kriscos wrote:Hi Jeff
How long is the average "detox" time for kicking the coffee habit?
Also, what are the most important reasons for avoiding coffee?
I see a lot of conflicting info regarding this issue, for example, magazine articles promoting the "antioxidant" effects of coffee...is that just marketing hype?
Thanks,
Kris
Hi Kris
I do not think there is a "set" detox time as everyone responds differently. In the residential centers I have worked in, which are caffeine free, it seems like the first 24-72 hours are the worst and then it tapers off from there. Some people seem to be fine right after that period, while others seem to take a few more days to a week or more. While at first they usually feel more lethargic, by the end of the week their energy levels are usually soaring.
The coffee bean contains chemicals called diterpenes that have been shown to raise LDL and total cholesterol. In addition, some studies have shown that coffee may raise homocysteine levels.
Decaffeinating the coffee doesnt not remove these chemicals. Brewing coffee through a paper filter (as in a typical coffee pot) does reduce these chemicals somewhat. However, it seems these days everyone is drinking varieties of coffee that is brewed without a paper filter such as French press, cappuccino , espresso, etc. so they are getting the full dose of these chemicals.
Coffee also increased the risks of getting GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). It is a stimulant and may increase anxiety in certain people, and also may be contraindicated in those with mood disorders. Last year, one of the journals of emergency medicine reported that there were more admissions to emergency rooms for caffeine overdose last year then in any other year. They said this was largely due to the popularity of all those energy drinks, especially amongst teen-agers and young adults. Caffeine can also interfere with sleep and may produce heart arrhythmias in certain individuals.
One of the big news stories that was opular about a year or two ago was one that said coffee was the leading source of antioxidants in the American diet. So, of course, everyone thought this was good news about coffee. But, when you looked closer at the details of the study, you found that the coffee bean, like any bean, is a good source of antioxidants, but, not more so than any other bean or plant food, like fruits, veggies, or whole grains. The reason coffee was found in this study to be the leading source of antioxdiants in the American diet, was because American drink so much coffee while at the same time eating so few beans, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. So coffee didn't win on quality, it won on quantity and a very skewed dietary intake amongst Americans.
(PS, this is also why you sometimes hear about the phytochemicals in chocolate. Chocolate is made from the cacao bean and like any bean, it is a rich source of phytochemicals. But, it is also very high in fat and very high in saturated fat and calories).
In Health
Jeff Novick, MS, RD