How Caffeine is Killing You with Stephen Cherniske 

For 30 YEARS ! I struggled with depression and anxiety and panic attacks. Took every type of medication for it. Guess what! Quit coffee and have zero need for medication now.

About 25 years ago I went to a therapist for anxiety... they NEVER asked me how much coffee I was drinking OR told me to STOP drinking any caffeine! Went for 2 years and they put me on anxiety relieving pills... When I asked my wife who was a nurse if I should maybe stop caffeine outright.. she said, " You could be addicted to worse, don't worry about it!" This is why I DO NOT put my faith in established medicine and seek information to treat myself. (This and other times the medical profession has failed me has led me to think like this... not just this one incident)

I quit coffee 18 days ago after 30 years of massive overuse. Every day I was doing 2 xl Dunkin Donuts 24oz coffees (359mg caffeine in each one) plus another 24oz giant cup at home...usually all between 6-9:30am. Tried to quit a few times but could never get past a few days at most. Finally had enough...weaned off for a few weeks by reducing intake...got it down to 2 small cups...then switched to decaf...and last 18 days have had nothing...not even decaf. I would say side effects were very slight headaches for maybe 3 days...week 2 went through a period of exhaustion,lethargy, no motivation. I feel like I have gotten past that over the last 4 days...LOTS of water and LOTS of B vitamins in the morning have really helped alleviate that tired exhausted feeling I was getting. I was waking up exhausted. Im feeling pretty good now! Cant wait to be off it for 30 - 60 -90 days and forever. Quitting things you are a slave to definitely builds confidence!

I quit sugar, I quit simple carbs. I quit most non fiber carbs. I quit alchohol. But the caffeine addiction is strong. I know in the back of my head that coffee is not natural to drink. It makes no sense to alter your adenosine mechanisms and artificially release stress hormones regularly. I know it's the cause of a few issues I have. I will try to quit today. It's my last little addiction

I bet that the antidepressant companies are making a fortune on damage coffee causes.

This is such an important interview. I’ve been reading the book and I never want to drink caffeine ever again. It actually scares me now. Been off caffeine for 11 days and I feel amazing already, the first few days were awful, but after that I feel so much better as a person. The anxiety caffeine caused me wasn’t worth it. I’m sleeping like a baby too! God bless Stephen Cherniske!

I had the same experience, when I cut out all caffeine my dreams came back!

I ended up in the ER with gastritis from coffee. Off it cold turkey. Recovering my gut health. Anxiety is gone as well.

I had a heart attack from over exercise and caffeine

Coffee also destroys our gut, especially having that first thing when waking up on empty stomach

Let me give you the data saying that having a cup of coffee in morning has negative effect: When I have any caffeine at all, I have bad sleep. When I have decaf, I sleep pretty good. When I am off ALL caffeine, I sleep GREAT! Doesn't matter if it's one cup in the morning. Sleep is highly impacted by even small amounts of caffeine. Original Source: This RU-vid Comment.

When you hear people defend coffee it sounds like an addict. They refuse to admit there is negatives. Unfortunately, people probably miss or ignore the bad side effects and damage themselves.

I think I've found the answers to my stomach issues. I have no issues falling asleep, even after I've had a cup of coffee in the evening. But I haven't dreamed regularly in years and I thought it was odd. I'm skinny and eat healthy, but my stomach is constantly bloated. I stopped dairy but the issue persisted for decades. I never ever attributed any of my issues to coffee because I never had obvious issues unless I reach for that 3rd "cup" (16oz). Then, suddenly I have nightmares and become a different person. This was literally a wake up call. I'm done with coffee and hope I can just reverse some of the damage done to my poor body.

I stopped regularly using caffeine about 2 weeks ago, and holy heck it is SO MUCH EASIER to get to sleep now it's almost a complete 180 from how it used to be. It used to take me at least 15 minutes to get to sleep if conditions were ideal. Now I'm asleep in 2 minutes at the most even during a raging thunderstorm! My mood is better, I'm not eating as much, and it takes a lot more for me to get angry. What the heck have I been doing all these years?

