I've been getting bad withdrawals as I've been trying to cut down on coffee usage. Was having around 4-5 cups a day and would get tired instantly without it. Started taking more brain supplements as brain fog has been a recurring symptom and that causes me to lose motivation for the rest of the day. If anyone uses any supplements other than coffee to help with focus and energy or has experienced any similar symptoms, I would love to hear what worked for you.
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Your tolerance for caffeine goes away very quickly. Just take two weeks of the coffee during a break or maybe just a long weekend and you should be back to like a couple cups a day. If you find yourself at 6-7 again just take another break. Caffeine is pretty much the only drug you can abuse (like 200mg over recommended limit) and not too detrimental for your life.
I was fueling my life on caffeine all of college running on like 2-4 hours of sleep most nights and working 30 hours a week.
Recently I tried quitting coffee few months back cuz I had like 8-12+ cups or some atrocious shit (I just made an entire pot and was going HAM on it while studying) and started having palpitations in my neck/head and felt real anxious.
Decided OK maybe this isn’t too healthy I’ma try and quit this drug…Tried quitting cold turkey after this and I felt like absolute dogshit for the two/three weeks after cuz the withdrawal. Had to lay down and take naps Bc I couldn’t even focus very well.
My advice is figure out if you actually like coffee and then just decide based on this… you want to have something you enjoy drinking (… that isn’t bourbon..)
Side note - I also have really bad insomnia since I have been about 8 years old so I try to limit caffeine intake after 14:00
Also, I see a sleep doctor currently who helps me with CBTi and he even recommended to me getting back on coffee after I tried quitting and this making me feel so terrible because he saw it as a positive way of waking up, giving me some extra focus, and it being something I actually enjoy the taste of all simultaneously
What I would do if you wanna keep drinking covfefe:
… and then see if any of this makes a difference
Will try these. Thank you
Cheers bud
Yea gotta control it. 1 a day for me in the am. never after 12 noon or I won't sleep.
Cocaine
Mod.
Green tea. Less caffeine, potentially some additional benefits you can find on google.
I used to drink coffee all day. Switched to green tea a while back, feels similar to coffee but less anxious/jittery. Good way to cut back without getting rid of caffeine completely if that’s too much for you as it was for me.
15 push-ups as fast as possible. No shit it’ll increase your heart rate - that plus a standing desk
Celsius energy drinks. About as much caffeine as two cups of coffee but could be a good alternative instead of going from 5 cups to zero.
Shit loads of green tea
knew I was gonna find you repping green tea hard on here. +1 I like it a lot too, was actually about to make some now
Yeah green tea is legit.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benef…
1. Contains healthy bioactive compounds
Green tea is more than just a hydrating beverage.
The green tea plant contains a range of healthy compounds that make it into the final drink (1Trusted Source).
Tea is rich in polyphenols, which are natural compounds that have health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and helping to fight cancer.
Green tea contains a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits.
These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals play a role in aging and many types of diseases.
EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea. Research has tested its ability to help treat various diseases. It appears to be one of the main compounds that gives green tea its medicinal properties (2Trusted Source).
Green tea also has small amounts of minerals that can benefit your health.
SUMMARY
Green tea is loaded with polyphenol antioxidants, including a catechin called EGCG. These antioxidants can have various beneficial effects on health.
2. May improve brain function
Green tea does more than just keep you alert, it may also help boost brain function.
The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant.
It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the jittery effects associated with taking in too much caffeine.
Caffeine affects the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. This way, it increases the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Research has consistently shown that caffeine can improve various aspects of brain function, including mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory (6Trusted Source).
However, caffeine isn’t the only brain-boosting compound in green tea. It also contains amino acid L-theanine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier (7).
L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain (7, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
Studies show that caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic effects. This means that the combination of the two can have particularly powerful effects in improving brain function (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).
Because of the L-theanine and the small dose of caffeine, green tea may give you a much milder and different kind of buzz than coffee.
Many people report having more stable energy and being much more productive when they drink green tea, compared with coffee.
3. Increases fat burning
If you look at the ingredients list for any fat burning supplement, chances are, green tea will be on there.
This is because, according to research, green tea can increase fat burning and boost metabolic rate (12).
In one study involving 10 healthy men, taking green tea extract increased the number of calories burned by 4%. In another involving 12 healthy men, green tea extract increased fat oxidation by 17%, compared with those taking a placebo (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
However, some studies on green tea don’t show any increase in metabolism, so the effects may depend on the individual and how the study was set up (15Trusted Source).
Caffeine may also improve physical performance by mobilizing fatty acids from fat tissue and making them available for use as energy (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).
Two separate review studies reported that caffeine may increase physical performance by approximately 11–12% (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
4. Antioxidants may lower the risk of some cancers
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. It’s one of the world’s leading causes of death.
Research has shown that oxidative damage can lead to chronic inflammation, which can lead to chronic diseases, including cancers. Antioxidants can help protect against oxidative damage (20Trusted Source).
Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants.
Research has linked green tea compounds with a reduced risk of cancer, including the following studies:
Many observational studies indicate that green tea drinkers are less likely to develop several types of cancer, but more high quality research is needed to confirm these effects (24, 25Trusted Source).
To get the most health benefits, avoid adding milk to your tea. Some studies suggest it can reduce the antioxidant value in some teas (26Trusted Source).
5. May protect the brain from aging
Not only can green tea improve brain function in the short term, it may also protect your brain as you age.
Alzheimer’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia in older adults (27Trusted Source).
