3-5 cups a day. Always black but an occasional splurge by adding baileys on weekends or when travelling. I love it but too heavy and to many calories to add other than a splurge

this is what i do as well ..

To the extent it is elsewhere, it was just invented in America and then marketed to other countries by big American conglomerates, just like coffee, soda, and energy drinks.

This stuff is all highly, highly processed crap.

coffee has been around for hundreds of years all over the world ..

coffee has been around for hundreds of years all over the world ..

Yet, nobody consumes it like the U.S. which is the point.

Yet, nobody consumes it like the U.S. which is the point.

1 – Finland: 26.45 Lbs Per Capita
2 – Norway: 21.82 Lbs Per Capita
3 – Iceland: 19.84 Lbs Per Capita
4 – Denmark: 19.18 Lbs Per Capita
5 – Netherlands: 18.52 Lbs Per Capita
6 – Sweden: 18 Lbs Per Capita
7 – Switzerland: 17.42 Lbs Per Capita
8 – Belgium: 15 Lbs Per Capita
9 – Luxembourg: 14.33 Lbs Per Capita
10 – Canada: 14.33 Lbs Per Capita
...
25 – United States: 9.26 Lbs Per Capita

Or by "Like the US", do you mean with all the various coffee-based drinks?

^

That can't possibly include the millions of people who line up every morning at Starbucks and the thousands of other coffee places in the U.S., often for huge portions.


Anyway, if you don't think the U.S. has a massive caffeine addiction, you are just denying common sense. And 95% of this has happened in just the last 25 years or so.

Yet, nobody consumes it like the U.S. which is the point.

The US is pretty much an outlier for excess in pretty much everything, not a surprise.

^

That can't possibly include the millions of people who line up every morning at Starbucks and the thousands of other coffee places in the U.S., often for huge portions.


Anyway, if you don't think the U.S. has a massive caffeine addiction, you are just denying common sense. And 95% of this has happened in just the last 25 years or so.

Not sure why you assume I "don't think the US has a massive caffeine addiction". I didn't say anything about that. I only posted the data regarding worldwide coffee consumption trends.

Since just over 50% of the US consumes coffee regularly, if you just ballpark two shots of espresso per day (assuming daily starbucks for those 50%), then you end up with like, per capita, 4.5 grams of coffee per day. If we round up to 5, then we have 1.82 kg yearly per capita. 1.82 kg is about 4 lbs per year per capita if everyone who drinks coffee had Starbucks daily.

If everyone in the US all got Iced Ventis (3 shots) daily then we would still come in around 11 lbs per year per capita, so we still wouldn't break into the top 10.

A standard cup of drip coffee needs about 10 g, so if half the coffee drinkers drank drip and half espresso from Starbucks, you would end up with 8lbs per year for drips and 2lbs per year for shots, for a total of 10lbs per year.

So it's likely the 9.26 lbs per capita is in the ballpark.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/coffee-consumption-by-country

this is a pretty good article ..

the average American is not close to 4 cups of coffee a day ..

^

Plus soda, plus tea, plus energy drinks...

Again, we're talking about caffeine consumption.

^

Plus soda, plus tea, plus energy drinks...

Again, we're talking about caffeine consumption.





coffee has been around for hundreds of years all over the world ..

Yet, nobody consumes it like the U.S. which is the point.

Sorry, I must have misunderstood your comment.

This thread... I read that alcohol--in any amount was bad for you.. it was causing issues, so I quit it. Haven't had a drink in years. I don't really miss it all that much.

I never did use tobbacco.

But caffeine? Say it isn't so.

This thread... I read that alcohol--in any amount was bad for you.. it was causing issues, so I quit it. Haven't had a drink in years. I don't really miss it all that much.

I never did use tobbacco.

But caffeine? Say it isn't so.

I'm not sure why there's a consensus that all caffeine is bad for you. In the beginning of this thread I shared studies that indicate health benefits from caffeinated coffee. Of course, there are also downsides. My big takeaway isn't that all coffee is bad, but it should be used thoughtfully, in moderation, and people should pay attention to how it affects their lives. But evidence doesn't seem to suggest that it should be put in the same category as alcohol, which is always bad for you (and which I still drink in moderation). For me, I no longer have coffee everyday, but intentionally have one cup when I need a boost. It's working great!

Somehow, caffeine has become an accepted and even fashionable addiction.

Reminds me of smoking in the 60s (although not as bad for you).

