Breaking the dependency
Breaking the dependency
Especially when we are feeling constantly exhausted, we often become addicted to stimulating "superfuel" foods and drinks to keep us going. Unfortunately, these can give us only a very temporary boost, followed by a dive in mood and energy that leaves us reaching for the next stimulant. Meanwhile, we require ever-larger doses to produce the desired temporary buzz. Harsh as it may sound, the best way to stop the seesawing of energy and moods is to give up stimulants altogether.
Coffee - friend or foe?
Coffee can certainly give you a buzz but, like many "addictive" substances, the initial high is inevitably followed by a low -- in effect, a withdrawal symptom. It is no coincidence that coffee drinkers often sleep less soundly than non-coffee drinkers. Apart from playing havoc with your adrenal glands, coffee is also a diuretic, so it can leave you dehydrated, which can also make you tired and short-tempered. Nor is decaffeinated coffee a viable alternative; not only does it still contain other natural stimulants, such as theophylline and threobromine, but it may also contain residues of harsh chemicals used in the decaffeinating process.
You do not necessarily have to give up coffee entirely - just cutting back can help your energy levels to recover. For some people, this may mean cutting down from six daily coffees to one or two; for others, it means going from two to none. If you find this hard, I suggest you try not to have a coffee or tea before at least 11am, so that you are not relying on a stimulant to kick-start your day. As you begin to reduce your intake, you may feel even more tired or headachey. This is perfectly normal, and not a good reason to start up again. If you are maintaining even blood-sugar levels and eating a balanced, nutritious diet to help boost your energy and maintain even moods, you should find you no longer "need" so many doses of caffeine.
Excerpted from Feel Good Foods by Natalie Savona. Copyright 2003 by Natalie Savona. Excerpted, with permission by Duncan Baird Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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