For over 20 years I have maintained, “Coffee is my medicine.” Imagine the shock when I realized recently, that, in fact, coffee has been playing havoc with my health.
Shock. Horror. Dismay.
Here’s the backstory: From the time I was a toddler I have suffered from migraines. As a young adult I went to the Montefiore Headache Clinic in New York City. I was put on a strict diet, eliminating every known migraine trigger, including coffee since too much caffeine creates “rebound” headaches. Once my system was “trigger-free” for several weeks, trigger foods were added back one-by-one to see what I reacted to.
With one exception: Coffee.
Coffee replaced all medications: One cup of coffee early in the morning, one cup of coffee around 2pm.
My mantra for the last 20 years has been: I can’t give up coffee! Coffee is my medicine! Doctor’s orders!
This came to a crashing halt recently. You see when I created the Spring Clean-Eating ReBoot, a 7-day nutritionally-sound cleanse, I decided, in the spirit of good faith, to eliminate coffee from my diet. Over the course of a week in the very same way I prescribe in the Spring ReBoot, I went from two cups of coffee a day to no coffee.
What happened next shocked me! After completing the cleanse I decided I would add coffee back into my morning routine. I bought fresh beans, ground it to fill the kitchen with that delightful smell, and brewed the perfect cup of coffee in my French Press. I could not wait to taste it.
Oh, that coffee goodness! Full body, lovely bouquet, chocolatey, caramel flavors.
And then? A big, fat case of the shakes!
What? How can this be? I even tested it two days later to see if I was right. Yep, same response.
And the reality is …. several weeks later … I have less headaches without it!
So here’s the thing: We hold on tightly to the things that cause us pain.
I challenge you: What do you think you can’t live without? Sugar? Bread? Cheese? Meat? Whatever it is, drop it for a week and see what happens.
Looking for an easy 7-day cleanse to get the toxins out of your body and jumpstart weight loss & healthy choices? Check out the Spring Clean-Eating ReBoot. It’s a great place to start.
F&*(%. Okay…I’ve been thinking about giving up coffee. I’ve done it before. I so love everything about it. The smell, the taste, the texture (yes, texture!)
I’m a 2 cups in the morning coffee drinker. Oh gosh. Liquid gold.
I’ll let you know when I take the plunge and quit my coffee addiction.
Yes, “Liquid Gold.” 🙂 Let me know when you want to take the plunge. I’m happy to share the path to least resistance (and withdrawal!) xoxoxox
I’ve given up so many things over the years: Caffeine for fibrocystic breast disease; Gluten for a 7 year celiac diagnosis that miraculously healed; and now oatmeal and hazelnuts that I found through allergy testing to cause a true allergy.
So I’m not a fan of elimination diets. BUT I know that those things we’er addicted to are often the culprits. I’ll be reevaluating my choices again, too, in hopes of boosting my health.
Congrats! So glad you found the cause of those nasty headaches.
So proactive, Donna! So glad you have discovered the culprits the hinder your health! Thank you for sharing your powerful story. xo
Wow Melissa you are inspiring me not only to let go of coffee for a week but to reboot my system with a cleanse. I’ve been listening to the food revolution summit and know that even with the healthy changes I’ve already made…no sugar, no dairy or gluten and little meat I can do more. Thank you for this inspiration…blessings
That’s great, Debra! Did you know that you can do the 7-day cleanse that I discuss in the article? It’s nutritionally-sound, based on real food, which means there’s no starving or crazy juicing. The recipes are awesome and easy! And the reviews have been off-the-hook. Whether you chose mine or not, make sure your cleanse has an exit plan that leads to lasting change. Can’t wait to hear about your success! <3
I love coffee and, in the course of a food sensitivity elimination diet, had to give it up. What happened? It’s safe to say that coffee doesn’t love me back. Maybe some day, in small doses? Pleeeeze?
Ha! I’m right there with you, Andrea. Pleeeeeeze!
I had great success with elimination diets that helped me determine sensitivity to gluten, soy and processed sugars, but even then I didn’t give up coffee. I’m truly addicted to caffeine and have the most horrendous withdrawal headaches that last days. I love coffee and it’s definitely a ritual part of my and hubby’s morning. 🙂
I get all of that, Sheila! Should you ever decide you want to see how your body feels without, withdraw from coffee SLOOOOOOOWLY. Cold turkey, I believe, sets you up for failure and a whole lotta pain. <3
At one point I could not handle any caffiene post chemo. Then one day, I had the worst migraine. What helped a diet coke and 2 Alieve and let’s just say coffee and I are now the best of friends. Much luck on your journey!
My love affair and dance with caffeine has been going on for decades. I gave up coffee in ’84 but have become a committed tea drinker. Much too much dark strong gunpowder green and tea kwan yin, for which I pay dearly. Oh, and I have all kinds of snobby rituals too.
The last time I gave up tea was in ’09 I think. I was in a fog for weeks, seriously, plus the first two weeks were stone-cold agony. After a while I decided (not for the first time) that life is too short to live without tea. And haven’t until this minute even considered reconsidering that.
Thanks. I think. 🙂
Oh, Sue, how I relate! I think the question is: When you gave up tea and then started drinking it again did you key into your body’s reaction? Perhaps it is a matter of reducing. (Or not?) Ritual is a very powerful motivator for drinking tea. And snobby, or not, who wants to give up ritual? They are beautiful and calming. I have read that you can flush green tea for 20 seconds and that removes much of the caffeine. Perhaps that is a solution. <3