| That Morning Cup o' Joe May Do More Than Perk | | | | with vast amounts of sugar in beverages, |
| You Up: It Might Destroy YouWith a Starbucks | | | | caffeine can be hard to quit for some."I had |
| on virtually every block, and "a grande iced | | | | headaches for a week after stopping drinking |
| triple-shot, extra-whipped skim mocha" a | | | | coffee," says retired New Yorker Bill |
| normal way to ask for an afternoon drink, | | | | Choney.Eighty-five percent of all Americans |
| it's not always easy to remember what it was | | | | drink coffee on a daily basis, according to |
| that we drank before the caffeination of | | | | the Duke University Medical Center -- maybe |
| Manhattan. With a couple of cups of java just | | | | whether they want to or not. "Caffeine is |
| to get going in the morning and a double | | | | similar to nicotine in its addictive |
| espresso to concentrate better in the | | | | properties," Feishel says.But caffeine can be |
| afternoon, coffee is becoming synonymous with | | | | kicked."The best way to quit caffeine is to |
| energy. And New York is all about energy.But | | | | replace half of your morning beverage with a |
| is it good for us?Symptoms of caffeine | | | | decaffeinated alternative, gradually |
| overuse include depression, anxiety, | | | | decreasing the caffeinated portion," Fishel |
| restlessness, stomach upsets, nausea and | | | | says.Sometimes quitting coffee brings quite |
| vomiting. Moderate to heavy coffee | | | | unexpected results."My taste buds became more |
| consumption may even lead to heart disease. | | | | sensitive after quitting coffee," says Nina |
| Addiction to sugary coffee drinks or sweet | | | | Mineyeva, a manager at Ernst & Young. "I |
| colas may also lead to extreme mood swings or | | | | discovered a whole world of herbal teas and |
| even diabetes.Coffee may also cause an | | | | other delicious beverages, instead of just |
| increase of stress hormones, according to | | | | mechanically gulping coffee."Since everyone |
| Stephen Cherniske, author of "Caffeine | | | | has a different tolerance level to caffeine, |
| Blues." Everytime we drink coffee, the | | | | the key is knowing where to draw the line and |
| adrenal gland produces adrenaline, the same | | | | how to get that New York-energy buzz while |
| thing that happens when we are afraid or | | | | staying healthy, physically and |
| angry. After a prolonged period of excessive | | | | emotionally.Here are some ideas to help beat |
| caffeine consumption, the adrenal gland | | | | the cuppajoe jones.Take natural supplements |
| doesn't have any more adrenaline to produce. | | | | with anti-inflammatory properties to decrease |
| This leads to chronic fatigue, constant | | | | the risk of heart disease: turmeric, an herb |
| exhaustion and susceptibility to disease. Dr. | | | | used as a spice in many Indian dishes, has a |
| James D. Lane, who studied caffeine for 15 | | | | compound called curcumin with strong |
| years, found that stress hormones produced by | | | | anti-inflammatory properties; ginger root is |
| a cup of coffee did not leave the body of the | | | | a spice with many medicinal properties, |
| participant for 24 hours after | | | | including being an anti-inflammatory; omega-3 |
| consumption."If your eating is imbalanced, | | | | fatty acids, such as those found in deepwater |
| you are going to require another stimulant, | | | | fish, have been shown to reduce |
| following your cup of coffee, to get your | | | | inflammation.Coffee alternatives in New York |
| adrenaline back, Manhattan-based Dr. Craig | | | | do exist. Try going to your local health food |
| Fishel says. Most people reach for a cookie | | | | store, to try multiple varieties of herbal |
| or a piece of chocolate after their skim | | | | teas. You can also experiment with chicory |
| latte precisely for this reason.Caffeine is a | | | | root and barley drinks. As always, don't |
| substance found naturally in the leaves, | | | | forget to be hydrated by drinking |
| seeds, fruits and nuts of more than 60 | | | | water.Anastasia Dorohova is a certified yoga |
| different plants, and is added to food and | | | | instructor and holistic health counselor. She |
| many over-the-counter medicines. It is | | | | teaches workshops on caffeine withdrawal, |
| absorbed and distributed very quickly into | | | | yoga, nutrition, relaxation and healthier |
| the body; it passes directly into the central | | | | living. |
| nervous system or the brain. Often combined | | | | |