If you have ever missed your regular morning cup of coffee, you may have noticed throughout the day that you developed a headache, felt less alert (more than the natural grogginess you feel early in the mornings), irritable, and may have even felt weak. These are some of the milder symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. Some heavy coffee drinkers can have symptoms lasting up to two weeks, including nausea and flu-like symptoms. Because caffeine is a chemically addictive drug, in 2013, caffeine withdrawal was included in the American Psychiatric Association’s 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
According to the National Coffee Association, over 80% of adult Americans drink coffee, and in 2009, the average American drank 3.3 cups per day.
Jessica Willemin, 21, an undergraduate student at West Chester University, says that she may drink three large 20oz cups of coffee a day. “I sometimes felt dependent on it if I was exhausted and needed to get work done.”
Three cups of ordinary coffee adds up to no more than 20 calories, however gourmet drinks can seriously impact your diet. Most Starbucks coffee beverages are loaded with sugar and fat. A small (12oz) flavored latte with 2% milk contains 200 calories, 5g of fat, and 29g of sugar. A large (20oz) latte has 320 calories, 9g of fat, and 44g of sugar. One of the worst drinks health-wise, the seasonal Peppermint Mocha, can contain up to 540 calories, 18g of fat, and 68g of sugar. That’s almost half of some people’s daily calorie intake.
While it is important to look at the nutritional information on a beverage and to not overload on sugary drinks, coffee itself does have a number of benefits.
Aside from its intended use, to give you energy, coffee can be beneficial in helping you lower your risk for Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and certain types of cancer. Researchers believe the strong presence of antioxidants in coffee, as well as the minerals magnesium and chromium, reduce the risk for Diabetes in regular coffee drinkers. There is consistent evidence linking coffee consumption to decreased risks of Parkinson’s disease, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, probably associated with the caffeine content. A 20-year study in Finland and Sweden reported that those who drank 3-5 cups of coffee a day had a 65% smaller chance of developing Dementia or Alzheimer’s. As for heart health, drinking coffee can reduce heart rhythm abnormalities, a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. As if that wasn’t enough, it can also ward off cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.
With all of this data supporting the health benefits of coffee, your caffeine addiction might not really be a problem. If you were contemplating ditching your morning Joe for reasons relating to calories, consider changing your drink order from a latte to a plain cup of coffee or adding less cream and sugar to your brew at home. If you experience symptoms of withdrawal when you don’t have time to abuse your coffeepot in the morning, reduce the amount of coffee you drink little by little to decrease your tolerance. Don’t let an occasional headache rid you of the energizing and healthful benefits of your favorite morning beverage.