Im thinking about quiting coffee

[fusionid]

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Im a 4th year now. done with interviews, rough rotations and about 6 months away from intern year. I woke up today with the idea of giving up coffee.
What are the advantages of doing this? I did a quick look in pubmed and only found the diabetes stuff (some stats sig to support continue w/ coffee).
Does anyone have a link to an interesting paper? any ideas otherwise?
🙄
In the long run, Im thinking about all the money Ill say for now!

 

[lord_jeebus]

I used to drink a lot of coffee in high school but quit during college.

Now I'm just as alert as everyone else at 4AM, with fewer bathroom breaks and more money in my wallet.

 

[deleted109597]

Coffee is good for antioxidant properties. Tea works just as well, and so does red wine. You can usually only find one of those at work.
If you cut down to 1 cup per day, and brew it yourself, it really doesn't cost that much. You can huff decaf if you want too. Once you are off caffeine, you sleep better, wake up normally, etc. However, life is a bitch when it comes to finding things without caffeine at most restaurants, apart from water anyway.

 

[chrisisinnocent]

I gave up coffee mainly because I need to be able to sleep as soon as a free hour become available. I often have some free time during the day at random times and I am a huge believer in power naps. When I drank coffee I found that I had a much harder time fallng asleep when needed. My sleep hygene has improved tremendously since I gave up coffee and I find myself a lot less anxious also.

 

[sdn1977]

You didn't mention how much you drink...but over the years - I've given it up 3 times. It is 3-5 days of H*LL! Granted, I am easily addicted to coffee - never drank more than 4 cups/day.....but it is an awful addiction to break if it comes to you easily.

It never interferred with my sleep, gave me energy...but I had as much energy off coffee as on, but I thought it was just a bad thing to "need".

I've come to realize I just like the taste. It doesn't interfere with my life, increase my bp, give me GI sx or breast cysts - all possible physiologic side effects. So....I'm back to drinking & likely won't stop for the 4th time.

 

[deleted87716]

I woke up today with the idea of giving up coffee.

Hey, go for it. That'll leave more for the rest of us. 😉

 

[ellieamee]

...this is only my opinion, and has no medical basis whatsoever: I think that successfully quitting coffee (keep in mind that without considerable further effort, you are not concurrently quitting all caffeine, unless you're quitting regular tea-hot and iced, many sodas, chocolate, blah, blah, etc.) might do more in the way of making you feel better about yourself and your personal willpower more than I think the medical benefits would be a huge contribution (to you, mentally and physically). I mean, no doubt cutting out coffee has medical benefit; I'm certain with less than two clicks from where I am typing now, I can find a page full of sites recording the medical benefits of cutting out caffeinated coffee. I have the same certainty you could too. Nonetheless, I think coffee is a relatively small medical-negative in regard to what one can do to oneself, when compared to things like smoking (presently I am referring to the nicotine variety), crystal meth, cocaine, excessive suntanning and burning, unsafe sex...If you are otherwise 100% healthy, medically, in your lifestyle(s), and otherwise, then cutting out caffeine will only make you that much more exemplary. Go for it. Best regards. 👍

E.A.

 

[VincentAdultman]

...this is only my opinion, and has no medical basis whatsoever: I think that successfully quitting coffee (keep in mind that without considerable further effort, you are not concurrently quitting all caffeine, unless you're quitting regular tea-hot and iced, many sodas, chocolate, blah, blah, etc.) might do more in the way of making you feel better about yourself and your personal willpower more than I think the medical benefits would be a huge contribution (to you, mentally and physically). I mean, no doubt cutting out coffee has medical benefit; I'm certain with less than two clicks from where I am typing now, I can find a page full of sites recording the medical benefits of cutting out caffeinated coffee. I have the same certainty you could too. Nonetheless, I think coffee is a relatively small medical-negative in regard to what one can do to oneself, when compared to things like smoking (presently I am referring to the nicotine variety), crystal meth, cocaine, excessive suntanning and burning, unsafe sex...If you are otherwise 100% healthy, medically, in your lifestyle(s), and otherwise, then cutting out caffeine will only make you that much more exemplary. Go for it. Best regards. 👍

E.A.

But coffee hs benefits too, like the antioxidants. The question is, do the benefits outweigh the negatives? I beleive I read that coffee is safe provided you don't exceed 3/day. This wasn't in a journal or anything, so take it FWIW.

I'll never quit, by the way. It's certainly not my mist harmful vice.

 

[fusionid]

I did say woke up and it was yesterday after I was done drinking 4 cups of coffee. The real test starts today. I just took an aspirin to prevent the HA.

 

[t33sg1rl]

I gave up coffee because I found that I develop tolerance very quickly-it seems like every week, I need one more cup than I did the week before. I also have a microscopic bladder to start with, so caffeine and alcohol have me running to the ladies room every half hour. I switched to decaf everything-coffe, soda, tea, whatever. I really do feel more alert and focused now than I did when I drank regular coffee.
p.s. Quitting was pretty awful. OTCs won't even touch that migraine.

