Kiss Starbucks Good-Bye: Say Hello to Decaf

To combat stress and exhaustion

• Take 500 mg. of vitamin C every two hours
• Take 250 mg. of B complex with pantothenic acid several times daily

To clean the caffeine out of your system

• Drink lots of water
• Eat fruits and vegetables

To boost your energy

• Eat nuts, seeds, and whole grains, and avoid meats and dairy

Credit: Lund-Diephuls/Stone

You might not think of yourself as a caffeine addict, but if you find it hard to leggo your latte, you're probably hooked. Caffeine can cause insomnia, gastroesophageal reflux, urinary incontinence, delayed conception, and low-birth-weight babies, not to mention jitteriness and irritability, so you might want to consider taking a break from coffee.

Indeed, coffee quitters are now certifiable: Caffeine-withdrawal symptoms match those associated with detoxing from narcotics, and the unpleasant process now meets the criteria for addiction found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

The side effects of swearing off Starbucks -- nausea, muscle pain, depression -- might make you feel like someone out of Trainspotting, so for Peet's sake don't quit cold turkey.

"It's easier to detox over a week or two to avoid headaches and other symptoms," says Elson Haas, coauthor of The New Detox Diet (Celestial Arts, 2004). Tap a colleague to give up with you. There's bound to be at least one fellow wild-eyed coffee addict on campus who might be ready to quit, too. Noting your progress in a daily journal can also help keep you on track.

Whether you go it alone or with a buddy, cut down by drinking one cup less each day, and replace the lost caffeine with herbal tea, Roastaroma (a strong, coffeelike Celestial Seasonings tea), or a cup of decaf. If you need more time to taper, begin by starting the day with one cup of half-caf/half-decaf. Pacing depends on you, because everyone's response to withdrawal is different.

Haas suggests caffeine substitutes made from roasted roots that have a bitter, coffeelike flavor, like Teeccino, Pero, or Cafix. You might also try switching to lower-dosage green tea to start. If you have a sweet tooth, resist the temptation to retreat to soda or other drinks that are high in sugar, and choose water instead. As long as it's not caffeinated.