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Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

garden.sparrow.zone

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Re: Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

#31

Post by RobotCaleb »

thejazzman wrote: post #8
quickthrower2 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not addictive. Just stop. Yes you will feel shit for a week but then OK. I am more addicted to the taste of good coffee :-). If the only source of caffeine was tablets I would not look back lol. Can’t say that about many other drugs.

People are absolutely unquestionably addicted. I'm one of them. And I successfully quit for months as an attempt to resolve my chronic headaches. Someone who quits caffeine long enough to end their dependence will realize most/all of the things mentioned above. But it takes weeks if not months. And you will inevitably go back because it's delicious and effective. Or y'all are better than me and I am envious. Either w…

Hot take: if you ever started again you never quit. Maybe you gave it up, but not quit.

Re: Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

#32

Post by PartiallyTyped »

zoover2020 wrote: post #21
PartiallyTyped wrote: post #19

Caffeine does nothing for me, I drink it for the taste / force of habit, and can actually cut it out indefinitely. Yes, I also have adhd.

Did you try taking it before or during a night trip by car? That's the only moment I realize its true effects. As others in this thread have mentioned, the taste of coffee is just too good to give up for me. Instead, I limit myself to: 1) 2 cups of coffee a day before 12pm, 2) allow myself to drink decaf after 12pm I also allow myself to become caffeinated if I have to drive in the dark for long periods at end (e.g.…

Only in coca-cola it keeps me awake, but it doesn't give me any energy. It just keeps me from sleeping.

Re: Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

#33

Post by AnthonBerg »

sparrow98 wrote: post #25
AnthonBerg wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny thing with carbohydrate metabolism: Histamine is an essential part of glucose metabolism, and histamine is an alertness neurotransmitter.

That means carbohydrate diet would keep us more alerted? I also heard the glucose makes us sleepier, but it's total anecdote that I never researched.

That’s a good question. I’m not sure what the implications are yet.

It’s a complex system of cellular receptors and substances that activate them, and the receptors can become upregulated and downregulated. Histamine is also a pro-inflammatory substance.

I do better with my insomnia and autoimmune disorders if I am… attentive towards carbohydrate intake. Less sugar is better, slower carbohydrates are better. (I can reliably induce an insomnia awakening at precisely 05:30 by eating dessert after dinner. I’m not yet sure why or how exactly, but the histamine connection makes sense. It also has to do with cortisol I believe.) However, I am also more alert and sharp if I get enough carbs – including sugar. At the right time of day.

Here’s my source for histamine being involved in glucose metabolism: Histamine metabolism in diabetes mellitus and vascular disease, dr. Dalvir Gill’s 1991 PhD thesis: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10120875/

Regarding histamine as an alertness neurotransmitter, I point to early antihistamine medication being sedative. This is because early antihistamines were molecules small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier. Histamine receptors in the brain regulate alertness. As well as the hunger response, interestingly. Old allergy meds make you hungry and then you pass out.

Re: Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

#37

Post by sparrow98 »

AnthonBerg wrote: post #33
sparrow98 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That means carbohydrate diet would keep us more alerted? I also heard the glucose makes us sleepier, but it's total anecdote that I never researched.

That’s a good question. I’m not sure what the implications are yet. It’s a complex system of cellular receptors and substances that activate them, and the receptors can become upregulated and downregulated. Histamine is also a pro-inflammatory substance. I do better with my insomnia and autoimmune disorders if I am… attentive towards carbohydrate intake. Less sugar is better, slower carbohydrates are better. (I can r…

It seems simple carb diet leads to rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar, which can cause energy level fluctuation and impact alertness and sleepiness. On the other hand, slow carb diet provides better blood sugar control and many other benefits. Also, slow carb diet usually opts for whole, unprocessed food, which links back to Zelphyr's point 1 as well. Fascinating.

Re: Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

#38

Post by sparrow98 »

ninesnines wrote: post #28

I gave up caffeine about 6 months ago now, and did it because I’ve had persistent anxiety since I was a teenager and was desperate for something to help. I had been drinking about 6 cups a day, which was a bit cultural, but also just way too much caffeine. When I came off of it, I stopped having anxiety attacks and had a huge reduction in anxiety. To the point where I think most of my anxiety throughout my life has b…

Per my experience, L-Theanine really helped to counter anxiety, I rarely take caffeine alone without L-Theanine nowadays.

Re: Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

#39

Post by sparrow98 »

furtugoth wrote: post #35

Does the quality of coffee change something? I always wonder as usually better quality is..better

In terms of caffeine it may change the dose of it. On the other hand, high quality of coffee I presume they taste better, and I want to drink more of it lol.

Re: Show HN: You Need Less Caffeine Than You Think

#40

Post by HenryBemis »

Zelphyr wrote: post #7

Several years ago I switched to decaf to help with my anxiety. It did help but I also crashed almost every afternoon so I went back. Unfortunately, the coffee started giving me nasty acid reflux so I switched to drinking Earl Grey tea every morning. About six years ago I changed my diet and started Keto. Now that I'm keto-adapted I drink a cup of green tea each morning more out of habit than necessity. Sometimes I ne…

On the topic of diet.. I switched to carnivore (mostly red meat). I tend to have one big steak a day. I don't feel sleepy until 8-9pm.

There are days that I KNOW I won't have time to eat, and those days I either fast completely or I start my day with a (Bulk.com - not affiliated) hydrobeef protein shake (2 scoops). Those days I feel steadily energized 8am-8pm as if I've had 2 espressos.

I find it all to be in the food. I remember listening on Huberman Lab that caffeine doesn't give you energy, it merely 'blocks fatigue' (which means fatigue is still there - just suppressed).

Decent sleep and food that doesn't hurt you is the only way to thrive.

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