Somehow, caffeine has become an accepted and even fashionable addiction.

Reminds me of smoking in the 60s (although not as bad for you).

i think the point is there is no conclusive evidence that caffeine (in moderation) is bad for you

i think the point is there is no conclusive evidence that caffeine (in moderation) is bad for you

Just like smoking wasn't considered bad for a long time; doctors would actually endorse cigarettes on TV.

Or the BS about how 1-2 drinks a day was good for you... Or that pot isn't bad for you...


You never know the effects of long-term use until there is a big population using for decades, and the widespread consumption of large amounts of caffeine is still a relatively new thing.

https://hawaiicoffee.com/most-caffeinated-countries/
It appears that by and large caffeine is primarily consumed via coffee. If there is any data supporting otherwise I would like to see it. This cite shows the USA is not even in the top 20 for consumption of coffee.

^

Soda, tea, energy drinks... I have no doubt whatsoever that people in the U.S. consume more caffeine than anywhere else and at an ever-increasing rate.

You don't see Big Gulps, sweet tea and a ton of energy drinks in Europe or Australia, although American companies are doing all they can to market in those areas.

To show you the power of big American brands, when I was last in Ireland, all my Irish friends were drinking Budwiser.

Somehow, caffeine has become an accepted and even fashionable addiction.

Reminds me of smoking in the 60s (although not as bad for you).

I wasn't around for the 60s, but I can't imagine it's anything like that.

If i have a cup of coffee in my office, I'm not exposing anyone to 2nd or 3rd hand coffee.. unless I'm spilling it.. and really, that only just smells good.

^

Soda, tea, energy drinks... I have no doubt whatsoever that people in the U.S. consume more caffeine than anywhere else and at an ever-increasing rate.

You don't see Big Gulps, sweet tea and a ton of energy drinks in Europe or Australia, although American companies are doing all they can to market in those areas.

To show you the power of big American brands, when I was last in Ireland, all my Irish friends were drinking Budwiser.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2007/june/coffee-consumption-over-the-last-century/

coffee and tea usage from 1905-2005

^

The point was about how when certain drugs (nicotine, alcohol, THC) first became socially fashionable, there were plenty of people claiming all these things were good for you, and only with decades of millions consuming did studies start to reveal how generally horrible all of this was for anyone, and for some people down-right catastrophic.

It defies common sense to say, "Oh yes it's a drug, and hundreds of millions are horribly addicted, but it's good for me and who cares teenagers are becoming addicted at increasing rates!"

^

The point was about how when certain drugs (nicotine, alcohol, THC) first became socially fashionable, there were plenty of people claiming all these things were good for you, and only with decades of millions consuming did studies start to reveal how generally horrible all of this was for anyone, and for some people down-right catastrophic.

It defies common sense to say, "Oh yes it's a drug, and hundreds of millions are horribly addicted, but it's good for me and who cares teenagers are becoming addicted at increasing rates!"

i largely agree with your point ..


but with coffee .. we have hundreds of years of data points now ...

^

But people weren't drinking as much coffee and other caffeine products as now.

And they didn't start in their early teens.

^

But people weren't drinking as much coffee and other caffeine products as now.

And they didn't start in their early teens.

again as my link showed peak coffee usage was around 1945

^

Again you are arguing a point I'm sure you don't even believe.

There were no such thing as thousands of Starbucks serving huge portions until recently.

When I was in college, absolutely nobody drank coffee -- there wasn't a coffee pot in any dorm room, in the cafeterias, in the student union. No coffee place on Campus Corner, energy drinks didn't exist, I know there wasn't soda in the cafeterias. 3 years in a fraternity house and no one drank coffee or soda.

Now stand in a 7-11 and watch teenagers cart out Monsters and Big Gulps.

I think it's fair to argue that there is still much we don't know about the long term effects of caffeine and coffee as it's currently consumed. Long-term longitudinal studies are hard to do. It's also important to recognize that medical professionals are not all experts in all areas, and they're also not always right. I heard doctors share misinformation about COVID. Heck, major health organizations struggled to update their initial belief that COVID spread via fomites when it was quickly evident via spread on cruise ships (and lots of other examples) that COVID spread via aerosols. And we also know until recently some medical professionals repeated the results of a flawed study indicating that a glass of wine a day had health benefits (it doesn't). There's no question that prevailing health advice is not always perfect.

