Source
r/AutoImmuneProtocol•
msbeddoes

AIP caffeine sources?

I've been eating mostly AIP for years with very limited reintroductions - sugar, chocolate, occasional nightshades, small amounts of soy.

Due to some other health problems (POTS, EDS, MCAS, etc.) I need caffeine to get through the day sometimes. I can't drink any kind of tea or coffee because they trigger my overactive bladder, which is hugely painful for days after one coffee or tea drink. Coffee also makes me jittery. A Diet Coke is okay but contains aspartame, which I'd rather avoid. I usually eat 3-4 squares of dark chocolate but I'm starting to feel like that's not enough and I'm starting to get sick of it. (!)

I am considering taking caffeine pills but wanted to see if anyone else has non-coffee, non-tea AIP-compliant suggestions for getting caffeine? Thank you!

Posted Nov 10, 2019, 12:24 AM UTC

318
weallhavetheinternet•

6 oz cup of green tea

2
weallhavetheinternet•

Yerba mate is good too

2
msbeddoesOP•

Researching this... do you have a take on the “maybe associated with cancer but so is hot tea?” question? Thank you!

1
weallhavetheinternet•

No I do not unfortunately. You can avoid everything in our environment and still get cancer unfortunately. We have created that environment

1
thiefspy•

I would look at ginseng to see if it’s an option.

In the other direction, have you looked at ashwaganda to help with fatigue? I don’t know that it will work for everyone, but it’s definitely helped me. Echinacea has helped me a lot as well with not becoming fatigued—no idea why as it’s not specifically for fatigue so, I don’t know that it will work for anyone else.

2
msbeddoesOP•

Thank you! I have tried all the adaptogens as well as echinacea and none helped.

1
Rikarikachu•

I don't tend echinacea and try to avoid it due to having autoimmune issues. If you do too,I would ask your doctor... YMMV

1
notarascal•

I think caffeine is a pretty poor performing stimulant.

Have you considered other stimulant (amphetamine salts) or non-stimulant (Modafinil) alternatives?

1
msbeddoesOP•

Sudafed works but I don’t want to take it daily. I took modafinal for a while and it didn’t have the effect I need. I think there is some other pharmacological effect of caffeine that is helping my energy.

1
Darenious•

Does kombucha trigger your issues? I know it has tea in it as well of course. Some people swear by maca and ginseng.

1
msh_anth•

Thanks I'm going to investigate maca and ginseng.

1
BadDadBot•

Hi going to investigate maca and ginseng., I'm dad.

0
msbeddoesOP•

Sadly, kombucha will trigger my issues. I tried maca and ginseng, no dice. :(

1
Darenious•

Too bad. B vitamins and Vitamin D3 helps a lot of us fight fatigue in general, but you may have tried those too.

2
msbeddoesOP•

You guessed right. I think there is something specific to caffeine going on that I can’t replicate with other things.

1
John_Sknow•

Hi there,

I took 500mg of Lactoferrin on an empty stomach for a week and started feeling a little week and drained. Wondering if you think I was removing too much iron from my blood and becoming anemic temporarily?

I’m only 132 lbs. thinking of doing 250mg instead and possible taking it with food instead? Maybe it binds to the iron in the flood before entering my blood stream? I wanted to get your thoughts first though....

1
Today-•

Caffeine is not AIP, so there are no caffeine AIP sources.

-4
KikiDaisy•

What? No. This isn’t true. Caffeine is allowed on AIP. Coffee is not because it is a seed.

7
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1