If you love a strong espresso or morning latte (or two), you know what it feels like to drink one cup too many. While one or two brews might perk you up, that third coffee can tip you right over the edge.

Everybody metabolizes caffeine differently depending on age, weight, and tolerance. Some of the symptoms you might experience with coffee overkill include:

• Anxiety
• Jitters
• Increased body temperature
• Dehydration
• Dull headache
• Faster breathing
• Increased heart rate

Why the nasty side effects? Thank caffeine, the stimulant in coffee beans that also occurs naturally in some plants, nuts, and seeds. It’s also an additive in snack bars, soda drinks, energy drinks, over-the-counter or prescription headache medication. Acting as a central nervous system stimulant, just one cup of coffee perks you up making you feel more alert and focused. However, the more caffeine consumed, the more severe its downside effects can become. It’s also highly addictive, with just one standard cup of coffee a day able to produce caffeine addiction in some people.

 

What happens when we stop drinking coffee 

If you have ever tried to give up coffee, you may have suffered some common withdrawal symptoms, like headaches, fatigue, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, nausea and muscle pain or stiffness. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 24 hours after your last cup, peak in 1 to 2 days, and may last up to a week!

Rather than go cold turkey, the best way to prevent withdrawal symptoms is to taper off the number of cups you drink a day and supplement it with a similar stimulating beverage like cacao.

Unlike coffee, which constricts blood vessels and raises your heart rate to increase blood flow, cacao is extremely low in caffeine, yet delivers a powerful energy and mood boost. Cacao contains a plant molecule called theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant that dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow, giving you energy like coffee that lasts much longer and doesn't give you the jitters.

Cacao boosts your mood 

Along with polyphenol antioxidants, flavonoids and magnesium that help neutralize harmful free radicals in our bodies and boast anti-inflammatory benefits, cacao also contains phenylethylamine (the "love drug") that improves moods and increases focus. It is also brimming with anandamide, serotonin, and tryptophan - those feel-good chemicals that crush stress and anxiety and help regulate appetite, sleep, mood, and pain.

Cacao can help you manage your weight. 

A cup of freshly brewed cacao acts like a natural appetite suppressant that is low in carbs, calories and fat, so it's the perfect beverage to sip when you are watching your weight. Cacao has been known to boost metabolism and help the body metabolize fat better, which is why many fitness experts often advise us to add it to our pre-workout protein shakes. Try this protein-rich workout shake made with Creation Cacao!

Cacao brews just like coffee.

One of the most satisfying things about being a coffee drinker is the ritual of making it. Luckily, cacao brews just like coffee! Unlike your daily cappuccino, however, you won't need to buy an expensive coffee machine; cacao is made simply on the stove or in your blender. Tailor your brew to your taste, adding your favorite milk and sweeteners, just as you would a cup of coffee. Try unsweetened almond, cashew, hazelnut, rice, coconut, or soya milk. If you like a creamier brew, oat milk is the perfect choice.

 

How to scale back on your caffeine intake 

Luckily, there are many ways to reduce your daily caffeine intake without severe symptoms. 

Determining how much caffeine you consume is the first step in reducing caffeine intake. Once you know your average daily consumption, cut back by half and see how you feel over a week. If you feel ok, continue to wean yourself off more until you have reached your desired intake goal.

Some other tips include:

• Start your day with a warm brew of Creation Cacao and feel; focused, happy, and energized. Try our recipe for a Cacao Latte!
• Consume B vitamins, which assist with energy production. Fill your plate with vitamin B-rich foods like fish, mushrooms, green leafy vegetables, berries, avocados, nuts and seeds, eggs, beans and oats. 
• When a coffee craving hits, take a walk, practice deep breathing and just wait it out - you can do it!
• Sip on water throughout the day instead of tea or sodas, as they also contain levels of caffeine.  

To learn more about effects of coffee and benefits of supplementing caffeine with Cacao in this FREE E-Book - https://creationcacao.com.au/pages/e-book-coffee-or-cacao