9 Ways to Kick the Coffee Habit - Article Health

How to cut back on caffeine
There's nothing wrong with coffee, unless you have acid reflux or other reasons to avoid it.

"Caffeine tends to [open] the lower esophageal sphincter," says Robynne Chutkan, MD, assistant professor in gastroenterology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Gradually cut back
"If you do drink a lot of caffeine, you might want to give it up slowly," says Keri Gans, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and author of The Small Change Diet.

Find another go-to drink
One of the first things Gans advises is to replace coffee with other drinks, even decaf coffee.

Take a Tylenol
A throbbing headache, sometimes lasting for days, is the signature withdrawal symptom of caffeine. Temporary use of pain relievers could ease your suffering.

Drink more water
Consuming more water, whether it's hot or cold, is another great way to detox. It gives your hands and mouth something to do when you've relinquished the coffee mug.

Amp up your workouts
Exercise is just as much of a stimulant—maybe more so—as caffeine. So physical activity is a sure-fire way to combat fatigue as well as irritability when withdrawing from coffee.

Eat healthier food
Eating healthy food is a great fatigue-buster as well. The basic rules? Stay away from refined sugar and greasy fast foods.


Make meals consistent
This means making sure you don't let your tank stay empty for longer than four hours at a time, says Gans. This will ward off both fatigue and general crabbiness.


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