- or more correct a cut down on it.
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and an inspiring new year ?
Well I have decide to cut down on my caffein in this new year.
It has been one of the issues where I compromised with NT recommendations.
I used to have 1-2 cups organic English breakfast tea in the morning, 1-2 cup organic coffee with milk around 10 as well as 10-20 grams 80 % dark chocolate.
Later in the day either green tea or earl grey tea. I have always know that I was sensitive to caffein
- when I studied I often had 4-6 cups of coffee as well as coca cola :O
and chocolate bars to keep me going in Exam periods.
I simply couldn´t relax and fall down again and I know that if I drink coffee after lunch I can´t sleep.
When I was cutting back again then I had severe headaches - got cranky and moody.
Well one of my New Year resolutions is breaking that habit especially after reading Peter D´Adamo´s( Bloodtype diet) new book about Genotypediet and my genotype just fits so well with me… and it says “extremely sensitive to caffein ( and other stuff like medications etc )
That is it ! Now I know I have to deal with this caffein.
This is my second day where I cut down.
Yesterday I only had 1 cup of black tea in the morning.
I felt very proud when I had peppermint tea in the midmorning ,
after lunch - my caffein headache and craving was so bad that I decide to take a small square of 85 % chocolate…that helped a lot.
But I chose to drink a cup of green tea in the afternoon- after all green tea contains so many health beneficials and has less caffein.
This morning I only had 1 cup black tea - and as I write I drink pepperminttea and eats apples and pecan nuts.
I know that today will be my worst day… so I hope to ease it with being busy….
I won´t stop drinking green tea … but I plan that my next step in next week will be to substitute my black tea in the morning.
I plan on making Sunday my coffee and chocolate day THat way it will be a special day and I´m not really and all or nothing girl…
I think this fresh new start is a bit difficult after a 2 week period with more than good for your chocolate, cakes and wine… so my liver really needs a new start.
It has been cold here in Denmark - but not much snow so the garden looks so depressing - today it is mild and wet and when I fed the hens I would the first spring bulb a yellow winter aconite made this grey day much happier.
About the Author...
I am a 35 year old woman who lives with my teendaughter in an old wooden house on a hilltop in Denmark. I have got a BA in prehistoric archeology and got a teacherdegree as well. I love books, plants, animals, kids and nourishing food.
Jan 9th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Hi Henriette, lovely to imagine you in an old wooden house on a hilltop! I have recently discovered teeccino (www.teeccino.com, or http://www.teeccino.com.au in Australia) - a herbal coffee that, if made with a bit of hot water and lots of hot milk, gives a pretty satisfying caffeine-free coffee experience. For me, caffeine is not the addiction, it’s the coffee with hot milk experience (especially cappuccinos!) so teeccino has been a pretty good discovery for me (thanks to ‘Tas’ who introduced me to it). Now to talk my local cafes into offering it…..
Filippa
Currumbin Valley, Qld
Jan 9th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Good luck with the caffeine! I too, have resolved to cut out caffeine (with a once a week exception). It has not been easy, especially after my son wakes up 3 times during the night. However, I am resolved to stick with it. I know the health benefits are numerous and I am also extremely sensitive to caffeine, I get very wired and stressed after having to much of it in a day. I’m excited to see how my body will react. I haven’t been caffeine free in years! Even during my pregnancy I couldn’t resist a bit of chocolate or a cup of regular coffee once in a while.
Jan 9th, 2008 at 10:31 am
New years resolutions make so much more sense for sisters and brothers in the northern hemisphere. You are really having a new year. We in the South are just experiencing the dying of the old year. Not a good time to make resolutions I’d say. Someone should research if Australians keep to their promises less than you guys. Wes and I decided to work less this year. Outsource more, employ people and move out of the computer world. Hah! we’ve spent two 11 hour days in front of the screens this week. I guess it’s a matter of ‘cutting down’ on our workaholic habits much like you and your caffeine. It’s hard when work is so passionate.
My goddess Henriette. If I drank as much caffeine as you I’d be a nutcase. I must be part of the same genotype thingy. It’s a tough one but it’s so worth it. Wes and I had an affair (7 days over Christmas). We just couldn’t resist the beautiful organic coffee at Woodford made on organic milk. It rained the whole time and coffee was just the shot to get us boppin’ along. It took us two days to detox. Sleeping, feeling miserable, headache. It’s strong stuff. Karen Fergusen wrote about giving up last year, I’m sure she’s got some tips.
Jan 9th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Thanks - how wonderful to see I´m not the only one :-)
Yes Joanne maybe it does make more sense to make new year resolutions her in the north… normally I don´t make a lot of them - but I do seem to keep them. :-)
I´ll check both Karens blog and the teeccino
Today is day 3 without coffee and almost without chocolate.
Next week I´ll work on my black tea habits :-) I think I´ll survive - good herbal tea is nice.
I feel better today - but yesterday was really bad !!!
Jan 11th, 2008 at 12:14 am
It’s so Hard to give up black tea! It’s not the caffeine but the ritual for me. A cup of tea, 1/2 t. of sugar, a bit of whole creamy milk sometimes to really make it a treat. I am down to 1 cup black tea a day (usually) and sometimes 1 cup green tea a day. Even though I’m an herbalist, I don’t like herbal teas unless I have to for illness or something (and as an herbalist I don’t think there are any herbs we should be taking every day anyway…probably the same should be said for black tea, eh?). Now chocolate, a square or so of really dark stuff most days, I’ll never give that up.
What’s in the teecino? I wonder if it’s available in Minnesota, USA? I’ll look it up.
So nice to hear from someone in Denmark. Here in Minnesota we’ve lots of Scandinavians. I myself am part Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English. We’re all hybrids in America, aren’t we? Wish I could visit your wonderful country!
Lisa
Jan 11th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Thank you for your comment Lisa.
chocolate …uh that is a tough thing…:-) You are right about the ritual.
As a kid we always had tea and homemade cake in the afternoon t was the time we met and shared stories about our day - so for me 4 oc clock tea = peaceful time, warm love and tea ( and cake ;-)
At the moment
I switch between rosehiptea, peppermint , licorice tea and a bit of green and white tea.
No coffee and no chocolate to day as well- day 4 :-)