Don't get us wrong: Coffee is the best thing in the whole entire world. But it's kind of sad that you're basically living from one venti to the next.
So we decided to do a little research and learn what might happen to us if we decided to give it up--cold turkey. Here, the nine shocking truths.
As you probably know, coffee is super acidic. And when acidity mixes with high doses of caffeine, it can wreak havoc on your stress hormones, which control oil production. Less coffee = fewer breakouts. Just ask your dermatologist.
Caffeine is a diuretic. Too much--say, four or five cups a day--will leave your skin looking extra dehydrated and parched.
How's this for sobering? If you didn’t treat yourself to that $3.50 latte five days a week, you’d pocket an extra $1,000 a year. (Here’s a handy coffee calculator so that you can do the math.)
We’re not saying that going caffeine-free is a picnic, but according to a recent study, in the long term too much coffee actually leads leads to something called caffeine toxicity, a condition that causes insomnia, anxiety and mood swings. Lovely.
Yes, caffeine does increase productivity, but once the buzz wears off, it can actually negatively impact your mood and slow down your cognitive performance, according to research from Johns Hopkins Medical School. (Which explains why you’re always falling asleep at your desk come 4 p.m.)
The more coffee, the more insomnia. It’s as simple as that. (That said, even if you don’t give up the java, sticking firmly to a 2 p.m. caffeine cut-off can significantly help the quality of your sleep.)
If you must, try sipping it through a straw.
Coffee bloating is real. (The caffeine triggers spasms in your digestive tract. Gross.) You could shave as much as two inches off your waistline just by cutting it out of your morning routine.
Caffeine headaches are legit. But keep in mind: Withdrawal symptoms typically last only a week or two. (You can do it!)
