Decaf Plan

If you're drinking a lot of coffee or tea, or if you're just fed up with not being able to start your day until you've had at least one cup, this is the plan for you. Caffeine is found in a lot more things than coffee and tea, however, so the Decaf Plan involves more than just cutting down on your hot beverage intake.

About caffeine

If there's one thing that keeps us working, it's caffeine. For most of us, the day doesn't begin until we've consumed at least one cup of tea or coffee, but often each cup of these we drink also comes with a big sip of guilt.

The reason is that we believe that caffeine is bad for us. We've all seen the newspaper headlines saying that it interferes with sleep, that it may decrease fertility and that it raises blood pressure - so most of us think we shouldn't drink it. But it's not strictly true. Although studies have shown the harmful effects of caffeine, they have also shown its benefits. If you drink coffee you seem to have a lower risk of gallstones, and you may have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Caffeine can actually help the detox process, because it stimulates the bowel to move its contents along - one reason it's also been linked to a decreased risk of colon cancer.

So why is there such a contradiction? Simple. The negative studies tended to focus on intakes of over 350mg (equivalent to three to four cups of coffee) a day, while the positive results were found when people consumed less. It's clear that the idea 'all caffeine is evil' is a myth, but there is a point at which it does become toxic.

Caffeine Temptation

This brings us to the main problem with caffeine - it's pretty easy to reach that toxic limit. Never before has caffeine been so accessible, or packaged in so many tasty treats. And coffee is only part of the picture. You can buy caffeinated yogurt, ice cream and even water. Furthermore, while five years ago no one had even heard of caffeine-rich 'energy' drinks, now the average person in Britain (where the market is largest) drinks 3.5 litres (6 pints) of these a year. The result is that 80 per cent of Britons, Americans and Australians now take in some kind of caffeine every day. What's even worse is that the more caffeine you have, the more you need. Here's a guide to how much caffeine is in some common foods and drinks:

  • Cup of instant coffee: 60mg
  • Cup of espresso coffee: 100mg
  • Cup of filter/cafetiere coffee: up to 150mg
  • Cup of tea: 50mg
  • Can of cola: 35-46mg, depending on brand
  • Can of energy drinks: 80mg
  • Small bar of milk chocolate: 15mg
  • Small bar of dark chocolate: 30mg
  • 250ml (8floz) chocolate milk drink: 8mg
  • Painkillers: 20-1 OOmg per pill

Why caffeine is addictive

Caffeine's power comes from the fact that it is similar in structure to a natural substance called adenosine. This is made in the body, and is sent to the brain when the body feels that particular nerve cells are getting too active. It then binds with the cells and calms them down. However, when caffeine enters the body, it slips into the hole in the cells that adenosine would normally use. The brain cells therefore remain excited, and you stay energized. When the caffeine starts to wear off, your energy drops and, to pick yourself up again, you drink more caffeine. The more caffeine you drink the more your body gets used to it, and the more you need to get this wake-up call. What's more, if you don't take in that amount, you get withdrawal symptoms. The most common are headaches, which occur when blood vessels in the brain start to dilate (caffeine constricts them), but people can also get stomach upsets, mood swings and fatigue. After a while, the amount of caffeine you need to defend yourself against these effects gets higher, and you reach a level of caffeine where the negative effects outweigh the positive.

The Solution
Decaf Diet
Energizing Body and Mind
Living the Detox Life