It’s common knowledge that coffee brings a whole range of benefits, the most popular being that instant kick in the morning. 

It’s not just coffee that can be habit-forming. The benefits of regular caffeine fix themselves can lead us to grab one cup of joe after another.

That’s all well and good – as long as it’s all under control. And that means just having enough dose of caffeine for the day. (Read: Here’s how much caffeine you should have in a day) 

But what if one day you decide to take a break from your favorite cup? 

What happens when you stop drinking coffee?

Here are some of the interesting things that could occur:

You won’t be getting as many disease-fighting antioxidants.

Based on a study conducted at the University of Scranton, coffee is the top source of disease-fighting antioxidants in a regular American diet. [1] According to researcher and chemistry professor Joe Vinson, PhD:

 “Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close."

Hence, weaning off caffeine means this:

It’s also missing out on the chance to lower the risk of breast cancer and having stronger, healthier bones. 

Fret not though – if you’re intent on cutting back your caffeine intake, you could always supplement your body with antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies.

You may find it a little more difficult to focus on work.

One of the biggest perks (pun not intended) of caffeine is mental focus and concentration. As a stimulant, it increases reaction time and productivity at work. And for those suffering from ADHD, some studies have found that caffeine can boost concentration for people with ADHD. [2] To be able to concentrate on work, a person needs to have ample levels of dopamine in the brain. People with ADHD, however, are observed to have unusually lower levels of dopamine. Caffeine as a stimulant can make a world of difference among people with ADHD as it can get their dopamine levels just right.

But not having your usual caffeine fix may lead to the opposite effect – feeling tired, fatigued, inefficient, and out-of-focus.

You may be spending a little more time in the toilet.

Coffee makes you poo. And according to this article, there are several reasons why, including the following:

• It stimulates your colon and gastrointestinal muscles
• It stimulates hormones linked to pooping more
• It kills off gut bacteria, making #2 less of a mission

But when you start to cut back on coffee, you may lose these laxative effects (which means spending a little more time *waiting* in the toilet).

You experience more zen (and less anxiety).

Caffeine sure can affect your mood. Based on a review conducted by A. Nehlig, having 75mg of caffeine (a cup of coffee) every 4 hours can lead to a “pattern of sustained improvement of mood over the day.” It can increase alertness and well-being, help concentration, improve mood and limit depression. [3]

But having too much of this stimulant can end you all jittery and antsy.

According to a 2005 study on the neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine, excessive consumption of the stimulant can “lead to symptoms that overlap with those of many psychiatric disorders” including “sleep and anxiety disorders, increasing hostility, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms.” [4, 5]

Your pearly whites will thank you.

Coffee-drinkers don’t get to have that pearly white because of “coffee stains,” which happens because of tannin, or the ingredient in coffee that causes the yellow discoloration.

Also, the acidic nature of caffeine wears away the tooth enamel and causes coffee stains on your teeth.

If you ease off your caffeine intake, your teeth may get respite from coffee stains and might be able to gradually get them whiter.

Coffee breaths will be a thing of the past.

Coffee breaths happen because caffeine slows down saliva production. [6] And because saliva helps get rid of bacteria in your mouth, not having enough of it can cause bad breath-causing organisms to thrive and multiply. Saliva also helps digest food in the mouth, especially those stuck in between teeth and hard-to-reach areas of the maw. So a lack of saliva doubles the chances of halitosis.

Coffee triples it up because of its sulfurous content, which sometimes gives off that nasty poo-like smell. [7] Coffee can be acidic and this brings down the pH levels in your mouth. This encourages bacterial growth, eventually causing stinky breath.

Caffeine mints kill two birds with one stone. With a pop or two, you can get an instant caffeine fix while freshening your breath. It’s also perfect if you’re on the go – no need for last minute coffee run or lugging around a coffee cup on the way to work.

Try Viter Energy Mints now and easily say goodbye to coffee breath. 

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