However, I don't think it's fair to compare doctors and tobacco last century with coffee now. Researchers have been and are doing lots of studies on coffee, including controlled studies. When I searched for studies on coffee, I didn't find much evidence that coffee is causing terrible health effects. That doesn't mean I am dismissing the possibility. But I am going to need some stronger evidence before I dismiss the current advice of nutritionists and medical professionals, especially those who specifically study coffee and caffeine.

P.S. I've really enjoyed this thread as it's definitely allowed me to challenge some assumptions, learn more about the topic, and even change my own habits.

^

But to once again clarify, I am talking about large amounts of caffeine consumed at an increasing rate at now very young ages, not just the one cup of black coffee every full-grown adult on this thread drinks; apparently, OKCTalk posters are immune to the huge lines I see everywhere serving mega lattes and none of their children drink Monsters. It must be all those immigrant Fins and Brits!

Everybody says "I have a cup or two" but I bet dollars to donuts if you actually looked at your serving sizes and the mg of caffeine you consume, you'd be shocked. And I know that's true because when anyone tries to stop, they say, "Well I did for a day or two just to prove it to myself. Sure, I had terrible headaches and felt like crap but that's not why I picked it up again." That's straight-up addict talk.

Again, stick with good, pure, filtered water as your majority beverage of consumption and you don't need to worry about any of this. Caffeine is an addictive substance and is best avoided altogether. It's just that simple.

^

The problem is, almost the entire country is already addicted and we are now heading into an era where many started from the time they were 12 years old or younger. And the amounts being consumed keep going up and up.

With any addiction, there are degrees. And trying to stop after 20, 30 or 40 years of increasing use becomes next to impossible. So, what, you're just a slave to your addiction? How is that remotely okay?

Look, I bet I consumed less caffeine than most on this thread. 2-3 diet sodas a day, which is like one decent-sized coffee. And quitting has been *hard*, which is why I haven't done it before. The fact that it has been so hard tells me all I need to know.

And BTW, I realize I will probably relapse at some point. I like to think I won't, but that's what all addicts say.

If you want your eyes really opened, read this sub-Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/decaf/

and is best avoided altogether. It's just that simple.

you present this as a fact ... it is NOT

I get your point, Pete. I didn't drink coffee until I was about 30 and up until then only drank pop on occasions, not every day. I definitely didn't grow up drinking caffeine like many young people probably do today. There weren't Starbucks in Tulsa until I believe I was in high school. My personal reference point for this discussion is that I have had 1-2 cups of black coffee every day (down from more cups previously). I'm not sure if you'd consider that an addiction, but I had a relatively easy time breaking the habit. Just at the suggestion of this thread, I gave up coffee for a week with only one bad day. I've now completely recalibrated my habits to have one cup of coffee 2-4 days a week instead of everyday. It really wasn't hard at all for me. But I'm sure a lot of people aren't in the same boat as me. That's probably some important context for the perspective in my posts.

^

You are also a healthy, active person and a runner. Those are big advantages.

Everywhere you look, people have huge coffees in their hands, or energy drinks, HTeaO or Big Gulps. That is all in the last 20 years or so.

There is just no way the current rate of ever-increasing caffeine consumption isn't going to cause a lot of people serious problems down the line. It's amazing how few people are even talking about this topic.

True. I'm also the son of a personal trainer and pediatrician who were both triathletes, which means I'm pretty much brainwashed to think about physical and dietary health constantly. lol.

you present this as a fact ... it is NOT

Of course it is.

^

You are also a healthy, active person and a runner. Those are big advantages.

Everywhere you look, people have huge coffees in their hands, or energy drinks, HTeaO or Big Gulps. That is all in the last 20 years or so.

There is just no way the current rate of ever-increasing caffeine consumption isn't going to cause a lot of people serious problems down the line. It's amazing how few people are even talking about this topic.

Pete, you are really on to something here, and I wish they would do a doc in the vein of Super-Size Me or King Corn on this problem, that, as you say is only going to grow into the future. It's a big problem as you have pointed out. People especially need to talk to their kids about this and warn them along with all of the classic substances that we warn our kids about. And we have to be good examples for them. We don't just keep these products out of our house and tell the kids "No" , we never partake ourselves and we also talk about why they are bad for you , addictive, and how they are peddled to you everywhere you look.

