Getting rid of coffee addiction

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

 

Having abandoned my cigarretes addiction nearly one year ago, after 25

years of smoking, and feeling a million times better , my body now is

telling me to get rid of my coffee addciton, which I have had for over

25 years!! In winter days I can dring over 10 coffees a day , and my

body is beginning to reject it.

I've tried a couple of times to swtich to decaffeinated , but I felt so

tired, sleepy and lacking of energy , that I could not cope and went

back to caffeine. The truth is that the withdrawl symptoms proved to be

worse than the smoking ones. My complete brain seems to get very slow,

tired, and really it feels too bad.

Kundalini , has really motivated and driven me into these possitive

changes in my habits .

 

My question is: can anybody recommend me a natural and healthy

substitute to coffee , that can help to go through the period of

uncomfortable lack of energy ?

Is there a natural substitute for caffeine? And I mean not only

kundalini kryas but anything else I can eat of drink?

Has anybody gone through these withdrawl symptoms? And can share the

experience?

 

Thanks so much for your help,

Sat nam

 

Karma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kundalini Yoga - for the best online

selection of Books, Videos and DVDs on Kundalini Yoga, based on ancient

technology as brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan. Also a great range of

beautiful Meditation and Mantra CDs, all with RealAudio sound clips.

- visit

Links

[Guest guest]

Good morning!

Sat Nam!

 

I went through the same thing. One thing I do now is drink Green tea

and definitely Yerba Mate. Yerba Mate tea is very good for caffeine

addictions. If you search for it on the internet, or just view this

site http://www.yerba-mate.com/health.htm you will see that it is a

natural stimulate that actually also has cancer-fighting agents and

vitamins. It's not so harsh on the central nervous system as caffeine

is, but still offers that stimulate and energy you are addicted to so

much.

 

Now, I can drink coffee and it makes me nauseated. But when I drink

Green teas and Yerba Mate, I feel refreshed and energized!

 

I hope this has been of some help to you.

 

God bless you!

Sat Nam!

 

Tiffany Leath

[Guest guest]

Hello, Everyone,

 

I read Karma's post about coffee addiction, and can sympathize and identify.

 

Karma wrote:

 

> ". My body now is telling me to get rid of my coffee addiction.."

 

Something similar has happened to me. When I practice yoga and meditation

daily, my tastes change. Regarding coffee, I don't make a mental decision

to give it up because it's "bad"; I get a physical feeling that this

particular food just doesn't agree with me.

 

One thing I've found helpful is to make a big batch of yogi tea and drink a

cup whenever the coffee urge surfaces. The recipe I use

(http://www.sahej.com/yogi_tea.html) includes, as my teacher once put it, "a

homeopathic amount of black tea."

 

Symptoms of coffee withdrawal still occur. I've experienced dullness,

crankiness and headache. The worst part of the symptoms are gone in a day

or three, but the mental desire to drink coffee doesn't seem to go away.

Currently I drink one cup of coffee in the morning, and yogi tea or water

the rest of the time.

 

Another thing I've found that helps is to switch from coffee to black or

green tea. Tho tea has caffeine, it feels to me as tho coffee has some

other substances that affect the body in ways that tea does not. Tea brewed

over a couple slices of fresh ginger is invigorating and kinder to the

stomach.

 

Can anyone offer some other coffee alternatives?

 

Chris B/Guru Karta Kaur

Phoenix AZ

[Guest guest]

Many people have had success using green tea during the transition.

Also - yogi tea is a wonderful replacement for coffee. It has the

same 'body' as coffee does.

[Guest guest]

sat nam karma,

congratulations on quitting smoking, and on the positive changes you are making

in your life! wahe guru! kundalini yoga WORKS!!

i am writing because i quit drinking caffeinated coffee a few years ago, and

wanted to share my experience with you; i hope it's helpful. when i quit, i was

only drinking two coffees a day, but when i switched to decaf i had headaches

for two weeks! many people suggested doing half caffeine, half decaf for a

while. you might try that. or try easing up on the quantity; if you are drinking

10 a day, try drinking 5 instead. or try adding more milk (if you take milk in

it) and thereby diluting the coffee. my next door neighbor recently went from a

whole pot of coffee in the morning to just one cup, and he is doing extremely

well, but he does get spacey in the afternoon. that's not surprising, as the

mid/late afternoon is a common time for a tea break or snack. if you have this

symptom, try eating something that gives you energy - probably anything with a

balance of protein/carbohydrates/fat, and not too much sugar. for many people,

part of the coffee addiction is the ritual of preparing and drinking. for that,

you can try substituting tea (someone posted a recipe for yogi tea here just the

other day) or a cereal substitute like post-um or inka (i don't know where you

are and what kinds of products are availabe to you).

good luck! i know i'm glad to have quit for the simple reason that i don't like

my mood and energy to be dependent on a substance. you can do it too! keep up,

and we will all help keep you up!

love,

sue in seattle

[Guest guest]

Sarita Are you from Israel like me? I live in Petach Tikva.

 

Whenever you feel an urge (strong wish) to smoke or drink coffee, put your

hands on the Solar Plexus and Spleen Chakras and see how whirlpool of energy

penetrates the Chakras soothing you.

