Prior to giving up coffee I had been an Americano addict, drinking at least two cups a day. I liked the taste, the smell, the little buzz it gave me, and the ritual of sharing coffee with others. I remember visiting an acupuncturist for shoulder pain, and receiving stern advice to quit coffee. However, I continued the habit, eagerly collecting studies that cited coffee's antioxidant and beneficial metabolic properties.
After reading about Cherniske's research, and beginning a high raw eating plan, I gave up coffee cold turkey. My morning fix was replaced by a giant green smoothie, and, surprisingly, I had zero detox symptoms. I made it through a cold Alaskan winter without a single coffee craving. If I felt like a tasty beverage I would sip a cup of herbal tea, a kombucha, or blend up a frothy almond milk concoction.
So why in the heck am I having coffee cravings now, with warm weather around the corner? I don't get it! The idea of coffee has been on my mind something fierce, and I'm wondering what it's all about. Is it because summer means camping and rafting, and one of my favorite rituals is to crawl out of the tent in the morning to a mug of aromatic brew? If so, why didn't I have these cravings last summer? Maybe because I was on a newly raw high...?
I need advice here. How do all of you healthy people feel about coffee? Do you avoid it, indulge a little, or can you not imagine life without it? Do you have any interesting caffeine research to share? I'd love to know how others feel about this topic.