Lots of arguing on this page. Maybe everyone could use a cup of coffee. ;)

Coffee doesn't even make up half the caffeine consumption in the US (49% per NC Solutions). Soda/coke/pop makes up 28% of caffeine consumption... just think of all the free refills in just about every US restaurant. Tea is only at 12%. To my surprise, energy drinks are only 10%... I assumed that would be much higher (I can't even begin to list all the energy drinks, but even Gatorade has a 200 mg drink).

I have no clue what the point of this is, but my shampoo even has caffeine in it (it's a massive pump of Dove 2-in-1 at Sam's, so it's cheap).

Also to note, this site says nearly 1 in 5 attempted to cut their caffeine intake but couldn't.

^

You are also a healthy, active person and a runner. Those are big advantages.

Everywhere you look, people have huge coffees in their hands, or energy drinks, HTeaO or Big Gulps. That is all in the last 20 years or so.

There is just no way the current rate of ever-increasing caffeine consumption isn't going to cause a lot of people serious problems down the line. It's amazing how few people are even talking about this topic.

Interestingly, my normal HTeaO drink has the exact same caffeine content as three diet sodas (and my secondary drink there is under two diet sodas), since I don't drink soda, I guess me and my HTeaO and you with your 2-3 diet sodas consume about the same amount of caffeine.

^

Except I don't drink sodas any more.

And even only consuming 90-135 mg of caffeine daily, it's been challenging to completely quit.

^

Again you are arguing a point I'm sure you don't even believe.

There were no such thing as thousands of Starbucks serving huge portions until recently.

When I was in college, absolutely nobody drank coffee -- there wasn't a coffee pot in any dorm room, in the cafeterias, in the student union. No coffee place on Campus Corner, energy drinks didn't exist, I know there wasn't soda in the cafeterias. 3 years in a fraternity house and no one drank coffee or soda.

Now stand in a 7-11 and watch teenagers cart out Monsters and Big Gulps.

The only data we need to examine is Sales of caffeine-rich products. That will tell us everything we need to know. Monster and Mountain Dew make many different flavors of the same caffeine-filled drink. I don't think you need to explain yourself to these people who do not want to believe the data. In 2022, Monster (https://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/monster-beverage-reports-2022-fourth-quarter-and-full-year#:~:text=Net%20sales%20for%20the%20twelve,the% 20comparable%20period%20last%20year.) sold 6.31 billion dollars worth of energy drinks.

^

And lots of places like Dunkin Donuts and Panera Bread are now carrying high-caffeine drinks.

Panera had a lemonade with 390 mg (!) of caffeine until wrongful death lawsuits stopped them.

BTW, Red Bull sells significantly more than Monster. That industry has completely blown up, all in the last 10 years.


Like so many others, I never drank much/any caffeine until somewhat recently, and it just snuck up on me and then took hold.

Drink more water, ok that's all...

Extremely well said. If you drink water and take the right amount of L-Theanine, caffeine won’t pose much of a health issue — especially if you are built AF.

Interestingly, most nutritional labels don't even list caffeine.

It's just so strange that such an addictive substance isn't even disclosed.

Interestingly, most nutritional labels don't even list caffeine.

It's just so strange that such an addictive substance isn't even disclosed.

It really should be a required label on food products in general, instead of only requiring it when there is added caffeine.

Today marks my first month without caffeine.

I hate how hard this has been but that only demonstrates the intense addictive nature of caffeine. And to reiterate, I consumed less than the average person I know and there are many now that slam much more every day.

I've always been a serious morning person but I'm still having trouble getting going when I get out of bed. It seems to be getting easier but I've got a ways to go on that front. However, my afternoons and evenings are better and my energy has definitely evened out. My sleep is significantly better, and that's a big deal.

My goal is to go a full 90 days with zero caffeine, so still two months to go. From what I've learned from others on this journey, it takes that long for your body to mostly adjust; a year or more for complete freedom. It makes sense when I consider I've been on that substance for 30 years.

Based on this experience, I worry about those who have been taking in more (and often, much more) over a longer period. It seems the amount consumed just keeps going up with time.

Today marks my first month without caffeine.

I hate how hard this has been but that only demonstrates the intense addictive nature of caffeine. And to reiterate, I consumed less than the average person I know and there are many now that slam much more every day.

I've always been a serious morning person but I'm still having trouble getting going when I get out of bed. It seems to be getting easier but I've got a ways to go on that front. However, my afternoons and evenings are better and my energy has definitely evened out. My sleep is significantly better, and that's a big deal.

