HEALTHY GIRL - Over-caffeinated!

For the last few days I have gone to sleep fairly early and yet have also slept in; I have slept for much longer than the seven to eight recommended hours each night.  There are times in which my body takes charge and informs me that despite my schedule, it needs what it needs to get me through the daily chaos.  I appreciate a break from the structure and find peace in knowing that biologically, there are protective factors in place that help me to slow down before I get to the point of crash-and-burn.  However, school is back in session, and caffeine is as much a necessity to me as my book bag of supplies.

Caffeine usually sends me soaring but the consequential crash sends me into a functional coma around 3pm. If I were in Spain, oh how I love Spain, I would be meeting my family for lunch at that time and the nation would then take "siesta."  In the States, our workday does not operate in unison with my biological clock so I listlessly go through these afternoon hours desperate for another coffee.

Perhaps the problem is the type of caffeine I consume or maybe the amount. I have tried, on various occasions, switching to green tea instead of coffee, and the ramp up is not as extreme, resulting in less of a downfall as the caffeine wears off.  However, I actually like the taste of coffee and in the moments when I believe I really need a boost, I am not so confident that a cup of jasmine green tea is going to do what I know a cup of “joe” will do.  The drawback to consuming two to three cups of coffee daily is that my body has developed a hypersensitivity to the caffeine. 

As painful as it has been, and frustrating because I did not know until Friday that the fiery sensation on my skin was due to over-caffeination according to my acupuncturist, I see this physical response as another way my body communicates its need for me to address a concerning habit.  The caffeine was making my blood flow fast, leading to relentless scratching in an ineffective attempt to make the burning, itching sensation cease.  So now, I am once again, forced to examine the concept of moderating my consumption of the things I love, but could very well do without or in the least, do less of.

I am now considering trying the “half caf/half decaf” combination in an attempt to wean myself off the high that leaves me worse off than before my first sip.  At this point I would rather feel a bit sluggish than prolong a painful condition which always results in the incessant itching/scratching routine.  For years I have wondered what I was doing to cause this and now I know.  Having acquired this knowledge, I must actually do something with it.  The challenge will be breaking an entrenched habit and embracing a new lifestyle, one of moderate caffeine consumption and getting enough sleep.  Perhaps I can try what many residents of Studio City appear to be doing in the mornings as I observe from my breakfast table, coffee in hand – exercise!  That would be an alternate way of getting my heart rate up without the side effect. 

Until next time, I encourage you to explore healthier habits and may you shine from the inside out.