I usually have a tea in the morning and a coffee in the afternoon and this has been my routine for over 10yrs. I just missed 2 days of coffee or tea and hit this massive wall of withdrawal at work. It was so awful man... the shakes, jittery, nausea, dysphoria, weak legs and a sharp headache.. I almost left to go home until it hit me... I didn't drink any coffee for a couple days.. to test it out I went and got a coffee and within 30min I was back to normal and this triggered me to explore quitting. I have developed bad anxiety over the past 1 year and panic attacks. I don't think my body can handle it as it used to. I'm 44... I think I starting to get it. I don't dream anymore, my sleep is hit and miss. I think it's time... I really enjoyed this thank you.

I am 11 days off caffeine and I seem to be over the worst. I have been of coffee before, but this time I plan to be off for good. I target 3 months and then 1 year. Same for alcohol, no drinking for 68 days.

Back in 1999 i freaked out over drinking coffee for 20 years...Anxiety, panic, cold sweats...By sheer luck i found Dr Cherniske's book, "Caffeine blues"...this book saved my life..I quit coffee and i felt spectacular....Thank you Dr......

I’m about to turn 44 and I’m ready to start these “divorce proceedings”, from coffee that is. As I go through this process of elimination trying to get to the bottom of chronic pain, unfortunately this is the next item on my list. I’ve been drinking coffee since 28 and finally think the party is over. My health is finally more important than a short lived buzz first thing in the morning. I don’t even have s*** to do in the morning … looking forward to a sugar free, alcohol free, nicotine free, processed foods free life. It’s *got* to be better for me even if it doesn’t feel it right away.

I just quit caffeine about 6 days ago. I got sick 6 days ago with a severe stomach flu. So, I was going through the detox and the stomach flu at the same time. My body was going into shock. I had 2 extreme panic attacks during this period. It’s been an insane ride but wow. My body was detoxing like crazy not just physically but chemically. I’ll never go back. I’ll consider they severe stomach flu a blessing in disguise.

It's not just coffee, it's everything we eat and drink including soda! Nothing is good anymore. Caffeine will affect everyone differently. I do agree that you will feel much better if you quit caffeine! ❤

I'm suprised after all that he still drinks a cup of coffee in the morning

Just listened to this entire interview and I want to thank you for it. I'd like to tell my story and how everything Stephen said here connects: I have been a stimulant [caffeine, sugar, nicotine] junkie my whole adult life. When I was in my twenties and thirties I had the metabolism of a jackrabbit and boundless energy. Now at forty-eight its been a downward slide HARD for the better part of the decade. I am a stress case, crippling general anxiety, depression, a hundred pounds overweight with a fatty liver. I have noticed that in the last five years that I was becoming extremely sensitive to coffee, alcohol, over-stimulation of any kind. After putting the pieces together I truly believe that this is ADRENAL FATIGUE from decades of redlining with caffeine, and a lack of RESILIENCE from my liver that is no longer detoxing well. Also, a WRECKED digestive system with IBS problems and nerfed serotonin levels. As a former weight-lifter and a guy that partied, drank, and worked doubles, it was always more more more and additionally I popped NSAIDS at every occasion to deal with pain, arthritis, whatever. The bottom line is, right away at forty I hit the wall, severe and sustained burnout. . . and now I am trying to undo all of the damage I've done being a hard charger in my twenties and thirties. Is it even possible, I cannot say. But today's me doesn't smoke, I don't drink, and now I am off of caffeine and let me say, IT IS TOUGH SLEDDING to do this work. Depression/Anxiety is high, and even following Cherniske's advice and weaning off of caffeine over the better part of a month has been incredibly tough. My "happy chemicals" are at a flatline without the chemical spikes of these various substances. Now its all about baby steps toward better exercise habits, less stress eating, and experimenting with some milk thistle and DHEA supplementation to help my liver, body, and brain. I was drawn to Stephen's book and work instinctively, because I was searching for solutions and had a hunch that my stress levels were really compounding my weight gain and general upset and anxiety. All the signs and I mean ALL THE SIGNS are there for me, and you two discussed them all today with this pod. I want to thank you Deevo for having this conversation. It galvanized my thought process surrounding why I am making the changes that I am, and helped me on a day where I stayed home from work because I was feeling desperate, strung out, and terrible. You guys checked all the boxes here, its like throwing all the drapes open and the lights on.

