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