My goal is to go a full 90 days with zero caffeine, so still two months to go. From what I've learned from others on this journey, it takes that long for your body to mostly adjust; a year or more for complete freedom. It makes sense when I consider I've been on that substance for 30 years.

Based on this experience, I worry about those who have been taking in more (and often, much more) over a longer period. It seems the amount consumed just keeps going up with time.The point on the length of time to get completely over it brings back memories. I got up to about a can a day of Skoal at one point in my 20s. My dentist convinced me of what it was doing to my gums and I got determined to quit. A couple years and a few tries later I finally threw my last can ever in the trash. But. For months I could smell wintergreen and badly want some. For a couple years if drinking beer and seeing someone with Skoal I had to hold myself back. That was 40 years ago and occasionally I still get an urge to do it "just this once". I haven't though.
Caffeine doesn't seem to do anything to me. No effects that it's supposed to bring when drinking/eating things that are high in it. Zero noticeable effects if I drink a coffee and Coke for awhile and then for whatever reason stop. Usually the reason is I just get burned out for a while. Not belittling being sensitive to caffeine. I was obviously extremely sensitive to nicotine and know other people are more sensitive to other things.
I applaud your journey and send you every positive energy I can send.

Good job, Pete! I’ve stuck with my plan too… all due to this thread. I now just have one coffee a few days a week instead of coffee everyday. I think it’s a much better balance for me.

60 days caffeine free.

My mornings are still very rough. I'm going to go another 30 days and see how I feel.

60 days caffeine free.

My mornings are still very rough. I'm going to go another 30 days and see how I feel.

it’s probably already been mentioned in the last 5 pages but if you do decide to start drinking caffeine in moderation again, you might try decaf in the morning. You get the coffee taste and warm drink in the morning and still get a very slight dose of caffeine with it. It’s been a pretty good substitute for me when I’ve tried to cut back on caffeine at times. I’ve also seen mushroom based coffee type drinks but haven’t ever tried them.

Really just any warm drink in the morning has helped me when not drinking caffeine. I’ve even used warm tang when backpacking which was surprisingly good lol.

^
I don't like coffee or tea or really any warm beverage.

I started drinking a Diet Coke on my long L.A. morning commutes and got hooked in the 90s.


Before I cut caffeine altogether, I limited myself to one Diet Coke in the morning, which has the caffeine equivalent of 1/3rd of a cup of coffee.

I may end up going back to that if my mornings don't improve.


It's been very much like stopping drinking alcohol: you notice just the massive amount consumed all around you. Somewhere along the line the American culture has become completely addicted to caffeine. You see all these cutesy t-shirts and coffee mugs taking pride in consuming massive quantities of a highly addictive substance.

Things have gotten completely out of control with kids slamming Moutain Dew and energy drinks starting in elementary school. Everywhere you turn, someone is toting a huge Starbucks, Red Bull, HTeaO, or Big Gulp.

Today marks 90 days caffeine-free, which was my goal.

It was rough in the beginning but now I think I'll just continue on. My mornings are still a bit slow but that has improved and my energy level is much steadier throughout the day; sleep has definitely improved.


It's scary how strong a hold this substance has taken on the majority of Americans. There are things far worse for you, but the quantities consumed by the average person have gotten pretty out of control. Since many kids are starting on high doses early on, I can see this turning into a big problem in the longer term.

Glad you're happy with the change, Pete. I've also stuck with my reduction in caffeine. I just have one cup of coffee 4-5 days a week. I don't even notice when I don't have it.

Congrats Pete!

Last time I stopped with caffeine, I eventually gave in to Dr. Pepper... then another, and another. Now, I am back to averaging (as a guess) about 200 mg per day (maybe more). I don't think it really has much affect on me, other than preventing withdrawal headaches... I think I sleep fine and such. But I still hate having to ensure I get caffeine every single day.

Congrats Pete!

Last time I stopped with caffeine, I eventually gave in to Dr. Pepper... then another, and another. Now, I am back to averaging (as a guess) about 200 mg per day (maybe more). I don't think it really has much affect on me, other than preventing withdrawal headaches... I think I sleep fine and such. But I still hate having to ensure I get caffeine every single day.

I drink a lot of coffee every day (black) .... unless something comes up at work (which for sure happens at least once a week) and on those days I often have 1 cup or less ..

