Or, more appropriately, Being Free From Caffeine.

On February 9 2020, I decided to give up my caffeine habit. Instead of ingesting caffeine habitually, I’d cut back, and only do it medicinally.

This was probably one of the smarter decisions of my life. I do not regret lowering my caffeine intake. Just this past week, I had a killer migraine. Because I’m not addicted to caffeine, having just a little bit of coffee with aspirin and acetaminophen that afternoon cut the pain in half.

Over the last five years, yes, there have been times when I’ve been close to being addicted again. When I’ve had caffeine too many days in a row, and I might have the suggestion of a headache the afternoon of the day I stop. It’s never been as bad as that first time. Cutting the caffeine back in 2020 I had three or four days of pretty intense headaches.

Because I don’t have caffeine regularly, I’ve grown really sensitive to it. These days, when I have caffeine, I don’t have a lot of it. I make myself an Americano coffee that’s a half-caf, or I have my lovely Earl La Crème tea that also doesn’t have a lot of caffeine in it.

We occasionally go out to breakfast. At some restaurants, a half cup of their coffee will leave me wired and shaking.

I noticed a couple years ago that I can no longer eat my good dark chocolate late at night. Chocolate has a touch of caffeine in it. Eating 85% cocoa after 6 PM affects my sleep.

I used to drink coffee every day. (Hell, I used to roast my own coffee beans!) Then my system decided that coffee was evil and it became a laxative for me. (Not Good.)

I’ve tried various coffee substitutes over the years, and have come to the conclusion that there is no coffee but coffee. I still occasionally make my roasted dandelion root and chicory drink, because I want that taste, not because it is a coffee replacement.

Over the years, I’ve healed my gut to the extent that I can have coffee frequently now, without issues. I still only tend to make myself a cup once every seven to ten days. I make my own blend of decaf English Breakfast tea, with lots of added herbs and spices, that I drink most days. As I make it myself, each batch is always slightly different. The current batch has a lot of dried ginger and orange peel in it.

This morning, I’m celebrating my caffeine-free days with a cup of lovely decaf coffee. I added a touch of vanilla powder and some cocoa nibs to the grounds.

How about you? What’s your caffeine intake like these days? Has it changed?