The latest evidence of health benefits of Sleep is overwhelming at this point. Author Michael Pollan said when interviewing sleep science researchers that he noticed almost NONE of them drank coffee or tea. This pretty much tells you all you need to know...

What a remarkable man and what a great example of what a happy, fulfilled life looks like in your 70's.

I recently read Caffeine Blues, and this was a helpful interview which I appreciate. I was a one cup a day (10 oz.) drinker of coffee until about five weeks ago. I noticed over the last year, that, no matter how much water I drank throughout the day, my mouth felt dry. This is not a good sign. I feel my Keurig brewer made coffee that contained about 120 mg. of caffeine. Well, I made a relatively seamless transition to 1 cup (8 oz.) of green tea (Japanese) daily. I feel my hydration is much better now. A cup of green tea may contain 30-40 mg. of caffeine, and less if you brew loose-leaf. For me, I believe coffee may end up being a once a week treat, if that. My Keurig machine is still the perfect temperature (about 170 F) for green tea brewing. In his book, Dr. Cherniske makes some less appreciated points about how traditional coffee growing is harmful for our environment, and I feel pretty sure the doctor has investigated the best sources for shade-grown, organic coffee for his one cup of java daily. Frankly, such coffee is not easy to find, but it's possible if you don't mind paying more. One should also be aware of possible mold growing on coffee beans, and therefore I wonder how many mycology studies are done to screen for that! As for Teeccino, it will never compete in taste with coffee, and it is too expensive. So what about tea? While tea may be sprayed with pesticides, as he points out, one can, at a minimum, take a look at the corporate statements of a tea purveyor. My supplier is a well-established, and I feel, ethical, company whose only business is tea. Their web site states: "We do test our large tea purchases for pesticide residues and they do not exceed the stringent EU limits." I am a 71-year-old female who takes no prescription medications. At this age, one cannot get by drinking or eating things that wouldn't have caused a moment of concern thirty years before!

It's insane how much of it is consumed - then people complain about headaches and energy - blows my mind

When I left my job I found it easy to stop drinking coffee. Think I was stuck in a routine. Coffee was part of the work routine, I didn't stop straight away but a few weeks the obsession went away Don't miss it at all.

On day 4 of cold turkey of ~1000mg coffee for 10 yrs and 10-15gpd kratom for 2 yrs. Not a happy camper, but on the comeup today, trudged my way through work in the heigh of withdrawls, been lifting in gym harder than ever, it's a struggle but I want to find more meaning and pleasure in natural things like socializing, building things, and exercise. I think it wills do wonders for my confidence. From what i hear, its a 3mo to 1 yr full recovery from caffein. I'm commited

Good conversation, but surprising to hear at the end that he has a daily coffee and doesn't think that there's any evidence of harm from that

I've been drinking coffee since 9 years old. Cola and Red Bull probably earlier. Thanks to this video, I'm switching to tea today and am going to work my way down towards quitting completely. Coffee is delicious but the negative effects on stress and sleep (which sets the foundation for your entire life) simply isn't worth it.

The man is the GOAT when it comes to spreading the real truth about coffee and backing it up with numerous researches, publishing a book that has no alternatives to this day. Personally, I realized the dark truths about coffee the hard way and not only the negative effects that it has causing "death" by a thousand cuts, but also from the addictive grip it has on people leading to huge withdrawal effects that can be physical and psychological at the same time. Thanks for bringing Stephen in this live interview it means a lot to me, as I read his book but tried to find video materials of him and I barely found something until this video.

