Would you get relief from coffee withdrawal by given decaf coffee? A study published in this month’s journal of Psychopharmacology says that if you do, you are being hoodwinked. However there is another possible reason why some people were said to be responding to a placebo effect. Some subjects in the study said they had relief form caffeine withdrawal when they were given a drink that had decaf coffee. If we think about it those who give up coffee with caffeine are not giving up just caffeine. They are withdrawing from coffee which contains caffeine, various other substances, and the other reason we drink coffee: that wonderful coffee flavour. As a dietitian who investigates diets for those who suspect food in their symptoms, coffee is often investigated. I have met those who have given up coffee for 4 weeks and then tested decafinated coffee and found they were awake at 2am, just as they had been when on caffeinated coffee. So the other compounds in coffee, particularly the flavour have a role in the effect on us. The truth is that doing research with food is complex. Most of us know someone who gets symptoms from additives, spice, tomato, chocolate or MSG, so recognition that there are many compounds in food which are pharmacologically active is increasing in the community. I look forward to the time when psychopharmacologists learn more about how substances in food can affect us, and not assume that one food is like one medicine with only one compound to research. Joan Breakey
Hi Joan,
The comment I have is that why do most people go “off” coffee and tea when pregnant. Decaf is the same.
Are our pregnant bodies saying something?
Yes and also when I am unwell I lose any desire for caffeine ( or alcohol), Isn’t it interesting what our bodies want us to exclude at times of additional physical stresses?
Yes Jan, thanks for the reminder, and interesting that the particular smell of one brand of coffee may be worse than another. And there are other people who have their individual smells and foods they find nauseating in pregnancy, and the ones they crave too! Hormones change our food tolerance in pregnancy, during breastfeeding, and even over the monthly cycle. With some practice as you suggest, we can learn to listen to what our bodies are telling us.