Last updated on August 21, 2024 by Dr. Subashri Thanigaivel

A cup of coffee is nothing more than 1 tsp of coffee powder and 200ml of milk, yet it has a superior influence on our daily life—from making decisions to attaining brain happiness. 

For many of us, coffee is a go-to drink. Roughly about 55 million people start their day with coffee. Our patient care team has found that almost 70% of the patients cannot give up coffee in their lifestyle routine plan. 

With the strong addiction that we have developed to coffee, we never realized why it became part of our daily life. Let’s see in this blog post why we cannot give up coffee. 

Prakriti & Coffee Addiction

Ayurveda explains caffeine addiction in respect to each Prakriti type based on their innate physiological qualities. 

Vata 

If you have Vata dominance in your Prakriti, then coffee is your BAE. You are inseparable from coffee at all times of your life. Generally, Vata Prakriti has a palate for caffeine because of its hyperactive property. They love anything that amplifies their nervous system. Vata also loves things that are strong, bitter, and slightly sour. So they love to enjoy coffee in all forms — ice cream, chocolate, milkshake, biscuits, cakes, and beverages. Usually, irrespective of your Prakriti, caffeine reduction will need to pacify or reduce Vata dosha.

Pitta 

They aren’t quite addicted to coffee but if they want it, then no stopping to it. The bitter the coffee, the stronger their addiction develops. Once in a while, Pitta enjoys coffee with a lot of passion. and has the self-control to limit themselves to one or two cups per day. 

Kapha 

The Kapha individuals love coffee if it is in black form. They are not much of a dairy people but if you add a strong shot of espresso with little or no milk, then it is a yes for them. Kapha people generally don’t intake coffee in high doses unless they need to stay awake. Usually, Kapha values their long resting nights, so they don’t rely on coffee unless it is super important for them to pull an all night. 

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Reasons For Caffeine Addiction 

Coffee is an emotion 

To many of us, coffee is not a beverage, it is something to do with personal attachment. Coffee is also advertised in the market as a drink that enhances the relationship between couples, brightening the mood, caring for you when nobody else is there. 

This sentimental development is wired inside the brain as an important log that can never be removed that easily. Every time a particular event is triggered, your brain seeks coffee because it is attached as a part of your habitual routine. 

And the brain cannot easily let go of emotions. 

Coffee is a stimulant drug 

There are so many reasons for coffee addiction but this one sums up the entire addictive behavior. The caffeine in the coffee powder is a stimulant drug, meaning it has compounds that show stimulating behaviors. 

Stimulant drugs molecules, when released into the bloodstream, trigger the nerves and sensory organs cells to become hyperactive instantly. This is why coffee can instantly light up the mood to brightness when feeling gloomy. 

All kinds of stimulant drugs are hard to let go of because they have been embedded into the nerves and sensory organs firmly. Especially, if you are taking the coffee regularly one cup per day kind of style, then it is arduous to stop the caffeine. 

Coffee & Cravings 

Food cravings are common when you are coping with emotional trauma in your life. It is an urge to satisfy emotional needs via food. Ayurveda explains the increase in Kapha leads to food cravings. 

Coffee is one such drink that soothes anxiety and reduces stress levels or at least it makes you think so like that. Caffeine molecules have the potential to lower down the throbbing headache or the sad feel immediately when you sip a few amounts of the liquid. 

The increase in food cravings also leads to caffeine addiction. If you do a bit of research on coffee and anxiety, you will be shocked to know that prolonged intake of coffee causes more palpitations and anxious feelings. 

Lack of Physical activity

When you exercise at least an hour every day, your cells have a good absorption rate. When the absorption rate is high, there are no cravings or anxiety, or dull mood because of the better blood circulation and reduced oxidative damages. However, if it is vice-versa, then there is a strong caffeine addiction to boost the mood, satisfy the cravings, and much more. 

When you sweat a lot, it is going to help your brain to depend more on natural stimulants and than artificial additives like coffee. An increase in physical activity can reduce caffeine addiction.

Conclusion 

So, now the question is do you want to quit the coffee or the addiction to it?

Ayurveda doesn’t recommend coffee intake. However, Ayurveda is the only form of medicine and lifestyle system that customizes its principles to cater to individual needs based on the existing ecosystem.