I drink a lot of coffee every day (black) .... unless something comes up at work (which for sure happens at least once a week) and on those days I often have 1 cup or less ..

At work, I use Mio Energy (ok, so typically the Great Value version) with my water and a bottle of Pepsi Zero or Dr. P Zero. On the weekends, I typically cheat and drink one of those Gatorade Fast Twitch (200 mg in 12 oz), typically follows by some coke/pop/soda later in the day (gotta prepare for the tequila... haha!). If I don't have any caffeine within, maybe, 4-5 hours after waking up, I am very likely to get a headache. That's my biggest drawback/regret... well, now Pete has be scared for other health reasons, but...

Today marks 90 days caffeine-free, which was my goal.

It was rough in the beginning but now I think I'll just continue on. My mornings are still a bit slow but that has improved and my energy level is much steadier throughout the day; sleep has definitely improved.


It's scary how strong a hold this substance has taken on the majority of Americans. There are things far worse for you, but the quantities consumed by the average person have gotten pretty out of control. Since many kids are starting on high doses early on, I can see this turning into a big problem in the longer term.

Good job, man! Glad you are pleased with your progress off that substance.

After I passed the 100-day caffeine-free mark, I decided to try a Diet Coke in the morning to gauge the effect on my energy level.

Guess what? It tasted terrible to me.

These 3 months of only drinking water caused me to lose my taste for any type of soda, which makes sense when you realize how weirdly artificial and unnatural those drinks are.

Really, most of what we drink is horribly processed with all types of additives. It just goes to show how we train our bodies to like certain things, and for the most part they are weird and bad for you, which you only realize after you get completely off them.

Also, I don't drink bottled water. I use the filter in my frig and then some glass bottles I bought off Amazon, which I put through the dishwasher. I've always hated how much trash is generated from bottles and cans.

After I passed the 100-day caffeine-free mark, I decided to try a Diet Coke in the morning to gauge the effect on my energy level.

Guess what? It tasted terrible to me.

These 3 months of only drinking water caused me to lose my taste for any type of soda, which makes sense when you realize how weirdly artificial and unnatural those drinks are.

Really, most of what we drink is horribly processed with all types of additives. It just goes to show how we train our bodies to like certain things, and for the most part they are weird and bad for you, which you only realize after you get completely off them.

Also, I don't drink bottled water. I use the filter in my frig and then some glass bottles I bought off Amazon, which I put through the dishwasher. I've always hated how much trash is generated from bottles and cans.

TBF, some of the organic/all-natural sodas are fairly decent - Reed's Ginger Ale is one we tried recently and like, we've been drinking San Pellegrino orange-flavored drinks for a long time, and some of the more obscure ones that you only find at that place down in the Stockyards. Although I have to say, most of them don't have quite enough of the flavor they're supposed to be, they're milder than they should be.

After I passed the 100-day caffeine-free mark, I decided to try a Diet Coke in the morning to gauge the effect on my energy level.

Guess what? It tasted terrible to me.

These 3 months of only drinking water caused me to lose my taste for any type of soda, which makes sense when you realize how weirdly artificial and unnatural those drinks are.

Really, most of what we drink is horribly processed with all types of additives. It just goes to show how we train our bodies to like certain things, and for the most part they are weird and bad for you, which you only realize after you get completely off them.

Also, I don't drink bottled water. I use the filter in my frig and then some glass bottles I bought off Amazon, which I put through the dishwasher. I've always hated how much trash is generated from bottles and cans.

In my battle with drinking less coke, when I'm able to dramatically decrease my intake for about 2 weeks and be completely off it for at least a week, it's a noticable difference in how strong that first drink is.

I sure wish I hadn't picked up this habit at the ripe young age of like 12

After I passed the 100-day caffeine-free mark, I decided to try a Diet Coke in the morning to gauge the effect on my energy level.

Guess what? It tasted terrible to me.

These 3 months of only drinking water caused me to lose my taste for any type of soda, which makes sense when you realize how weirdly artificial and unnatural those drinks are.

Really, most of what we drink is horribly processed with all types of additives. It just goes to show how we train our bodies to like certain things, and for the most part they are weird and bad for you, which you only realize after you get completely off them.

Also, I don't drink bottled water. I use the filter in my frig and then some glass bottles I bought off Amazon, which I put through the dishwasher. I've always hated how much trash is generated from bottles and cans.

This isn't something that I want to do...but you're definitely starting to sell me on it.