Do you drink coffee? if so, how much? if not, why?

[farmheart]

I drink a small cup every morning and (occasionally a little more) and then again in the afternoon around 4 everyday BECAUSE. I have two kids one too old to nap one that doesn't nap the greatest AND I teach dance classes at my studio in the evening and I have to have lots of energy to keep going all day and then all evening! I feel like a stay at home mom and a working mom!! lol, not that I am complaining! I love everything I do.

SO anyway for some reason I feel guilty about being dependent on coffee ( if I conserve my energy I can have an afternoon smoothie instead and I do okay) but it is too hard to give up that morning cup of joe. 

I just wonder if once I get over the initial stage would I really have more energy once I was off of it and just overall healthier. I know there is confusion on if it is actually good or bad for you. 

So I guess my question is should I give it up or just realize it is a part of my life right now? haha!

for those of you that don't why not? (other than if you don't like taste)

for those of you that do? do you not feel bad that you are running on caffiene?!? lol

I  love the warmth, taste and pick me up, and just the culture that goes with the cup of coffee!

thanks mamas!

[limette]

I don't like the taste but if I did I still wouldn't drink it. I see everyone around me needing to drink coffee in order to get going in the morning and I don't want that kind of addiction.

[HollyBearsMom]

I love coffee!!  

That said I am not drinking it right now because I only like it with half/half and I am dairy free for a while.  I never really needed it to "wake up" but I liked the ritual in the morning-grinding the beans, putting together the filter, the pot, listening to it brew. I miss that.  

I have no issue with caffeine (or alcohol) for that matter.  All things in moderation.  So if you like it, drink it. 

[kristandthekids]

I used to be a super heavy coffee drinker. Like 7 cups a day.

I'm down to two cups of Half-Caff a day now. I wish I could give it up completely. I liked when I wasn't dependent on it. But I can't deal with the headaches and I really, really like the taste of coffee.

[amma_mama]

I drink one big cup per day, usually during my first hour of work, whether it is at the office or at home, and around the same time on weekends. I love the rich taste and warmth. I don't drink more because I need to have it with cream or milk (unless I am lucky enough to get some Turkish coffee) and do not want to waste too many calories on it (I just shed 20 pounds and am still watching what I eat). I guess I also consider it not to be the heathiest beverage so am trying to keep my intake moderate. I don't really feel like it gives me a pick-me-up but I do find that the caffiene affects my sleep if I have coffee too late in the day. While I could switch to decaf, if I want something hot later in the day, then I make some tea.

[Shantimama]

I have never liked the taste of coffee. Every few years I try it but I just don't like it. I love all kinds of tea so that is what I usually drink.

[joyfulheart]

I love the taste of coffee, but caffeine makes me jitterty, so I only drink decaf.  I probably have 10 cups a year.  It's a special treat to order a decaf latte when out, but I rarely do it.  I'd much rather have tea, and I have to drink that decaf, too.  I'm just too affected by caffeine.  I do love the feel of a hot drink in my favorite mug in my hands, especially during the colder months!  Especially while reading or knitting, but I digress...

[Adaline'sMama]

I love love love coffee, but it gives me stomach problems and I came to realize that my bowel movements were completely dependent on it, so I quit about 4 years ago. Holly Bear's mom, have you tried it with light almond milk? Its not the same, but I know the few times Ive had it thats what I used as my "creamer" and it was pretty good.

[Storm Bride]

I've been as high as 10-12 cups a day (early 20s, in an office job). These days, I drink two cups a day. I'm not really running on it. I don't like it when I miss it, and I love the ritual of my morning cup, but I don't have any issues with withdrawing or anything. It's just a really nice way to start the day.

[Angelorum]

I don't drink coffee.  I don't think it's healthy and I don't like the taste/smell, but that's probably because I didn't grow up with parents who drank it or developed the taste for it myself.  I actually avoid caffeinated drinks of all sorts, besides hot chocolate, because I feel like the amount in chocolate is pretty negligible. 

I don't like the idea of altering my body chemistry and becoming dependent on a non nutritional substance to feel normal.  If my body is tired it's probably because I need more rest, and I don't want to ignore that need and potentially make things worse.  I had migraines nearly every day in high school and took daily prescription meds to try and lessen their frequency as wells as meds for when I had a headache.  The summer I graduated, I started sleeping as much as I needed to and eating and drinking regularly as well, and my headaches disappeared!   It was sort of a light bulb moment for me.  Now when I get a headache (which is rarely)  I usually don't take anything other than a big glass of water, healthy food and a nap/earlier bedtime.  All that to say, I try not to cover up my body's signals, because I've found it doesn't work for me. 

Also, my understanding of the way caffeine works is that it only makes you feel like you're not tired, but that your brain is still reacting just as sluggishly/muddled as it would without the caffeine.  And so I don't think it really makes you more productive in the long run.

Just my two cents. 