Parkinson’s disease is another common neurodegenerative disease and involves the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
Several studies show that the catechin compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models, possibly lowering the risk of dementia (28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).
6. May reduce bad breath
The catechins in green tea also have benefits for oral health.
Test-tube studies suggest that catechins can suppress the growth of bacteria, potentially lowering the risk of infections (31Trusted Source, 32, 33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).
Streptococcus mutans is a common bacterium in the mouth. It causes plaque formation and is a leading contributor to cavities and tooth decay.
Studies indicate that the catechins in green tea can inhibit the growth of oral bacteria in the lab, but no evidence shows that drinking green tea has similar effects (35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source, 38Trusted Source).
However, there’s some evidence that green tea may reduce bad breath (39Trusted Source, 40Trusted Source).
7. May help prevent type 2 diabetes
The rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing in recent decades. The condition now affects about 1 in 10 Americans (41Trusted Source).
Type 2 diabetes involves having elevated blood sugar levels, which may be caused by insulin resistance or an inability to produce insulin.
Studies show that green tea may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels (42Trusted Source).
One study in Japanese individuals found that those who drank the most green tea had an approximately 42% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (43Trusted Source).
According to a review of 7 studies with a total of 286,701 individuals, tea drinkers had an 18% lower risk of diabetes (44Trusted Source).
8. May help prevent cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the leading causes of death worldwide (45).
Studies show that green tea may improve some of the main risk factors for these diseases, which includes improving total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels (46).
Green tea also increases the antioxidant capacity of the blood, which protects the LDL particles from oxidation, which is one part of the pathway toward heart disease (47, 48).
Given the beneficial effects on risk factors, it may not be surprising that people who drink green tea have up to a 31% lower risk of dying from a cardiovascular disease (49Trusted Source, 50, 51Trusted Source).
9. May help you lose weight
Given that green tea can boost the metabolic rate in the short term, it makes sense that it could help you lose weight.
Several studies show that green tea may help reduce body fat, especially in the abdominal area (52, 53Trusted Source).
One of these studies was a 12-week randomized controlled study involving 240 people with obesity.
In this study, those in the green tea group had significant decreases in body fat percentage, body weight, waist circumference, and belly fat, compared with those in the control group (54Trusted Source).
However, some studies don’t show a statistically significant increase in weight loss with green tea, so researchers need to perform further studies to confirm this effect (55Trusted Source).
10. May help you live longer
Given that some compounds in green tea may help protect against cancer and heart disease, it makes sense that it could help you live longer.
In one study, researchers studied 40,530 Japanese adults over 11 years. Those who drank the most green tea — 5 or more cups per day — were significantly less likely to die during the study period (56Trusted Source):
Another study involving 14,001 older Japanese individuals found that those who drank the most green tea were 76% less likely to die during the 6-year study period (57).
OP, this is how fired up you can get after drinking green tea.
Just an FYI to anyone reading, most teas (black, green, white, and oolong) all come from the same plant, the difference is just the way the tea leaf is treated. This treatment can affect the affects mentioned above, but black tea is pretty close so it's not like you need to chug green tea if you dont like the flavor, and you can still get a lot of the same benefits.
Rooibos and herbal teas aren't made from the tea plant so they won't have the same benefits.
Great post. I just want to add that adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to green tea helps you absorb the nutrients better.
Existential dread.
There’s some halfway decent data that daily creatine intake can help with brain fog / memory and can increase energy levels. I mix in 5mg with a bottle of water every morning. It’s also possible you’re dehydrated, so an extra bottle of water in the morning certainly couldn’t hurt.
I’ve found that finding time to hit the gym ~3x per week has really improved my mood and energy. I typically go after work because there’s no shot I’m waking up that early; kudos to you if you can and it’s probably more beneficial that way.
With regards to coffee, just gradually ween yourself down to two cups a day. I had the same issue as you and fortunately, I adjusted after a few weeks. If you feel like you need an extra boost, just substitute with tea.
Also, Yerba Mate is good.
Some very good suggestions above. I’d also say two things. I was (and am again) a liter-of-coffee a day drinker, but I took six months off by simply making a bet with someone about it. The spirit of competition helps. Second thing is to consider maca root tea (aka Peruvian ginseng), and tea made from stinging nettles. Maca has a peculiar, acquired taste, but I quite like it and found it an effective aphrodisiac, so, handle with care but it definitely gave me the kind of boost coffee does. Nettles are just good for you. You can prepare both in about ten minutes boiling them in water on the stove.
Matcha. Has L-theanine which functions as a natural adderall. Makes you much more focused and alert than coffee without feeling anxious or having jitters. Not a large crash associated with the come down either.
Second this. Ryze mushroom coffee will change your life too. It tastes horrible, but we’ll worth it. I add it to my morning shake.
cocaine
Knowing that I am blessed by the Lord and that Jesus died so I can go to heaven gives me some extra pep in my step.
this unironically
I limit myself to one cup of coffee in the morning and drink about two cups of green tea throughout the day. I stop my caffeine intake at about 2-3pm. I also supplement beet root powder and turmeric that see to help with my overall energy levels.
This is gonna sound like Broscience, but it has never failed me:
Cold showers for >2 min each morning, blasting some hype music… Never fails to wake me up.
Since I’m now wired from the cold shower, I like to meditate immediately after. I feel awake and clear-headed all morning. Try it!
Haha Avenged Sevenfold nice
Jerking off more often, will keep you dialed
that leads to its own set of problems
Ice cold San Pellegrino followed by push-ups. I used to have a ring of the SP bottles around my desk that analysts would laugh about but it works!
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