Seven key steps to quitting the caffeine addiction

Caffeine withdrawal happens because the brain goes into shock when caffeine and adrenaline leave. The brain was dependent on the caffeine, and initially, it doesn't know what to do without it, which is what can create symptoms like a migraine or the shakes, for example.

But there are specific techniques you can use that will help you wean yourself from the caffeine web.

These techniques are centred around using specific foods to mainline glucose and mineral salts into the body, which is vital, because caffeine depletes the body of the glucose and mineral salts it needs, in order to function.

Remember that the body runs on glucose and mineral salts, it does not run on fats and proteins!

If you don’t have enough glucose coming in, the vital organs - the brain, the heart and the muscles, will shut down.

So, before we look at the 7 key steps to quitting the caffeine addiction, let’s take a look at some of the common effects of caffeine - including coffee, chocolate, matcha and green or black teas.

7 KEY STEPS FOR QUITTING CAFFEINE EXPLAINED:

1. CELERY JUICE

Celery juice is the only complete electrolyte on the planet and one of the most powerful ways to overcome caffeine withdrawal. Caffeine depletes critical electrolytes from the body and brain at lightning speed.

Dose: 32oz, 2 x day, for one week.

Then 16 – 32oz daily.

2. COCONUT WATER

Coconut water is also full of eletrolytes, which help to restore neurons, neurotransmitters and glial cells in the brain. Coconut water really helps with chronic dehydration but just make sure there no additives, sugar or natural flavours, in whatever brand you choose.

Dose: 60oz daily for one week.

3. RAW SPINACH SOUP, HEALING BROTH, SPINACH & LEAFY GREENS (TRACE MINERALS)

Trace minerals are the glue that allow for communication between different parts of the brain. Caffeine depletes trace minerals, which you end up looking for through the food you eat, without even realising.

Medical Mediums raw spinach soup and healing broth are two of the best recipes for filling up with trace minerals.

4. GLUCOSE

The brain is made out of a lot of sugar, in the form of glycogen. In other words, the brain is a storage bank of glycogen. When you are fuelled by caffeine, glucose depletion happens fast, as adrenaline (high energy) requires alot of sugar that gets pulled from your body stores.

What’s more is that caffeine is an appetite suppressor, which means that glucose doesn’t get refueled, or you make poor choices that don’t help to refuel the body.

To recover from caffeine addiction, you literally need to mainline glucose to the brain, from the right sources, of course!

Fruit (2 mangoes per day) plus any other fruits of choice

Raw honey

Coconut water (full of natural sugars)

Potatoes/sweet potatoes

5. HYDRATION

Hydration is critical because caffeine is so immensely dehydrating. It pulls living water form the cells, starving them of what they need. For this, lemon water is absolutely key, as the lemon not only brings the water to life making it more absorbable at a deep cellular level, but it also flushes caffeine out of the brain cells.

Dose: 32oz daily for 2 weeks or beyond. Add raw honey for an extra boost.

6. SUPPLEMENTS

Melatonin – calms neurons down, prevents over-reaction in withdrawal

Lemon balm – calms and strengthens the nervous system, it’s like an balm or ointment for the nervous system

Magnesium glycinate – helps with muscle spasms due to withdrawal.

7. COFFEE SUBSTITUTES

Chaga mushroom tea

Chicory root

Reishi mushroom

Lion’s mane mushroom

Turmeric tea

My personal favourite is chaga mushroom tea mixed with chicory root powder. I brew a batch of chaga chunks, as opposed to the powder, and then I keep it in the fridge, ready to heat up daily, along with 1 heaped teaspoon of instant chicory root powder, a little oat milk and teaspoon of maple syrup. This means I have a ‘coffee’ ritual mid morning, which is always something I look forward it, but only after my morning protocols are in place! (lemon water with raw honey, celery juice and detox smoothie).

Healing a caffeine addiction can be hard, so be gentle with yourself and take it one step at time, if needs be. Try adding in one or two of the steps above and see how how it goes. Then add another, and very soon, you will find your cravings diminish.

With every step you take to heal your body, your body will love and cherish you a little more!