Cut out coffee anyone ☕ ?

Really interesting thread thank you. I cut coffee and chocolate completely plus oranges and other citrus fruit for 20 years due to severe migraines. When I stopped working the migraines went so I gradually started to drink coffee again. (and eat chocolate) I now drink only de-caf at home but do have a latte or cappuccino when out one or twice a week. I am trying to cut out Co-codamol the strong 30/500 as the GP does not think I benefit fully from them anymore having been on them for 25 years yes I know (severe back problems). He wants me to go on to paracetamol, I shall now try that with a coffee and hope your advice works. Thank you.

I drink green tea first thing then must have a 'proper' cup of coffee mid morning. After that it is just herbal teas.

I did try cutting down on the amount of coffee I drank at the start of my menopause.

As it did not decrease either the amount or the severity of hot flushes, which was what I was hoping to achieve, I went back to drinking coffee again.

I found it hard without coffee to keep properly hydrated, even although I drank a lot of water, as I dislike nearly all soft drinks, and couldn't afford to drink them anyhow.

I was advised to stop drinking caffeine about a year ago. I only used to drink 1 cup of coffee and 3 cups of tea a day but I was amazed at how bad the withdrawal headaches were. It’s definitely made a difference to urgency and frequency problems I used to have but it hasn’t completely eradicated the problem. I have no inclination to drink anything caffeinated again because I think if stopping it caused such bad headaches it can’t have been doing me any good anyway.

I was reading that coffee is good for the liver, so I’ll continue having a couple of cups a day ..

I have cysts on my liver, my consultant told me to drink de-caf coffee, no problems since. It a Miracle drink.

I have suffered from insomnia much of my adult life. Then I was advised to go GF and slept really well for about eight years. Fast forward to 2021 when I had breast cancer and was put on anti-oestrogen drugs (for five years!). It threw my hormones - never my best friends - into total confusion and the insomnia was back with a bang. I was down to one cup of caffeinated coffee at 11am but even that had to go. So decaff, but real, made from beans, coffee and decaff tea too. Also no alcohol. Sleep still erratic but better than it was. I have high cortisol naturally all day and in the evening - just the way I am made. Not stressed.

My husband has just had chemo for leukaemia and finds he can't drink coffee now, says it tastes too bitter.

Washerwoman

I was having terrible problems with frequency and getting totally fed up of not even being able to do my morning hour dog walk without a desperate need to wee.It turns out tea seems to be the main culprit.I drink a big glass of water first thing instead of my early cup of tea.Then have a strong coffee with breakfast as I would really hate to give that up.One more coffee in the afternoon and that's my lot.I drink lots of water and herbal teas in between but despite probably more fluid overall my ability to hang on between toilet trips is vastly improved.

If I’m going out or travelling anywhere I stick to decaffeinated tea and coffee for several days beforehand. And when I do then drink coffee with caffeine I can’t sleep.

Keep going Serendipity. The headache is a nasty one but it doesn't last for more than a few days so it's worth persevering. Drink plenty of water to help.

I have 'given up' caffeine a few times now but I do like the taste of coffee so drink caffeine free if I can. My lapses back to the caffeine have been when we have been away. so now I take coffee with me. It feels rather 'precious' but I'd rather do that than face the headache again! I feel much better generally when caffeine free.

I know its only a few days of no coffee but ive already got the headache withdrawal symptom, i will persevere if it's going to make a difference to the anxiety i was feeling ( as yet i haven't a clue if the anxiety menopausal or what the heck.... I won't go on about it because it leads to the subject of menopause and i know THIS isn't the place to talk about that.

Thank you for all your replies....

Much appreciated.

😃

Anything in excess can cause health problems. A few cups a day won't harm most people.

AGAA4

I won't give up coffee. Doctors say it relaxes blood vessels leading to good heart health.

no

In excess it can cause anxiety and panic attacks, also palpitations and coffee addiction

Hate to tell you Happysexagenerian Camp has 4% caffeine, I was researching caffeine free liquids for iced coffee.

Why give up coffee?

Coff is like many foods and beverages - good for some purposes and bad for others. I had heard that it was supportive of liver function so I do have one strong mug with my breakfast. Its rare for me to have it at any other time. I prefer plain water or mint tea (wonderful for upset stomachs). Its also a natural laxative.

I was having terrible problems with frequency and getting totally fed up of not even being able to do my morning hour dog walk without a desperate need to wee.It turns out tea seems to be the main culprit.I drink a big glass of water first thing instead of my early cup of tea.Then have a strong coffee with breakfast as I would really hate to give that up.One more coffee in the afternoon and that's my lot.I drink lots of water and herbal teas in between but despite probably more fluid overall my ability to hang on between toilet trips is vastly improved.

the benefits of not having coffee are no leaking of urine when out and about, I do miss the lift to my mood a coffee in the morning gives me and if I go back to coffee and then stop it I get splitting headaches for a couple of days

During a recent hospital stay I was advised to avoid anything with caffeine in it, and if I must have coffee to only drink caffeine free coffee, not decaf which still contains some caffeine. So now I drink Camp coffee which is made from chicory. I've always liked the taste and usually make coffee ice cream with it.

Not me!
I do move on to decaf in the afternoon, but a cup of coffee is a pleasure not to deny oneself unless there are medical reasons.
My heart sinks if I am offered instant though and will then pretend I’d rather have tea.
(Actually, I’d rather have anything !)
As a Languages teacher I used to have the French and German versions of this up in my classroom. Just so the students knew the score!

I won't give up coffee. Doctors say it relaxes blood vessels leading to good heart health.

Ahhhhh so a lot of you say that its advisable to have a few cups coffee per day ..... right ok...

Everything is so confusing..... do this/don't do that....

Well THANK YOU everyone for taking the time to reply..... I will have a read, read, research, research......

Thanks again

😕

I have plenty of energy from first thing, so I get some jobs done after breakfast. Only then, at around 9am, do I enjoy my one and only coffee. Freshly ground by me, organic and fairtrade and sheer luxury

Coffee has a long half life so I never drink it after 11am. I do not like instant coffee of any sort

NotAGran55

A consultant neurologist I saw a couple of years ago said coffee, dark chocolate and red wine in small quantities were all essential for good health.

Hurray! My three favourite things. Can’t stand the taste of tea, so have 1 cup of strong coffee in the morning and one decaf in the afternoon.

For tums - Belvoir ginger cordial is wonderful. M n S do a good alternative.