When it comes to aging gracefully, you might not consider your coffee habit a problem. However, caffeine can hurt your health as much as it may help you get going in the morning.
Over the past few decades, people have learned to rely on coffee for work and energy needs, but it is not a good option for long-term, daily consumption. In small doses, it can be helpful, but long-term use leads to health problems.
The more you drink coffee, the more your skin loses moisture. What happens when your skin loses its natural moisture? It loses its shine and glow and can lead to collagen loss and skin inflammation.
Quitting coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeinated drinks can have profound anti-aging benefits. Here are some of the potential benefits you may experience when you quit caffeine.
Better Sleep
You will experience improved sleep. Caffeine interferes with restorative sleep and your ability to fall asleep quickly. This is why many health experts say to stop drinking caffeine early in the day since the effect takes hours to wear off.
Better Mood Control and Stability
Your mood will improve, mainly because when you are not addicted to caffeine, you will not be grumpy before your first cup of coffee, and you won’t feel lethargic in the afternoon as the caffeine wears off.
Because caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, it can interfere with important neurotransmitters, leaving you open to irritability, anxiety and depression.
Reduced Blood Pressure
Caffeine raises blood pressure in most people, and unfortunately, this becomes worse as we age. Remember that caffeine is a drug that affects all bodily systems.
When it causes a rise in blood pressure, it means your heart is working too hard. This is not the same as conditioning your heart with exercise.
Healthier, Cleaner Teeth
Coffee can stain your teeth, making them dingy, yellow and sometimes gray. This discoloration can be difficult to clean with regular brushing and might require a visit to the dentist for teeth whitening if you want to keep your smile youthful.
Easier Weight Loss and Hormone Management
You might lose weight. For many people, coffee can add unnecessary calories through added sugar and extra milk or cream.
Regular coffee use can cause the liver to become sluggish, which makes it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Your hormones will also be more balanced. Caffeine raises stress hormones like cortisol, putting your body in a fight or flight mode every single day. Excess cortisol will age you more quickly and also signal to your body to store fat.
The Solution: Manage Caffeine Consumption
The most obvious solution is to replace coffee with an herbal tea that contains no caffeine. Stopping abruptly might cause fatigue and headaches, so try replacing coffee with a tea that has a lower caffeine amount.
Switch to Tea
Some of these teas that you can replace coffee with include:
- Green tea
- Oolong tea
- White tea
- Earl Grey
- Chai tea
Tea is a good alternative due to reduced amounts of caffeine and additional health benefits. I would also recommend choosing decaffeinated versions of your favorite tea or drinking herbal teas.
Try Exercise Instead
Exercise as soon as you get out of bed. If you work or have other morning commitments, set your alarm clock for 15 minutes earlier. Choose from exercises like taking a walk, getting a rebounder and jumping in the morning, or doing a YouTube Yoga session. By the time you are done, you will no longer have a need for coffee.
Learn About Other Holistic Strategies for Your Health
Changing what you drink is just one way of improving your overall health. Learn other ways in this Age Defying Video Program. This online course provides tools and guidance for preventing age-related diseases and protecting your health at the cellular level. It also covers topics like stress reduction, nutrition, and exercise to improve your overall health.
