So, we've moved onto week 2 at our high school and the caffeine intake has not decreased. In fact, I think it's increased! I am amazed by how much coffee people drink and how often they drink it!
As I was contemplating this thought the other day, I thought about soda as well. Caffeine addictions are not limited to coffee drinkers. SO MANY must get their caffeinated fix in order to have energy to continue going for the day/hour/minute. I think most of us have been there! But, have you really stopped to think about it? Caffeine is kind of like a drug. A legal one, but nevertheless an over-the-counter drug that we use and abuse to stimulate our bodies when we feel like we need a little more oomph in our lives. At what cost, though?
I haven't drank soda in years and have chosen to stick with water as my choice of beverage. I honestly feel better and have more energy. What are your thoughts about caffeine? Has it taken over your life?
9 comments:
So I'm totally addicted to diet sodas, but I don't know if it's rightfully characterized as a desire for stimulation. I honestly feel like it's more of an addiction to the habit, rather than an addiction to the substance. It's hard to explain, I guess, but I've never felt like I drink soda for a caffeine fix. If I go without soda for a day or two, I don't start to feel under-stimulated, I just start to feel like I'm missing a friend.
Don't you feel that it is kind of bold to generalize the drinking of beverages with caffeine as "abuse"? Or that most people that drink caffeinated beverages, do so in order to "keep going for another minute"? What if you like drinking coffee/caffeinated sodas because they are comforting or you like their flavor? Is that so bad?
And if you want to get technical about it, for the Mormons out there, the Doctrine and Covenants doesn't say one thing about restricting beverages containing caffeine. So why is it such a big deal if people want to drink coffee or caffeinated sodas? People should be able to make their own decisions on how to live their own lives without judgment.
HA! These responses are great. I've totally been addicted to caffeine before - bonjour - you witnessed it. Horkley's 44 oz sometimes twice a day. BAD. But I'm with the first commenter - now a days I don't drink caffeine for a pick me up. I just love Diet Coke and I hardly even drink that anymore because the little bit of caffeine that gets into my breast milk will keep Nao up for hours. :) overshare??? Love ya!!!
BethNoel,no need to be offended! If you don't feel it is bad then why does this post bother you so much? We are living in a world of vastly different opinions. Noone is judging anyone here. It is TRUE whether you like it or not, that people DO get addicted to coffee, latte's, energy drinks and stuff that gives your body a high. It's not some great secret only the "mormons" believe. LOL Sorry it's just funny how people get so offended over the littlest things. On another note Beth,as members we have been counseled to avoid tatooing the body. That counsel is not in the D&C that I know of or the Bible. That's why we believe and are greatful for a living prophet today who leads and guide us on ongoing matters...the Word of Wisdom is just that. A Word of Wisdom. Doesn't make anyone a bad person. Certain chemicals in the body can change the way we think, feel and behave so it IS important to take the counsels seriously.
I think that the point of the Word of Wisdom is to guide us away from substances that can cause an addiction. I agree that people can become ridiculously attached to caffeinated beverages. I had a health teacher in high school that confessed to us about her addiction to diet coke! She was trying to kick the habit, and would go through actual symptoms of withdrawal i.e. shakiness and headaches. Then she would give up and drink her diet Coke in front of the class, because she couldn't deal with those symptoms much longer. I feel bad that she was so stuck on that Diet Coke fix, and in no way is that healthy! I'm not saying that one should totally shun caffeinated sodas, but at the same time, people should be more careful and find alternative ways of getting energy, i.e. going to bed earlier and taking multi-vitamins that give bodies nutrients that are truly needed and eating more nutritious foods as well. Also, I don't think Sarah was trying to point fingers and make people angry with that post. She was just observing how people are so dependent on these harmful beverages.
With all this being said, it's probably still not good to judge. I probably have a lot worse flaws than some people that need their daily Diet Coke fix. We are all imperfect people, trying to get there.
Sarah, I love that you posted this because I was discussing this same thing with some people last week, so it was fun to read it on your blog and to see others' thoughts.
My friend Rachel wrote this in Google Buzz:
Rachel LovellFord - Sarah, how friggen bout it.
I have personally found caffeine to be a self-perpetuating trap (similar to sugar, another powerful substance). The answer for me is to actually get a full 8-9 hrs of sleep. If I do that and curb my sugar/carb intake, I make it through the day just fine. If I get 6 hrs of sleep and eat a carb heavy breakfast, I am relatively hungry and groggy. This is why I detest people bringing in junk food to work.
My meal plan: I eat a little homemade sausage (ground turkey and herbs) and 1-2 eggs every morning. This gets me through until 12:30 - 1, a good lunch (no sugar), and I am fine until I get home. No 2:30 grogginess. But if I stray from that, I can tell.
@Noel- I like what Rachel said because I feel like it gets to the root of what I was trying to say. Caffeine (and SUGAR! Why didn't I think to include that?) affect our bodies. Sometimes we intake those things for comfort. Sometimes it's for stimulation. Either way, those substances can have negative effects on our bodies if we aren't careful how we use them. (Just like anything, though, right?!)
I was in no way refering my comments to any church direction. This past few weeks, I have been merely noticing my coworkers' and friends' (and formerly MY!) habits of intaking caffeine to stay alert and awake. That is all.
Thank you all for your thoughts!
When I was in graduate school, I noticed that most people seemed to have a coffee cup permanently attached to one hand. Not just any cup though, it was usually one of those cardboard ones from Starbucks or some other fancy jolt joint. It always astounded me how much money people were spending on the stuff! Besides the health effects and all that, some of these folks were spending somewhere around $10 to $20 a day on coffee! Plus, I don't know how all of these folks were getting any work done while having only one hand...but, they have finished their dissertations, and I haven't, so perhaps I should try doing my research and writing with one hand behind my back.
A few years ago, my husbands doctor referred him to a heart specialist who told him in no uncertain terms to stop drinking anything with caffeine in it and a few other things. It only stands to reason there is much we do not know about the damage it can do to the heart!
Bottom line, this diagnosis spoke for itself for us. The words of wisdom from past and present prophets continues and thank goodness for that!
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