Effects Of Caffeine?

[jweeks]

Hi,

Anyone have any good information on what the impact of caffeine is on sleep? I see a chart on the Zeo web site that shows that a single caffeinated beverage can reduce REM sleep by 20%. I am not sure if that chart is science or just a marketing graphic.

One of my last vices is Diet Coke. Until recently, I have been drinking as much as 72 ounces of the stuff each day. It is the only drink that I like. Over the past 10 days, I have been drinking Crystal Light lemonade after 6 PM, and I do notice that it is easier to go to bed at a reasonable hour. I haven't yet noticed any sleep difference. I just discovered Crystal Light "On The Go" (small packets that are the right size for a 16.9 oz water bottle), so I am going to give that a try during the daytime.

I have been drinking Diet Coke since August 1982 when it first became available in the marketplace. I tired the decaffeinated stuff, but it tastes like a chemical soup to me. Giving up the real stuff is like losing an old friend, apparently one that is highly addictive.

-john-

[Elle]

Caffeine is the least of your worries with the chemical soup you are drinking. Aspartame is deadly. You would be better off drinking 72 oz. of classic coke. I hope you can wean off it.

[Julie]

I would say that for very many of us who discovered GERD along with OSA, caffeine is an enemy, though if you were to experiment with e.g. one cup early in the day and no more, you might get a better idea of how it impacts you personally, which I imagine is what you want to know... and of course that doesn't even talk about the effects of staying awake because of caffeine.

[MaxDarkside]

I'm a caffeine-holic. I'm not quite "recovering" yet because I still abuse it some. It has a half-life of about 5 hours, but varies by person, so HALF the caffeine of that cup of coffee I drank about 5 hours ago is still buzzing around my system. I probably metabolize it faster, since I'm an addict. I found that if I stop drinking coffee at about 3 PM my Zeo sleep stages "cleaned up" to become more normal and I did sleep better.

[BlackSpinner]

After I started cpap I found that my max was 2 cups before noon. After that even decaf has too much caffeine in it.

[RandyJ]

If you are drinking caffeine throughout the day your body has become used to a constant fix. Also, as was said above, aspartame consumption is one of those things of which we simply don't know the long term effects on the body.

For the morning coffee drinker, there is a boost that eventually goes away and results in a crash if not supplemented with more caffeine.

If I were you, I would try either to reduce drastically, eventually to zero, or quit cold turkey. It takes 3 days to withdraw from caffeine.

I gave up carbonated beverages and aspartame several years ago; now all I drink is water - a lot of water, about 130 oz a day. I don't miss the Diet Coke, Fresca, etc which I used to enjoy so much. And I love water.

You can also make lemonade or herbal tea by the gallon and sweeten it with stevia and keep it in the fridge, if you must have a sweet drink. You may discover a tea you love more than Diet Coke! and you may feel a lot better without all of that caffeine and aspartame in your system.

Good luck!

[Mary Z]

The effects of caffeine on sleep is a very individual thing. I drink one cup in the morning and have a regular coke or pepsi in the evening and sleeep like a baby

[moondoggy]

I understand how you might feel about the caffeine but consider this..... As you get older your risk increased for having atrial fibrilation and one one thing your cardiologist will tell you is absolutely zero caffeine. That means no chocolate, no regular coffee and certainly no soft drinks with caffeine. Also sleep apnea can cause AFib due to not getting enough REM sleep so anything you can do to get more rem sleep the better. I was diagnosed with having AFib and sleep apnea all in the last 6 months and it's been a hard adjustment giving up a lot of things I enjoy in life but I'll tell you that having an AFib event scares the life out of me and I worry about having a stroke so giving up caffeine was a small thing when it comes to the bigger picture. Give up on the caffeine as quickly as you can. It's a drug so it won't be easy but I know from experience that after a few days you'll feel a ton better than you do today.

[Kody]

Hi John,
I was a Coca-Cola junkie most of my life. Gave it up 3 months ago now, along with candy as well. They were also my last vices, but in the long run I think it's the best thing I've done in a long time. It's not easy, and at times I really miss having a Coke, but after finding out more about the effects of sugar on ones body, it's a no brainer. I know you were into the diet stuff, but there has been lots of reports lately about how those are no better, and maybe WORSE than the regular soft drinks. As far as your sleeping better question, I'm not too sure. I could down a coke and go right to bed, but I think I was used to the caffeine back then. Over all if you can kick the habit all together, I'm sure you would be better off, good luck.

[jweeks]

As far as your sleeping better question, I'm not too sure. I could down a coke and go right to bed, but I think I was used to the caffeine back then. Over all if you can kick the habit all together, I'm sure you would be better off, good luck.

Kody,

Thanks for the encouragement. Like you say, I have been doing this for so long that I don't know what normal feels like. But, today is as good of day as any to find out.

-john-

[filpa]

Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance and has been considered by some investigators as a drug of abuse.Caffeine is found naturally in so many of our foods and beverages, we take it for granted. Caffeine is found naturally in so many of our foods and beverages, we take it for granted.

[DrPepper00]

I wouldn't go cold turkey. You could get a horrible headache. When I give up DrPepper (and I have done it many times). I cut myself down to 4oz every few hours and give it up over the course of a few days. I gave it up again last week. The first two days I was off it completely, my mouth kept leaking in spite of my chin strap. It seems to have stopped that now. I will check my Zeo report and see if it affected my REM.

Edited to add: Just checked my Zeo. My REM is pretty consistent between 1 hr 16 min and 1 hr 26 min with or without caffeine. But I know I would be better off without it and the 300 cal of high fructose corn syrup in comes in. So maybe I should change my name to 00 instead of DrPepper00.

[Elle]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/201 ... aland.html

[Maxie]

Caffeine does keep me awake so after about 2 in the afternoon, no caffeine but I have discovered WATER! I work at a college and I noticed that lots of students carry around Camelbak water bottles so I tried one and as crazy as it sounds it does make me want to drink more water. In fact, a study at a university confirmed that using the Camelbak increase that amount of water a person drinks. I think it is the delivery system as you don't have to turn the bottle up to drink it. Now I drink two small cups of coffee in the morning as my diuretic and drink filtered water from our water machine or from my filter at home the rest of the time. I was once "addicted" to Coke but now I much prefer my Camelbak water to anything else. Some of my medications say to take them with a full glass of water and I usually go way over the 8 ounces. It may take a while to switch from Coke to water but I think it will be worth it in the long run. (Even my dental hygienist says that my water drinking makes my fillings shiny.)

[chunkyfrog]

Gotta get my cuppa joe in the A.M.
Practically NO cola or Dr___ or Mr___.
Those contain phosphoric acid, which leaches calcium out of bones, esp. the spine.
It takes around 2 or 3 days of supplements to undo the damage caused by ONE lousy glass.
I'm already short enough.
Water is good--essential for weight loss--who knew?