Coffee is a staple in many people’s diets, some needing to simply function like a normal human in the mornings. It’s become part of the social routine, with “coffee dates” acting as a placeholder for simply hanging out. I mean, there’s a reason that those latte flatlays on Instagram get so many likes. Wondering why I quit drinking coffee?
I started drinking coffee in college but never truly liked it, chugging huge DD iced coffees for years and ignoring the accompanying nasty side effects like acid reflux, slamming headaches, and anxiety. But I’m over it. I’ve given coffee the axe from my diet and lifestyle for good.
Anxiety is something that i’ve been struggling with for the past few years, and it’s taken some time to figure out what my triggers are (I’ve written about it here). Over the past couple of months, I’ve been able to pinpoint that drinking coffee exacerbates my anxiety like NOTHING ELSE. I drank 1 cup (1 cup!!!!) at work the other day and instantly had a full-blown panic attack – my chest was tight and my heart racing, I was sweating profusely, and my GI was doing back flips. I’m not sure why coffee affects me so badly, but it’s a good enough reason for me to stay away. Now that I’ve stopped drinking coffee for good, it’s much easier to stay focused and calm throughout the day.
In addition to triggering my anxiety and giving me horrific headaches, coffee also tears up my gut (hot beverage + caffeine + acidity = bad news for my tum). I have a super sensitive GI tract anyway, and it’s almost impossible for me to drink coffee without getting an upset stomach. It also gives me crazy acid reflux… remind me again why I drank it for so many years?!
Recently, I’ve discovered the benefits of matcha, my favorite alternative to coffee. Unlike coffee, matcha gives me a much more manageable energy burst with NONE of the insane side effects of coffee. Blended with soy or almond milk, it creates the most creamy and refreshing latte (SO much tastier than coffee). I’m so obsessed with matcha lattes that I make one for myself almost every day. Take THAT, coffee!
Next week, I’ll be sharing my favorite matcha latte recipe, so stay tuned!
