Should one avoid coffee and tea because they contain the addictive drug caffeine?

[Butterflies61]

The drug caffeine can affect mind and body, but so can alcohol.

[gingejbee]

Caffeine is a stimulant - too much...too much stimulation.

[lcg]

no...it's kind of the whole point of why people drink them! personally, i don't feel right unless i've had a cup of tea in the morning...x

[Old_Geezer]

Only if you wish to.

I don't see it does me much harm, and sometimes is useful for keeping me alert. If I analysed everything I ate & drank I'd have no time to actually eat or drink it. Besides most things seem to have something one can complain about.

[nannybooby]

naw I love my coffee just dont overdo it -all things in moderation

[erin-x]

My mum always used to drink a lot of tea and coffee until she started to get stomach problems. The doctor told her to cut out all caffeine and it worked brilliantly. She even buys caffeine free cola as well now :)

[Sqad]

Coffee and tea contain small amounts of caffeine, tea probably containing more.

Caffeine is not a true addictive drug ................one is better described as dependent upon it if indeed you want to talk in these terms.

[bednobs]

well you can get decaff tea and coffee. chocolate has caffeine in too

[joko]

its an urban myth that tea contains more.

i would suggest have it unless you feel unwell...too much can cause jitteryness, but a few cups of coffee throughout a day will be fine

it is also not technically addictive...merely that some people feel they want/need it to give them a boost...they would have no withdrawal symptoms without it

[ummmm]

I gave up coffee for lent. It wasn't a pleasant experience.

[Old_Geezer]

If you believe QI, volume for volume tea leaf contains more caffeine than coffee beans. However in a prepared drink, a cup of coffee has more caffeine than a cup of tea.

[starone]

Some time ago I had to take some tablet for some reason or other (can't remember what) and told not to drink anything with caffeine in it. My husband went out and came back with some decaffeinated tea bags because he knew how much I liked my cup of tea. I have used them ever since and found them just as good as ordinary tea bags.
Ummmm - did you get withdrawal symptoms?

[ummmm]

Star....badly. It was really bad...

[milly143]

You try and take my 3 cups of tea in the morning away from me and see what happens. Go on. I dare you.

[Jemisa]

I've drunk coffee and tea for umpteen years 5 - 8 cups a day, enjoyed every one I think I'm a good enough guinea pig, its definately been tried & tested by me. I am fine.
Who are 'THEY' anyway?

jem

[marval]

Sorry, I am not giving up either. I like them too much.

[giveup]

Drink and enjoy it all.

[boxtops]

Coffee and tea in limitation is fine - same with cocacola - it's being addicted and drinking too much each day which is the problem.

[Maydup]

Like Star we drifted into drinking Decaffeinated tea some years ago and have never looked back. However I do like good coffee and drink a couple of cups a day. I soon know if I've had too much caffeine - get the shakes - but I'm not sure it can do any harm if taken in moderation.

I do know people who have experienced very bad headaches when giving up caffeine all of a sudden, so its best done gradually to allow the body to adjust.

[askyourgran]

i love good coffee, two cups at breakfast time, then three or four during the day. But I have to drink tea after 6pm because coffee keeps me awake at bedtime. Is it supposed to be a diuretic too?