David

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

 

I'm new to KY and the first thing I wanted to do was get rid of my

Coffee habit even though I take a maximum of 3 small cups a day. My

withdrawal symptoms were way to o bad. I had the worst headache ever

and had to take tylenol to get back to normal.

 

If some one can suggest any Kriyas or drink that would be great.

 

Thanks to All

 

Sat nam

Savitha.

[Guest guest]

Dear Karma,

I recommend Yogi tea as a very good substitute for coffee!

 

Greetings,

Guru Sahai Kaur

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Sat nam,

Congradulations on being ready to kick the habit. It is a tough one

no doubt. I gave up smoking, marijuana and alcohol before I tackled

the caffein addiction.

 

First, I recommend a book,

Caffeine Blues : Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's

#1 Drug

by Stephen Cherniske

 

One of the things he presents is studies linking caffein to almost

every disease or condition, including cancer and cataracts.

Enough to scare the pants off you!

He also offers ways to quit.

 

I am in agreement with all the "Yogi tea people" who responded. I

have been drinking it regularly for years. It give me a pick-up

without the jittery nerves of coffee. It is delicious. (You can add

maple syrup as a sweetener, altho I don't think it needs it.)

You can drink it hot or cold.

It does have the consistency of coffee, plus you add milk, so I think

that helps. I also haven't had a cold or flu since I've been drinking

it.

Someone posted a recipe. When I first started drinking it, the person

who made it, cooked for 4 hours and let it set out over night before

straining out the ingredients. This is how I make it. I like it

strong.

 

Also Dharma has told the importance of not leaving out the regular

(caffienated) tea which is one of the ingredients. He is right.

 

I have kicked the physical addiction. That was pretty easy for me. (I

was only drinking 2-3 cups a day.)

I find that every few days I want the 'high', so I add about 1/4 cup

of coffee to my yogi tea. Whew! Even that little bit makes me jumpy.

 

I also suggest to you that you pay very close attention to how you

feel as, and after, you drink coffee. Be sure when you do drink it,

you drink it consciously.

 

I don't know if someone posted the "addiction meditation". If not,

remind me off-list and I will find it for you.

 

Lastly, I had the same response to doing Kundalini Yoga, that someone

mentioned. Some "bad" habits just dropped away without me making any

effort at all. Example, Haagen-Daas ice cream. Every night I had to

have a couple of tablespoons. Then, I simply forgot about it. I used

to be about 99% vegie, eating chicken every once in a while. I used

to get a craving for it. Hasn't happened since I started a daily yoga

practice. Now I get cravings for vegetables! True!

 

So you are definitely in the right direction.

Post if you want any more feedback. Let us know how you do. I know

you will be successful. Be gentle with yourself.

Even tho I can't say I am completely free of it, I feel so much

better than when I *had* to have that cup before I could even get

dressed. It's terrible to be hooked to anything. I offer you my full

support.

 

Kartar Kaur

 

 

-- In Kundaliniyoga, "Strauch, Sarita"

<sarita.strauch@h...> wrote:

>

>

> Sat Nam,

>

> Having abandoned my cigarretes addiction nearly one year ago,

after 25

> years of smoking, and feeling a million times better , my body now

is

> telling me to get rid of my coffee addciton, which I have had for

over

> 25 years!! In winter days I can dring over 10 coffees a day , and my

> body is beginning to reject it.

> I've tried a couple of times to swtich to decaffeinated , but I

felt so

> tired, sleepy and lacking of energy , that I could not cope and went

> back to caffeine. The truth is that the withdrawl symptoms proved

to be

> worse than the smoking ones. My complete brain seems to get very

slow,

> tired, and really it feels too bad.

> Kundalini , has really motivated and driven me into these possitive

> changes in my habits .

>

> My question is: can anybody recommend me a natural and healthy

> substitute to coffee , that can help to go through the period of

> uncomfortable lack of energy ?

> Is there a natural substitute for caffeine? And I mean not only

> kundalini kryas but anything else I can eat of drink?

> Has anybody gone through these withdrawl symptoms? And can share the

> experience?

>

> Thanks so much for your help,

> Sat nam

>

> Karma

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Kundalini Yoga - for the best online

> selection of Books, Videos and DVDs on Kundalini Yoga, based on

ancient

> technology as brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan. Also a great

range of

> beautiful Meditation and Mantra CDs, all with RealAudio sound clips.

> - visit

> Links

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam, Green Tea may be a good substitute in the

beginning to get you off the coffee,as it has healing

qualities & is much better for you than coffee,...it

does have caffeine,its processed differently so the

effects shouldn't be as strong, however, for long term

effects you are merely substituting one caffeine vice

for another...& ultimately you want to get away from

anything that has stimulating qualities, especially if

you are into Kundalini Yoga & meditation as it will

interfere with your practice...smiles

Sat Nam, Jiwan Shakti

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam!

 

Regarding the coffee substitute I can't speak about the product myself as I've

never tried it but the link below is to a site for an herbal coffee that sounds

just wonderful! The site also gives tips on how to reduce your caffienne

withdrawl:

 

http://www.teeccino.com/defaultnew.aspx

 

I, personally, would LOVE to hear more about you kicked the smoking addiction! I

am struggling with this right now. One month ago I quit for a week and was so

happy about it, then did the 'Oh, I can just enjoy one' thing and now fell back

into the trap. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Love and Light,

Malinda