Storm in a Cup

DO you walk about in a fog till that first shot of caffeine? Are there days when you8217;d kill for a cuppa? If the urge to hold a cup of s...

DO you walk about in a fog till that first shot of caffeine? Are there days when you8217;d kill for a cuppa? If the urge to hold a cup of something strikes more than twice a day then you could be addicted.

Define addiction
Addiction is a subconscious craving for something. 8216;8216;The craving is so strong that it overpowers the feeling that it may harm you,8217;8217; says dietician Dr Shikha Sharma.

The addictive substance secretes endorphins8212;pleasure giving substances. 8216;8216;It is the secretion of hormones and their effect on the nervous system that causes addiction,8217;8217; says Dr Sharma.

What type of person is prone to addiction?
Creative and ambitious people are more prone to addiction. According to Ayurveda, it also depends on the metabolism, whether it8217;s Vatt or Pitta.

Vatt: They are restless, prone to sleeplessness, and have sensitive digestive systems. These people are irritable and marked by dry skin and hair.

Pitta: Highly organised, very ambitious, short-tempered and prone to stress. Their digestive system is good but they8217;re prone to acne. 8216;8216;They experience many highs and lows. It leads to addictive cycles,8217;8217; says Dr Sharma.

Coffee addiction
Coffee stimulates the central nervous system, thus making a person feel unnaturally alert. The induced state of alertness tends to subdue your body8217;s natural instincts and prevents it from relaxing. This causes undue stress and leads to various physical and mental ailments. The combination of sugar and coffee is also dangerous for blood sugar levels.

Side effects
Irritability, fatigue, insomnia and acidity.

Story continues below this ad

addict 101

You8217;re one if you
8226; Have more than two daily cups of coffee/tea
8226; Feel fatigued during the day
8226; Have mood swings
8226; Suffer frequent headaches
8226; Suffer from constipation
8226; Depend on coffee/tea to clear your bowels
8226; Suffer acidity/heartburn
8226; Have a general pain in the neck, shoulders or back region and discomfort in the legs, hands and stomach
8226; Have a burning sensation, fatigue and heaviness in the eyes

Tea
Considered an antioxidant when taken without milk and sugar, brewed tea is as much a villain as coffee. It contains caffeine and xanthine8212;both responsible for addiction, and a related chemical called theobromine, which has similar slightly milder effects on the body. The amount of caffeine in a cup of tea varies depending on the variety of tea and brewing time. In large doses it can cause anxiety and insomnia. As with any stimulant, the period of enhanced alertness and heightened mood is generally followed by a period of depression and dip in ability.

Addiction to tea is less common than addiction to coffee because tea has less caffeine than the latter. But it is addictive. 8216;8216;The most reliable sign of tea addiction is a recurring headache that goes away by drinking tea,8217;8217; said Dr Sharma.

Side effects
Mood swings, bloating, gas, acidity and disrupted sleep.

The limits
Three cups of tea and two cups of coffee is the permissible limit. Be careful if you cross five cups. You cross the line with eight cups a day.

Weaning off the habit
First halve intake. Avoid the other half by replacing it with a cup of organic green tea or herbal tea. 8216;8216;If you8217;re used to four cups of coffee a day, start drinking two cups of coffee/tea and two cups of mild green tea,8217;8217; says Dr Sharma. Gradually replace the mild tea with soup or plain hot water mixed with honey and lime. Replace the remaining two cups of coffee with mild tea and follow the same pattern.

Story continues below this ad

The alternatives
8226; 60 varieties of herbal tea
8226; Malt drinks
8226; Flavoured milk
8226; Honey and lime in water
8226; Soups