Went to a VA addiction class, the amount of coffee consumed was eye opening.....made me see that some addictions are reinforced

Interview starts @7:00

Just quit coffee around my cycle oh I can't tell how much my pms decreased and my mood and I am really shocked , very eye opening interviewed and made a lot sense

Caffeine is killing you but he has a cup of coffee every day because of habit. Oh geeze

I suffered from high blood pressure, anxiety, Renaud's... all caffeine related, gone no longer after I quit. It's a blight on the nervous & endocrine system long term. You need to cut it out.

Caffeine is shiet. Stabilise at 1 cup a day then go off it and see the headaches you get and this shows you the blood restriction to the brain that is going on. Dissapointed to hear that he's on one cup a day. Probably circa 80mg a day. Your sleep is infinitely better off the stuff. Deeper and more stage 4 sleep. If you must drink it then go on it during low stress periods of your life. Like on holidays for eg.

When I've stopped drinking coffe my DREAMS came back.... That's truly weird... It affects REM sleep way more than people imagine. Even when you don't feel tired after waking up, when you are on caffeine your REM sleep is prejudiced, as statted by Matthew Walker...

incredible interview, defo gonna share this. I am 25 and glad i managed to get off caffeine this year. I was drinking daily since 17. Anxiety, hyper sensitivity problems, blood pressure, lean but bad body composition, skin problems,... endless list. I am still in college and its like my eyes got open this year. EVERYBODY is hooked. My poison of choice for 8 long years were energy drinks. I wish i could reroll the time and do it all over again but healthy and caffeine free. This one thing messed up so much in my life. And i can confidently say that because i know how much of my daily reality revolved around the need for energy drinks.

The author of caffeine blues still drinks coffee wtf 🤯 57:40

I have anxiety had multiple panic attacks ower the years I always taught I was having a heart attack until I found out I had panic attacks I used to drink 5 to 7 cups of coffee per day and was a heavy smoker now I also quit smoking am 29 years old

I stopped drinking coffee in July 2021 because I got sick. I was bed ridden for around 2.5 weeks. Afterwards I never made another cup of coffee. Before then I would drink at least 2 cups of coffee, but I was already feeling miserable and praying to God so that I can stop. I have been drinking coffee since I was in Elementary School, and in High School there was a few years where I had depression. Though the depression had a few factors I'm sure my daily cups of coffee made things worse. In my late 20s I had aches in the joints between my fingers. Besides coffee it also was because I was consuming a lot of sugar with my coffee. By stopping coffee I also have rapidly lowered my sugar consumption. I'm still coffee free and I don't even eat anything that has a coffee taste to it (like coffee bread, or coffee candy, etc). Just the memory of the taste of coffee gives me anxiety. I don't have "coffee anxiety" anymore and I do sleep well. I'm now pregnant with my sixth child and I have 5 children ranging from 14 to 2 years old, but I feel overall well rested.

He said only fruits and vegetables have antioxidants, but red meat has high amounts of glutathione, which is called the master antioxidant.

Good interview and so true. But I do not agree on the fruits and vegetables. I have been eating only meat, fermented dairy and eggs, but mostly beef, for a whole year and I have never in my life felt better and healthier. I am a 64 year old woman. Now quitting coffee as well, and that is indeed improving my health even more. Please, do not fall into the trap of the vegan lifestyle, all important nutrients we need are in beef, where plants contain lots of antinutrients like lectins, oxalates etc. that ruin your intestines.

What he drinks coffee everyday?! makes no sense

Decaf bulletproof coffee. Every day. Giving up caffeine is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

"My point throughout this book has been that unless you eliminate caffeine, your chances of living a more relaxed and healthier life is practically nil." Caffeine Blues pg. 385 Well this was probably one of the most uninspiring things to see, that the guy who wrote the book said that and has one cup a day... wtf?

Why would one coffee in the morning be ok if you're still dependent on it? I usually just have one cup a day but i want to quit that and hope it will improve my well being overall to do so.

Why does he still drink caffeine after writing the book and knowing all the dangers?? Seems very strange to me.

