Need to start your day with coffee? You are not alone. Millions of people worldwide use caffeine every morning to give themselves a much needed boost to start the day. In fact, it is said that caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world, even more than alcohol. However, what you may not realize is that too much caffeine can cause you to feel even more tired as the effects of the caffeine wear off.
For some,drinking coffee also puts them at risk of permanent physical damage by increasing their heart rate. While the healthiest option is to stop using caffeine altogether, cutting off your supply immediately can cause a host of withdrawal symptoms.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can help wake you up and make you alert. However, if you stop having this fixture, you can find it hard to stay awake and even harder to stay on track. This can be likened to an addiction.
While loss of concentration and focus is common and expected, there are some other physical symptoms you should be aware of as well. At least 50% of people going through caffeine withdrawal experience headaches; they usually feature a dull generalized pain rather than anything sharp and focused. You may also experience muscle soreness or stiffness, chills, and
hot spells. It is important to recognize these symptoms as being from caffeine withdrawal;
otherwise you may fear you have the flu or a more serious illness.
A sudden lack of caffeine can also leave you feeling irritable, restless, depressed or anxious. So if you are having these caffiene withdrawal symptoms, be aware about your mood swings.
The severity of your caffeine withdrawal symptoms would differ from another person. To begin with, it depends on how addicted you are in the first place i.e. how many cups of coffee you used to consume. Turning cold turky may be unbearable in the instance if you are seriously addicted. Hence it is best to cut down your intake gradually. Switch to herbal teas or fresh juices instead for your breakfast drink!
You can boost your energy levels by eating this tropical fruit called durian, cultivated mainly in South East Asia. Durian is a good source of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is high in sugar, Vitamin C, potassium and the serotoninergic amino acid tryptophan. Many raw food advocates recommend this fruit as a good source of raw fats. However, it is best not to eat too much of it as it is considered a high-glycemic or high-fat food.
"Durian" is an Indonesian word. It simply means thorny. It is dangerous to throw this fruit as it looks like a ball of spikes. Although it has a strong smell, fans swear by its unique distinctive taste. Many of them can even eat this fruit as a meal. When in season, you can see hordes of customers crowding around durian stalls. No one is deterred by the sharp thorns of the fruit. A big chopper knife is needed to cut open the fruit in order for you to reach the creamy colored pulp. Despite its great local popularity, the raw fruit is forbidden from public establishments such as hotels, buses, subways and airports in Southeast Asia.
The Chinese consider the durain fruit as a warming food. They say that it helps to induce sweating. Hence this fruit is often eaten together with mangosteen known to have cooling benefits. If you have high blood pressure or are pregnant, the older folks may advise you not to eat durian.
The Javanese believe durian to have aphrodisiac qualities, and impose a strict set of rules on what may or may not be consumed with the durian or shortly after.
Durians are like wine or cheese. For loyal durian fans, differentiating tastes according to the variety and region in South East Asia is an art. Paying more for higher grades of durian is well worth the price!