Caffeine is a drug. I’m not sure why some people, most people
actually, want to downplay that idea or concept. They want to
forget about, to not acknowledge it or some just don’t know and
never took the time to check it out.

I felt the need to interrupt our series on emotions and sugar
because I got lots of questions about my comment that you
should probably quit caffeine before you attempt a sugar detox.

In my upcoming book I will be describing the exact path to take,
which to quit first, second and third. Actually there are a lot more
things to quit than three but no worries – I make it easy.

The reason I mentioned quitting caffeine before you attempt your
sugar detox is because “when” you are successful, notice I didn’t
say “if”. When you are successful in eliminating or greatly reducing
sugar in your diet and you still have your caffeine habit you are going
to just drive your caffeine addiction deeper. I also believe, at least for
me personally, that caffeine maybe be more difficult to quit and you
will need your sugar addiction to help you quit.

Did you just read the HealthGuy say that I “would need my sugar
addiction to quit my caffeine addiction”? You read it correctly.
Quitting caffeine is hard. It’s used more in my mind as a performance
enhancer than what people think they are using it for which is as a
pick me up or energy booster.

For people who have journaled their caffeine use what they usually
find is that, after that morning fix to stave off the daily caffeine withdrawals,
people usually ingest just before meetings, before tests and to focus
intently on some task for longer periods of time.

By quitting caffeine first we can self medicate a little with sugar and
ease ourselves through the withdrawals. It isn’t a huge help but if you
have a few days off and can sleep a little more than usual it makes it
just a little easier.

The same issues I raise in our Sugar and Emotions series (click here to read)
are going to present themselves. Not only do we have the physical
effects of caffeine to deal with, like headaches etc, but we have to
deal with one more emotional analgesic. Just like sugar, caffeine
has been part of the cocktail of self medication we have been using
since almost birth.

Children are given chocolate (yes there is caffeine in chocolate) at a
very young age. I have even seen toddlers with colas, which I consider
child abuse BTW. So if you remember back to the sugar and emotions
post you’ll know that the same “weirdness” is going to happen to you
and you will need some support in dealing with a new, caffeine free way
to deal with the flood of emotions.

Please don’t mis-understand. I’m not saying this a long term strategy.

I akin it to medical intervention in a treatment center so the patient doesn’t
die from their withdrawals. As a drug at the low end of the speed spectrum
caffeine cause all kinds of mild paranoia, depression and anxiety WHILE
you’re using it. When you come off it these feelings intensify.

You have been pounding the hell out of your adrenals for years, sometimes
decades. They have nothing left to give. When you stop it will take time
for the feel good drugs your body naturally produces to come back. Your
glands need to rest and recuperate from the punishment you have given them
for years.

Give it time. You will feel 110% better very, very quickly after quitting caffeine.

You won’t wake up needing some drug to feel alive. You won’t need it to give
that speech or talk to that girl. You’ll be you again.

More on caffeine in the days and weeks to come. As you can see I try my best
not to be the one who gives all of the bad effects of caffeine and the other drugs I
write about. I found that there are plenty of books that outline the research and
details of just how bad the side effects of caffeine and the others are. That way
I can focus on positive change for you. If you’ve reached this blog I know you
don’t need convincing – you’re ready.

If you would like to read a great book on Caffeine and sugar addiction check out
Killer Colas by Nancy Appleton and GN Jacobs. Nancy is one of the premier
educators in the field.