caffeine - good ot bd?

I haven’t drunk tea or coffee for twenty years and I found that you don’t need to drink it to get going in the morning. Perhaps it’s just something you have convinced yourself of. The horrid headaches you get when you give it up suggests to me that it has a strong effect on the body, whether that’s good or bad I don’t think anyone really knows. You can read reports online stating both sides of the story with equal vigour. I gave it up due to heart palpitations and migraines, which have cleared up significantly since I stopped drinking it.

Sorry I’ve given up a lot of things but won’t be giving up my two strong cups of coffee when I get up in the morning !

You realise how powerful it is if you stick to decaf for a while then have a cup of normal coffee late at night and then can’t sleep! And also what a diuretic it is. Daren’t drink non decaf if I’m travelling anywhere.

Interestingly, I've just had my first cup of coffee for six months about half an hour ago. I'm keenly interested to see if I feel any obvious effects at all. I was something of an addict and, for no recognisable reason, went completely off it. Watched for withdrawal symptoms. None. Whimsically, I moved on to hot chocolate. No sensation of either advantage or otherwise. Just seemed to prefer the taste momentarily. I expect to be fully energised shortly!

Coffee you can keep - but tea ! Can't start the day without my mug of strong tea.

I’m the opposite to you Grandmajean, the very smell of tea turns my stomach. I love coffee, but I’m another who limits myself to two cups a day in the morning because it does keep me awake if I have it later in the day.

I suffered severe headaches for about ten years although I mainly drank tea, and coffee only occasionally. It wasn’t until I stopped drinking both for a few weeks that I realised that I suffered from caffeine withdrawal. Now I only drink decaffeinated tea and coffee and the headaches have gone. The taste does not seem to have been compromised.

I’ve just been diagnosed with vestibular migraine I forgot to ask the Dr about coffee but he did say to cut down on sugar, I’ve decided to cut down anyway see if it helps .

I was ill last year and went off coffee for a few days, I couldn't work out why I had a headache and was really irritable , it was the withdrawal symptoms from the caffine, although I only drink at most 4 cups a day , I had to go into hospital for an operation after and went through it all again, as I was nil by mouth during that time.

I can’t handle coffee and limit myself to one mug a day, tea, although it also has caffeine does not seem to affect me, so that’s my main drink, apart from water.

I’m with you Grandmajean mug of tea, I rarely drink coffee in this country, but love a Grande crème in France.

I drink decaf tea and coffee. I have a very strong reaction to caffeine, my heart rate soars so I have been advised to watch my intake.

An article about caffeine in today's Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2021/jul/30/how-we-got-hooked-caffeine-podcast

I limit myself to one cup of coffee mid morning whether I’m at home or out. It became a ritual during lockdown! That’s the only caffeine I have during the day. It does make me the need the loo quite quickly afterwards. I’ve found that if you take a painkiller with a caffeinated drink it will work more quickly but you need to check first as some have caffeine already added.

Same here Grandmajean.
Three first thing in the morning,then one with lunch and maybe another around Fourish.

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Reported

Tim Spector who's doing all that microbiome research says caffeine (in moderation) is good for your gut microbes whether it's in coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Dark chocolate is good too. I like this man!

I find caffeine makes IBS symptoms worse.

Don’t NEED coffee or tea I rarely drink tea and drink a couple of decaf coffee a day can take it or leave it I ve never never yearned for it but I m never been addicted to anything even when I was young and smoked I could take it or leave it have one one day and ten the next then never have one for a week

I too like my caffeine kick in the morning, and enjoy the smell and flavour of fresh coffee. One use of caffeine is to help prevent sleep apnoea in neonatal babies, actually saw a programme that mentioned this the other evening, think it was Food Unwrapped but can’t be sure. Every day is a school day.