Negative Effects of Caffeine
The negative effects of caffeine may outweigh the good that it does for you. Read about these caffeine side effects and decide for yourself!
Women and Caffeine
Have you ever considered that caffeine is a central component of our social lives?
It's true. Caffeine is in coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate. That covers most of the lovely treats that we linger over as we share stories and visit with each other!
The problem is that as we age, our bodies don't metabolize caffeine like we used to.
Younger women may consume caffeine at lunch, and it won't affect their sleep. But older women may find that a cola or coffee at lunch will have them up all night.
And it's not just sleep that is affected by our caffeine intake. Caffeine increases PMS in women who menstruate and symptoms of menopause in women who are no longer menstruating.
Caffeine Side Effects
All women are different, and our bodies all deal with caffeine differently.
So, while some women find that caffeine triggers symptoms of menopause, others may not notice a correlation.
Monitor your body and your diet, and see if you are experiencing any of these negative effects of caffeine.
- Menopause Insomnia
Caffeine is a stimulant which gives us energy. That's why most people enjoy coffee in the morning. It revs us up and get us into action.
All of that energy is great... just not when we're trying to sleep!
If you can't avoid caffeine altogether, try to drink it only in the morning, for even a lunchtime cola can leave you tossing and turning at night.
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Many women find that caffeine (along with alcohol and spicy foods) is a trigger for hot flashes and night sweats.
- Anxiety
Sometimes, caffeine can help us to focus. But, for the same reason that it can help us focus, it can also make us stressed and anxious. Caffeine increases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
Those increased hormones can help give you a jump start and ignite you into action, but it can also cause you to feel anxious.
- Vaginal Dryness
This is one of the most common symptoms of menopause and peri menopause. Caffeine, alcohol, and excess sweets can contribute to this uncomfortable symptom.
- Bone Loss
Caffeine contributes to bone loss by depleting the calcium in our bodies. As we age, we are at greater and greater risk of developing osteoporosis because of our low estrogen levels.
- Increased PMS
A high caffeine intake can make your premenstrual symptoms more severe. These symptoms include bloating, cramps, anxiety, fatigue, and breast tenderness.
Can't Quite Quit Caffeine?
As part of finding a diet for menopause that fits your body, you may notice that you are affected by these negative effects of caffeine.
Monitor your body, and make some changes if you notice that you experience these caffeine side effects.
If you're having a hard time quitting caffeine cold turkey, you might consider switching to black or green tea instead of coffee (tea still has caffeine, but not as much), and be sure to drink plenty of water to help your body detoxify and metabolize caffeine.
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