech, irritability, irregular or rapid heart beat, and psychomotor agitation. In cases of much larger overdoses mania, depression, lapses in judgment, disorientation, loss of social inhibition, delusions, hallucinations, psychosis, rhabdomyolysis, and death may occur." Link

Dr. Breus, from the Insomnia Blog, goes on to say why it is the dreaded 240 milligrams that we really have to watch out for. He states tricks and tips on how to remove the addiction:

Other tips to help you cut back on caffeine, until you're in the "240 milligram" zone:

  • Watch for hidden sources of caffeine, such as chocolate, medications, and frozen desserts

  • Try to avoid caffeine after 2 p.m., or at least establish a cutoff of 2-3 hours before bedtime

  • If you need caffeine late in the day, try to get it from a less potent source, like green tea

  • Give your frequent buyer's card to a friend when it becomes full

Bullet number three caught my eye, as mate has a calming effect and a zing, but one that isn't addictive. What's more, you actually feel good when you drink mate, and not down, jittery and anxious...

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