Thank you for you show. A few days ago I purchased Stephen's book, I stopped caffeine several days before the book arrived, now going through horrible withdrawal and can't read the book. So glad the video's available to watch.😊

My research found a link that says caffeine weakens the power of DHEA. I've had many traumas and tragedies over the years and they've left me with an adrenal axis malfunction, so my integrated nutritional doctor put me on DHEA. Thank you for this enlightening interview. I enjoyed Dr. Cherniske's jovial way of presenting it.

Hold on … he still drinks coffee?

Everyone should Listen to Allen Carr’s “easy way to quit caffeine” audiobook. Good luck! Third week. I am saved from the caffeine trap. 😊

Host claims Cherniske is a doctor but only has a master’s degree, and it’s listed in his title on the screen. Important detail to overlook.

He's really good and the fact that he drinks coffee doesn't mean much, just attests to the dependency that coffee gives you so it proves his point even more. He is pretty wrong on the antioxidant front, the best antioxidant is glutathione and it's produce from glutamine cysteine and glycine, so healthy meat with tendons and ligaments

the addiction component behind coffee and caffeine is very understated...i will drink coffee ONLY before noon but i'll drink 2 or 3 cups back to back within an hour like i am dosing a drug...its not good and is an obvious addiction-based behavior

I'm just happy to find a fellow weirdo who color coordinates his bookshelf.

Great interview, Steven is awesome. Very sharp for his age, you can tell he practiced what he’s preached.

LOVE the plant growing out of the top of your head!!!! (Kidding!). Great book…weaned off coffee and been coffee/caffeine free for months now. Life is good!

I'm very addicted, I love coffe. In Italy the expresso is the must. I read these side effects, and when I turn off immediately noticed a better sleep, more mental sharpness and my skin became hydrated but I'm periodically return to drink it 🤣

Thank you for this interview. Very interesting about the affects of caffeine on our adrenals’ DHEA production.

I was drinking 400-1000mg daily, and probably more on some days, I quit coffein a week ago. The first 4-5 days i had zero energi and was really tired, but the last 2 days have been better. Energi levels are 100% more stabile throughout the day now and my stress levels are zero. amazing. Im never going back to coffein. Btw a tip, drink lots of water, I have been drinking 4-5 liter water daily so have experianced zero headache. If fluid leaks out faster than the body can replace it, the amount of fluid around the brain decreases, and the brain may sag downward, stretching the surrounding blood vessels and supporting tissues. This stretching results in a headache.

I've also had that experience of caffeine suppressing dreams. Super book. Read it years ago and dipped into it a lot subsequently.

I don’t know how detached from your core one has to be to not notice if coffee is causing your anxiety.

Great video and im 3 years off i still have one decaf in the morning for the rutine but im much more calm now and feel much better

I'm down to one 200g cup (14g ground coffee for pour-over) in the morning. I'm relieved to learn that Mr Cherniske believes that's OK. The "high" it gives me is too precious to go without.

Eye-opening information. Thank you so much!!!!! I loved your guest's attitude, honesty and smile and his balance in life. He knows very well what is important; and what is taking you towards a healthier body-mind and spirit and emotional well being. Super! Love it!

Makes me wonder why he is still drinking coffee if it clearly have addicted property. There is a crash even after one coffee. Its in your system for next 12 hours. And some of it for next couple of days. I was drinking one a day for years and still had to recover couple of days while detoxing from the drug. He is preaching and have a knowledge but he is hooked obviously to the drug.

Stephen is really likable. Seems like a great human. Was surprised after all that info… he drinks coffee 🤷‍♂️🤦🏼

The sad thing is that coffee is just so ritualistic. It's more than just the caffeine, it's the entirety of making it, consuming it, smelling it, setting the entire mood of the next few hours of your day. It's crazy how ingrained it is in our society and culture. It's especially problematic in my field (software engineering).. we literally have technologies named after it!

And... at the end Stephen says, 'I drink a cup of coffee in the morning'. What!? listened to an hour of that 😂😂

Great video,how many people have no clue what caffeine is doing to them?Would they stop if they knew?

