This is what giving up coffee for 10 days really does to your body and what happens next
Ellie Kemp
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
We're all guilty of relying on cups of coffee to get us through the day.
Or perhaps your vice is another caffeinated drink, such as tea or soda.
While caffeine can make us more alert, it can have some pretty impactful side effects too.
These can include shakiness, insomnia, headaches and dizziness.
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Despite this, it's thought that some 40 million cups of coffee are consumed each day in the US.
It can take up to 10 hours for caffeine to leave our bloodstreams, but what happens when you cut out caffeine from your diet altogether? Fortunately, this is a question science can answer.
The bad news is, withdrawal symptoms can hit pretty soon.
Within 12 to 24 hours of cutting out coffee, you might find yourself experiencing severe headaches, extreme fatigue and even nausea or vomiting.
Anxiety and irritability, sweating, feeling depressed and the inability to concentrate are all symptoms too.
These could last for up to 10 days, according to WebMD.
As awful as that sounds, the long-term benefits are so worth it.
In time, you'll find your anxiety levels are lowered. This is because the less caffeine you consume, the less you're triggering the body's fight or flight response, the website claims.
As your body becomes less dependent on caffeine, you'll be able to enjoy a better quality of sleep too.
Not only will you get more quality time in bed, but less time on the bathroom too. Caffeine acts as a laxative, so cutting it out means there will be less trips to the toilet and more regular bowel movements.
Your skin - the body's largest organ - will also thank you, as cutting out caffeine slows down signs of aging. That's because the drug lowers the rate which your body makes collagen, which helps skin stay tight and elastic.
Another benefit is having stronger, whiter teeth. Drinks containing caffeine are usually a strong color and acidic, thus staining our not-so-pearly whites.
Our mouths will produce more saliva without caffeine drying us out, which is a key component in fighting off bacteria. So, expect healthier teeth all around.
Finally, our blood pressure spikes when sipping on caffeinated drinks. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to all sorts of complications, including heart attacks and strokes. A more stable blood pressure lowers your risk.
But don't go chucking your coffee out right away though. Experts warn it's best not to go cold turkey when cutting out caffeine. Phasing out your drink of choice with decaf options is the best way to ease withdrawal symptoms.