Ironically, cutting out coffee gave me a boost of energy

I wasn’t addicted to coffee. But my body was.

As someone living well with multiple sclerosis, how I fuel my body matters to me — more than I sometimes realize. I didn’t fully appreciate how caffeine was affecting me until, by chance, I skipped it for two days.

That first morning, I made a giant vat of fresh ginger and lemon tea and decided I wasn’t going to let it go to waste. I kept drinking it all morning. By noon, a headache set in, which I blamed on staring at screens.

The headache lasted all day. And all night. And into the next day.

I hydrated. I rested. I slept. I took Motrin. Nothing helped. Meanwhile, I kept working my way through that ginger-lemon tea.

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On the morning of day three, I woke up without a headache. I even felt a bit more energetic — less groggy than usual.

Here’s what I think happened: the ginger-lemon tea quietly replaced the coffee my husband makes me every morning.

I’m always telling people I don’t even like coffee. I drink it for the oat milk, and because my husband makes it. There’s something deeply comforting about starting the day with a warm, delicious drink made by someone you love.

Even though I was sure I wasn’t hooked on coffee, my body clearly was.

I had also convinced myself I was drinking very little — just half a cup, heavily diluted with oat milk. What I conveniently forgot was the second and third half-cup later in the morning.

Fueling my body

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about junk energy. In our culture, it’s completely normal to rely on sugar and caffeine to keep going, to do more, to push past our capacity. When I worked on hospital wards, coffee flowed freely and donuts were everywhere. That’s how many workplaces fuel productivity.

I can choose quick, counterfeit energy — caffeine, sugar, and other simple carbs that give me a temporary boost and make my brain feel happy. But it’s almost always followed by a crash, which sends me reaching for more.

Or I can choose clean, renewable energy: unprocessed, plant-based foods; protein, water, regular rest during the day, and good sleep at night. This is what helps stabilize my energy — and my feelings of nervousness — throughout the day.

As a physician working in integrative and functional medicine, I think a lot about what’s happening at the cellular level, specifically the mitochondria, the tiny power plants inside our cells that generate energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. The fuel I put into my body directly affects how efficiently this system works. It’s empowering to know I can influence my mitochondria every day through small choices.

Ten days since the breakup with coffee, I still feel that extra bit of energy and no more headaches. Most surprisingly, I actually feel thirsty throughout the day, and I’m drinking a lot more water. Another unexpected boost? My skin is looking better.

So will I ever have caffeine again? The extreme part of my personality says never. But reality reels me in and reminds me that a coffee here and there is probably just fine.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.