 

[ellieamee]

Okay, you said:

But coffee hs benefits too, like the antioxidants. The question is, do the benefits outweigh the negatives? I beleive I read that coffee is safe provided you don't exceed 3/day. This wasn't in a journal or anything, so take it FWIW.

I'll never quit, by the way. It's certainly not my mist harmful vice.

...didn't point out, as I should have, that coffee does indeed have its benefits (although, to play Devil's Advocate b/c I actually do drink coffee too) so does the aforementioned cocaine 🙂. I hear ( 😎 ) it's great for attentiveness when you're overtired.

Seriously--maybe (in general): "Most Things in Moderation (assuming this advice is taken by someone with a 'normal' IQ)" ?

So, at more than "3/day" it becomes alarmingly dangerous 🙂 ? I wish someone had told me. And, although your reply "wasn't in a journal or anything," it was from an intelligent aspiring doctor, so I will take it for what it's worth...a great deal more than a lot of what I hear every day. Thanks for the response and the info.

Hey, by the way, my dad went to Drexel! We're there all the time b/c he's a very--um, enthusiastic--alumnus. He would be very excited.

E.A.

 

[VincentAdultman]

So, at more than "3/day" it becomes alarmingly dangerous 🙂 ? I wish someone had told me. .

Well I don't know about "alarmingly dangerous." I think starting with >3 the benifit:risk ratio begins to level off and go down.

Hey, by the way, my dad went to Drexel! We're there all the time b/c he's a very--um, enthusiastic--alumnus. He would be very excited.E.A.

🙂

The med school or undergrad? Drexel Med is a few miles from University City.

 

[fusionid]

tugging along but the headache has picken up. It is massive today. 🙁
I hope it is gone by tomorrow...

 

[Taciturngosamer]

I woke up today with the idea of giving up coffee.
QUOTE]


Ok, I recognize that this is totally non-supportive of your desire for a chemical free life....BUT

Why the heck would you want to? I mean its the only thing that keeps me human at 4am. Seriously, I think I'd grunt incoherently at the first patient I saw without this marvalous new world substance.

 

[ANCAdoc]

Check out this article:

Is coffee a functional food? Br J Nutr. 2005 Jun;93(6):773-82. Dorea JG, da Costa TH.


"Epidemiological and experimental studies have shown positive effects of regular coffee-drinking on various aspects of health, such as psychoactive responses (alertness, mood change), neurological (infant hyperactivity, Parkinson's disease) and metabolic disorders (diabetes, gallstones), and gonad and liver function."

 

[aggernodi]

Hi ya'll...

As a survivor of a general surgery internship and residency training back when there were no such things as 80 hours/week work restrictions, I'm happy to report that I managed just fine without ever drinking coffee or any other caffeinated beverages for that matter.

I agree with chrisisinnocent in that when you get that brief moment to get a power nap, you need it and caffeine prevents that.

Of course, I am of the type of person that as long as I'm doing something physically active (opposed to passive activities like reading X-rays, writing notes, etc), I can stay awake pretty easily.

 

[Caffeinated]

Giving up coffee?? That's blasphemy. You've got to get some help--you've been brainwashed by communists.

 

[Entei]

What's so bad about coffee?

lol I just got myself a Keurig coffee maker. <3 this thing so much. <3 coffee forever

 

[Hodad]

I want an Espresso machine.

 

[Richie Truxillo]

Hey, go for it. That'll leave more for the rest of us.

Amen Brother! *Happily sips on his Fresh Dunkin Donuts Original Blend toasting KentW*

 

[tr]

One major advantage of giving up coffee is that you restore its effectiveness when you actually need it.

When I drank coffee regularly, it didn't really work to keep me awake. I was completely tolerant to its effects, and if I felt sleepy and drank 5 cups I would just wind up cranky and sleepy.

Now that I don't drink it regularly (just a cup when I need it, once a week or less often), I find 4-5 oz of coffee are all I need to give me a jolt.

I do drink tea on a regular basis but the caffeine content is low enough that I don't feel any effect on my level of alertness/arousal.

If you can quit the habit now, you may find the reduced tolerance a big help when intern year hits.

 

[sprinkibrio]

I quit diet coke (my coffee) a few weeks ago. It took me a good week to feel normal and and alert, but I've noticed I drink a lot more water now.

antioxidants vs. better hydration and more satisfying sleep... hmm not hard for me to decide.

 

[deleted87716]

I just got myself a Keurig coffee maker. <3 this thing so much. <3 coffee forever

I got a Keurig a couple of years ago...it's a Godsend when I'm running late for work (which is most days), and way cheaper than my old Starbucks habit. 😍