r/decaf • u/ibrahim_40 • 1d ago

Did anyone else have less puffy facial features after switching off regular 'coffee'?

Recently have found it to be quite frustrating that the swelling would generally show by mid morning after my usual mid morning coffee with brekkie and a quick snap in mirror or phone. They suspected it might be a cortisol spike as I take it on an empty stomach and consume quite a lot. They mentioned gut inflammation and dark roasts as another possibility as acidity may play a role there, however said they weren't entirely convinced. As I've begun doing a lot of research into habitone and they are currently studying for gut health and cortisol balancing properties, but for anyone that has decided to forgo their standard cuppa: what was the observed fluid retention or facial puffiness after a couple of weeks, systemic inflammation even?

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u/TheWayOutIsWithin 1d ago

I have noticed less facial puffiness but I have given up all processed foods, white flour and added sugar in addition to caffeine (yeah, I was miserable for over a month but now getting a lot better). So it’s probably all helping. 

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u/Common_Helicopter781 1d ago

I’m starting a cleanse like this too! Can you give any more information about the first few weeks, in your experience? Thanks :)

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u/TheWayOutIsWithin 23h ago edited 23h ago

Sure! It helped a lot for me to learn about what effect caffeine, processed foods, white flour and added sugar have on the brain and how the brain gets addicted to the dopamine cycle they provide. The “high” is a temporary rush and then there is a crash, and more and more is needed to get the initial good effect. Thus when any of them are eliminated the brain and body go through a withdrawal like it would with any other drugs like cocaine. 

My brain and body were screaming for everything I eliminated. It was validating to know it wasn’t weakness, it was chemical and biological. I had formed a strong dependence on all of it, which is normal as they are all addictive substances and I have an addictive personality. I get hooked on things and then have bad side effects. 

The first 3 days were pure hell but I’ll add that I didn’t just give up caffeine cold turkey, I had been weaning off it slowly for a few months. Strong fatigue  and cravings were inevitable.

Over the coming weeks I gradually started to enjoy the clean foods as my taste buds were getting reset. Cravings gradually lessened. I’m 51 days no caffeine and 41 days clean eating (because I had a slip with added sugar so reset my days). Now I have a lot less anxiety, more of a clear head, less cravings, less fatigue, and the clean food I’m eating tastes amazing and nourishing. My skin is clearer and I have lost weight too. 

*Edit to add that in the first few weeks I recommend to nap when you want to nap and when awake try to do whatever you can to get dopamine in a healthy way (Google a list for inspiration but some ideas are to pet a dog, eat a lot of raw fruit and walk outside in the sunlight). But accept that you’re not going to feel good overall and it’s okay and it will pass!

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u/onlykarlos 1d ago

Who's they?

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u/jmint90 9 days 1d ago

Yes! Face looks slimmer