Health experts have revealed six changes that happen to your body when you stop drinking coffee – and the first is not a welcome one.
Studies from doctors, dentists and nutritionists were compiled In a blog post on Australian wellness website, Bed Threads, to show how quitting or reducing your intake of caffeine can improve your sleep, energy, hydration and mental wellbeing.
The report warns you will start to feel anxious and irritable 12 to 24 hours after your last cup, but once the initial withdrawal period has passed you will notice yourself feeling more rested with greater focus and a clearer head.
Experts say giving up coffee will also leave teeth your whiter and reduce blood pressure, a positive effect for your overall health.
Studies from doctors, dentists and nutritionists show how quitting or reducing your intake of caffeine can improve your sleep, energy, hydration and mental wellbeing
1. You’ll start to feel anxious
While the long-term benefits of quitting caffeine cannot be overstated, experts say you are likely to experience heightened anxiety in the early days of your new coffee-free lifestyle.
If the body becomes dependent on caffeine, eliminating it can cause withdrawal symptoms that typically begin 12 to 24 hours after your last cup, according to Healthline.
This is due to the sudden absence of adrenaline and dopamine, hormones found in caffeine that act as natural stimulants to keep you awake.
Experts say the body needs a few days – up to a week – to adjust to its new state, but once it does the positive effects will roll in.
2. You’ll sleep better and feel more rested
Studies published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found drinking coffee even six hours before bed can significantly disrupt the sleep cycle that night.
Experts say quitting coffee or limiting your intake past 10am or 11am can improve sleep quality because it gives the body time to return to its natural resting state, allowing sleep hormones such as melatonin to work as they should.
In a post on her website earlier this year, Sydney fitness coach Rachael Attard warned of the many risks associated with lack of sleep, including weight gain, a weakened immune system and an increased risk of chronic diseases including cancer and diabetes.
Studies published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found drinking coffee even six hours before bed can significantly disrupt the sleep cycle that night (stock image)
Over time, she said not getting enough sleep can exacerbate mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, as well as making you irritable and unable to concentrate.
Experts advise adults to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, and Rachael said there are five things you can do before hitting the hay to ensure you’re getting the most out of your rest.
These include going to bed at the same time each day and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
Australian personal trainer Rachael Attard (pictured) warns lack of sleep can lead to weight gain, a weakened immune system and an increased risk of chronic diseases
3. Your head will feel clearer
Headaches are among the most commonly reported symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, but once you’re over the initial hump your head will be clearer and pain-free.
Caffeine causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, slowing blood flow by as much as 27 percent.
Ditching your daily cup of ‘Joe’ or reducing your intake allows these blood vessels to widen, increasing circulation to the brain.
While this sudden change can cause painful withdrawal headaches, once the brain has adapted to the new level of blood flow these will subside, leaving you with more clarity and focus than you had while you were drinking coffee.
Last year, a young Australian mother shared her experience of quitting coffee on social media.
Melbourne mum Olivia White (pictured) said she only started drinking coffee seven years ago when she had her first child, but it quickly became her ‘life’
Olivia White, 30, from Melbourne, said she only started drinking coffee seven years ago when she had her first child, but it quickly became her ‘life’.
She said she felt as though she ‘needed it to function’.
‘What I didn’t realise over the years was how much it had an effect on my mental health,’ Ms White wrote on her website.
‘It would set off the physical symptoms of anxiety and inhibited me from sleeping.’
After ditching her daily caffeine for four months, the mum-of-two said she noticed a slew of health benefits including better concentration, deeper sleep and a noticeable reduction in her anxiety.
4. Your teeth will look brighter
Coffee is highly acidic, which means it erodes tooth enamel and stains teeth with every sip.
By cutting it out, dentists say you can protect your teeth from further erosion leading to a brighter, whiter smile.
Caffeine also dries out your mouth which reduces the presence of saliva, a key defence against the growth of bacteria that causes tooth decay.
Reducing your intake will therefore make your mouth a healthier place.
5. Your blood pressure will drop
Research has shown that coffee is a vasoconstrictor, a substance that narrows blood vessels.
Drinking just one cup a day raises blood pressure because it forces your body to work harder to keep blood flowing to vital organs.
Eliminating or even reducing your intake will reduce some of that pressure, causing blood pressure to drop.
6. Your energy and hydration will improve
Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it forces the kidneys to work harder to cleanse the blood.
Organs react to a caffeine hit by pulling extra water out of the bloodstream and sending it to the bladder for disposal, according to experts.
Depending on how much water and other liquids you consume throughout the day, your coffee habit could lead to chronic dehydration, leaving you moody and fatigued.
Reducing your intake allows the body to retain the water it needs to function instead of flushing it out.