[kittyhead]

oh yes i love coffee.  i try to keep it to two caffeinated drinks a day.  a good cup of coffee is one of the greatest simple pleasures in my life.  and i own a cafe, so i have to drink the product i sell... quality control :)

[Emma Bryan Fuller]

I, too have been thinking about this lately. For years I never had caffeine due to being pregnant and then nursing, pregnant again!

I just 6 months ago started drinking it. I have never felt so sluggish in my life. I was going to look into eating better/vitamins etc. I didn't even consider cutting the coffee until the other day. I bought some mint leaves to make bush tea but made a coffee instead.

I think I may try to quit and although i do enjoy it I feel like it is not healthy. I just LOVE the coffee shop ones though so would like to have it as a treat now and then.

There is a lot I could do to improve my energy level so I can't say it's just the coffee. Maybe we could all have a trial quitting week!

How is decaf??? Does it still taste like a real coffee? That could be an option.

[funkymamajoy]

I drink 2 large cups of coffee everyday because I love it. Research is mixed on whether or not its good for you, but isn't that the way with almost anything?

[goinggreengirl]

I started drinking coffee in college and had to have it every day. Then when I got pregnant, I just didn't want it. Since then (DS is 1 year) I've only had a few cups. It's become a treat to get a mocha or latte every month or so.

I didn't notice an energy level change when I stopped drinking it but that might have been due to the fact that I was in my first trimester and exhausted all the time anyway!

[farmheart]

thanks everyone for piping in!

as far as a non dairy creamer.... homemade cashew milk is incredibly creamy!!! although I haven't made it myself but a friend of mine does I tasted it and it was awesome and she said it was easy!

even though that may be true that my brain is still tired when I have to teach 3 and 4 year olds dance it is really important that I feel like going to sleep, or I get REALLY impatient. So even though I totally agree with you about not covering your body signals when you don't have a choice about going to bed earlier or napping then what?? :D

[Sourire]

I don't drink coffee for a few reasons:

1. When I grew up my parents never drank it so I never got used to the idea that people "need" a cup of coffee in the morning.

2. I don't like the taste... though if I started drinking it I might grow to like it.

3. It makes me feel nauseated on the rare occasions that I do drink it (max 1x per year)... though if I drank it regularly that effect might go away

4. It messes with my sleep

5. MOST IMPORTANTLY - I am not interested in starting to drink something that would become addictive and without which I couldn't function once I was addicted. I enjoy feeling fresh in the morning without coffee!

I do enjoy warm beverages a lot though and I drink tons of herbal tea along with the occasional green tea if I am feeling a bit tired. I doubt the minimal amount of caffeine in green tea would have any effect at all on a coffee-drinker but because my caffeine intake is so tiny, the green tea is all I need to wake me up a little when I'm tired! The human body does build up a tolerance to caffeine and therefore if you hardly ever have any, you just need a tiny bit to energize you.

I remember when I was in high school my science fair project was on the effects of caffeine and we measured the effect of drinking a cup of coffee on people's heart rate, depending on whether they normally drank coffee or not. The non-coffee drinkers had a huge increase in heart rate after drinking a cup of coffee. The coffee drinkers also had an increase, but it was much less... I found that experiment very interesting :)

[ammiga]

I drink one mug of coffee 4-5 days a week. I love the taste and the ritual. I'm not addicted to it at all. I don't get headaches if I don't drink coffee and it doesn't do much to wake me up.

If I need something to wake me up, I have coconut water. I get instant energy from it, with no caffeine side effects.

[mumkimum]

I usually have a cup of coffee in the morning, sometimes I have it early afternoon instead, sometimes I also have a cup in the late afternoon.  Usually, this is a small french press-sized amount of coffee.  I used to drink coffee 3-4x/a week but it's more of a daily habit now.  Sometimes I fit in 3 cups, but I try not to let it get to that - for me that's the stage where I really *feel* the caffeine is running me.  

The amount I usually drink doesn't affect me negatively (unless I have other stomach issues going on - I've abstained at times for that).  I don't tend to get headaches unless I'm going over this amount.  I too love the ritual, and the kids seem to let me relax while I'm having my coffee as opposed to doing anything else. . . so that is a bonus .  

If I find I'm not loving it (because I personally love the taste of my black, pressed coffee) and am just making it out of habit I try to switch it around and drink teas or something else for at least a few days.  I do tend to drink in the evening if I anticipate an unpleasant bedtime with the kids, and it seems to help my patience then. 

[Alyantavid]

I have 1-2 cups every morning.  I like it and I've gone without just fine.  I do enjoy my morning coffee though.

[contactmaya]

THE MOST I EVER DRANK HABITUALLY WAS 2 SMALL CUPS A DAY. NOW I HAVE ONE THIRD OF A CUP IN THE MORNING, WITH A CUP OF GREEN TEA AND WATER, AND THE SAME IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT NOT EVERY AFTERNOON. I LIKE COFFEE IN MODERATION, BUT REALIZE THAT IT IS EMPTY CALORIES, WHICH I TRY TO AVOID MOST OF THE TIME,  BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.