There is a belief that both coffee and caffeine itself are addictive. But what is the truth in it? We will discover if it is true, what are its causes and why this addiction occurs, its health consequences and how to prevent it.
What is addiction to coffee?
Coffee addiction is understood as a habit of consuming coffee (and other caffeinated beverages), which cannot be dispensed with, or is, in a certain sense, very difficult to achieve for reasons of physiological, psychological and / or physical dependence.
There is no doubt that there are many myths that have always surrounded the consumption of coffee, a drink in fact widely consumed in practically the whole world, and which nevertheless provides a wide variety of benefits.
As long as, of course, the coffee is consumed in a moderate way and without excesses. In this sense, for example, it may be useful to know how many cups of coffee you can drink per day, so that drinking two cups a day is not harmful, but rather provides health benefits.
Among the best known and named myths, we find that it is supposedly a truly toxic drink, fattening, damaging various organs or causing halitosis.
But if there is a fairly widespread myth that many people believe is indeed true, it is that coffee creates addiction (or, more specifically, that caffeine creates addiction).
Coffee and caffeine: do they cause addiction?
It is without any doubt one of the most widespread beliefs. But really, what is true about it? The reality is that caffeine is a mild stimulant, which when consumed in moderation does not generate addiction. In fact, it is very rare that a compulsion arises when using it.
Of course, we should not confuse addiction with dependence, a common disorder that in fact can cause many habits and foods in particular. That is to say, it is not true to speak of coffee addiction, but in reality, we are faced with a dependence on coffee (more specifically, on caffeine).
Although there have been cases of people who have become dependent on coffee by taking only 100 milligrams of caffeine a day, the truth is that most studies agree that it is advisable not to exceed 200 milligrams of caffeine a day . In other words, in order not to become dependent on coffee, the key is in the amount of caffeine we drink per day.
The key is in the daily dose we take of caffeine
The most appropriate, to avoid not only that a certain dependence on coffee may arise, but to reduce its not so desired effects, the most appropriate thing is not to consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day.
And how much do these milligrams represent? Basically, it would equal 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day.
From this amount, as many specialists warn, one would be talking about “abuse”. Furthermore, when caffeine is exceeded 400 milligrams per day, it is very common for two types of caffeine dependence to be created: physical dependence and psychological dependence.
This translates into something very simple: the dependent person needs more and more coffee intake to be able to stay active, and thus achieve the desired effect that this particular drink provides.
And, as a result of this excessive consumption, we pass to the consequences of addiction or dependence on coffee, since when taking more caffeine than recommended, not so desired effects could arise such as nervousness, anxiety, excitement, headache and stomach pain, and arrhythmias.
What are the symptoms of coffee addiction?
When addiction to coffee occurs, it is common for a series of typical symptoms to appear, usually associated with withdrawal syndrome, such as:
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Irritability and bad mood.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Difficulty working and concentrating.
- Impaired cognitive and alert performance.
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, especially when you are not drinking coffee, it is quite likely that you are dependent on this drink. For this reason, it is advisable to abandon the coffee little by little. Only in this way will we avoid the appearance of associated symptoms, such as irritability or headaches.
How to avoid addiction to coffee?
A simple solution is to never exceed the recommended amount of caffeine per day. That is, never exceed 3 cups of coffee per day.
Another option is to gradually reduce the amount of coffee we drink per day. For example, try to drink less coffee each day. And replace it little by little with other drinks.
Some suitable drinks that can be useful when it comes to finding other beneficial liquids that help to replace coffee, are infusions or teas. It is true that tea contains theine and also some caffeine, but its content in both nutrients is not at all comparable to the amounts provided by a small cup of coffee.
And, in addition, they are two drinks that provide a greater number of benefits and properties for health, since they also help to purify our body and eliminate the different toxins that we do not need.
Whether you have been a coffee drinker for years, or if you are starting to drink it or are considering doing so, do not forget that there are many people who are very sensitive to the effects caused by caffeine. In addition, if we want to avoid its possible dependence, it is best not to take it.