He spends the whole interview talking about how harmful coffee is, then ends the interview saying he drinks coffee. Umkay.

I quit coffee and now I drink matcha. My body feels like love now. Shut down the fight or flight in my body completely

Dose doesn’t make the poison. A little bit of a poison is still a poison just not much of it. Smh Just because you can “rapidly detox” from caffeine doesn’t mean it’s ok. You know how many car accidents happen because someone thought they had a “high tolerance” for alcohol.

I never drank coffee or soft drinks until this last year and I'm 70 years old. I kinda enjoy 1 light cup in the morning now. I always drank a glass of black tea at night with supper but never noticed any lift. I don't like that shakey feeling.

Interesting interview. I'm almost at 2 months no caffeine and I am hoping to make a video on it. So this interview was very informative and I've got the book he wrote to read, since I did read two others. Thanks!

Makes you wonder who paid for those "studies." Since coffee/caffeine is a billion dollar industry. This interview was phenomenal!!! Thank you ❤ I also wanted to add that if any women have endometriosis, it's probably not a great idea to take DHEA. It can make it worse.

I’m quitting at the moment. I have to 100% quit. But did I hear him right!? Did he say that he actually a coffee each morning? I’m surprised that he of all people still drinks it regularly (albeit a small controlled amount).

He has left the body in around 2004 and this video was uploaded at around 2009 after his death. He was speaking ‘the truth’ at the end of his life during his 80’s with bo fear of death!!

“Coffee/caffeine is REALLY bad for you……. But I drink a cup every morning.. hahahahhaha” Really?? 😮🤯

But at the end he drinks coffee. Classic!

1st timer. Really enjoyed your podcast. Great questions and I was absorbed for the whole hour !! Subscribed !!

Great information about the adrenals not being able to make DHEA!

If I did a thesis on the generational effects of increased caffeine consumption and the higher rates of adhd, would I get paid off to be quiet?

This is excellent. Thank you, both!

I have a question, why does he drink coffee every morning? He says it's a drug that has its nefast consequences, so ?? I mean I respect everyone's decision about this but he wrote a book which inspired many people to quit coffee so how is that he has not quit? Is it actually true taht 1 every morning or none is the same ? Thank you

The alcoholic said he drink one shot a day ....but its ok because he sleep well and having stable financial situation ....by selling books of harmful effect of alcohol.

i would love to have a podcast of a thing that doesn't kill you when you consume it

I cant stop, I have to drink 3 to 4 monster sugar free per day, pre workouts too. I'd say I intake 450 to 700mg per day. I'm going to try and stop as I think it is effecting my rosacea and rhinitis

19:20 lol what is that sound🤣🤣

Anyone else watching this whilst having their coffee?

A 7-minute introduction? Might want to drink a cup of coffee next time, D., before starting the podcast. Mucho thanks for the interview, though. 👍👍

Great interview. The best I’ve seen on coffee and caffeine. Will definitely quit coffee today and read the book. Thank you!

I've been so tired and anxiety ridden....I'm hoping this is the change I need to make

Maybe you already figured this out but while the author helped me tremendously in quitting coffee, he’s grossly misinformed about nutrition. If you’re still having to take drugs for pain, I recommend switching to a low carb/keto diet or even better, a carnivore diet. All your pain will subside and you’ll start rebuilding the tissues that are causing the issues 😊. Meat and its fat has all the nutrients a human body needs and is what we evolved on. It’s the plants of which coffee is made from, which wrecks our body and our health and has us chasing our tail, trying to find answers and get better. Thanks for the video and best of luck!

Educational, Great information! 👌👏👏👏

Love this and just bought the book. Thabk you for sharing and hosting him on your show!

So much of America ends up with acid reflux. Do you y’all believe the coffee and food is making us sick like this? It’s wild to me how many people can have the same issue.

Super informative and super helpful. He mentions he still drinks one cup of coffee per day. Did he ever mention how many ounces or how many milligrams of caffeine in that one cup?