Ask Nelly Knowsit: Should you go cold turkey?

Dear Nelly:
Do you have any advice for someone trying to break a caffeine dependence? I’ve gotten used to a couple cups of coffee in the morning, some pop at work, another after-work coffee and more pop with dinner. Should I cut cold turkey or work my way off?   Coffee Addict

Dear Coffee Addict,

Cutting caffeine addiction cold turkey could be a bad idea. Picture this: you are sitting at your desk at about 8:00 in the morning, when suddenly, the largest construction worker you’ve ever seen comes out from behind your cubicle and whacks you in the head with a 5 pound rubber mallet…repeatedly…all day long…for several days. That kind of feeling could seriously impact your life. You might become very grumpy and run off every friend you ever had. You might punch your boss and get fired…it’s not the way you want to go.

Let’s consider a couple of less painful ways to cut down. Most of us have heard that going half caf or decaf is a good way to go, but I propose a different approach. Go ahead and pour yourself your REGULAR beverage whatever times of day you normally would. Each day, put a little less in your cup (or dump some out if you’ve ordered it somewhere.) When you’ve got down to about 1/3 of a cup, try phasing out the LAST cup you’d have in the day….until you are down to a healthier amount, or completely weaned if that’s what you’re going for. Hope this helps!

Now, my dear readers, if you are wondering if YOU might be addicted to caffeine, try this quiz:

1. Most people know not to talk to me before I’ve had coffee or pop in the morning

2. By 10:00 a.m. I would KILL for an espresso

3. All the baristas in town know exactly what I want to drink at any given time of day. They know my name, first, last AND middle, and I may have given them my social security number in exchange for a free refill.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be a caffeine adict. For a more in depth quiz (with actual helpful information), go here: http://www.theaac.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=12.

Till next time, my dears!

-Nelly

Got Questions??? Ask right here!

Nelly Knowsit

Nelly is curently a domestic goddess, artist, writer, and silly know-it-all, who wishes to entertain the readers at nearly any cost to her personal dignity.

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