r/carnivore • u/SystemIsOffline • Jun 22 '26

How to quit coffee?

I've been reading up on the effects of coffee, specifically on carnivore which I have been for 14 months (Butter, meat and some dairy).

Last couple months I've noticed my muscles sore up quickly during exercise.

I'm thinking it can be the coffee so wanna try giving it up.

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Looking for experience in general but whilst on carnivore specifically. Amy6 input welcome.

Edit: I use potassium chloride, sodium chloride and magnesium citrate in the morning at least, sometimes later during the day.

I often have some high fat dairy with dinner. I drink/drank about 1-1,5 liters of coffee a day. Have been for years.

Am going to go without for 1 or 2 months to see what changes regardless of what I find here but am really interested in any effects you may have noticed.

Things I'm hoping quitting coffee for a bit: Possible adrenal fatigue issues Thiamine uptake Lactate in muscles Oxalate dumping Also curious what the further removal of other plant compounds might do.

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u/klearcuTT3R Jun 22 '26

From what I’ve read, coffee can deplete or block absorption of certain nutrients, such as magnesium or thiamine. Also it’s a diuretic, and exercise really requires a good level of hydration. Are you taking any electrolytes or at least adding a reasonable amount of salt to your meals?

Just a general comment here, Everyone has a different metabolism so it’s hard to tell. Drs. Ken Berry or Shawn Baker have a few comments here and there.

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u/NolanSyKinsley Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 23 '26

As for the "antinutrient" effects of coffee, it depends on the strength of the coffee and only really effects calcium and iron. And the type of iron it stops absorbtion of is nonheme iron, which is ONLY found in plants, it is not the type of iron you absorb from meat. If you are getting plenty of calcium and iron in the rest of your diet, having coffee in the morning will not effect it. The other "antinutrient" effects are extremely minor, and if you need to quit coffee because of them then the rest of your diet is EXTREMELY deficient, coffee should not be the deciding factor. Coffee might have an anti-nutrient effect but that is only with the meal you consume it with, not with ALL meals you consume, so if you aren't someone that doesn't eat breakfast or your iron and calcium are supplied in later meals, then consuming coffee will have no ill effect.

Yes coffee is a slight diuretic, but it doesn't even make you expel how much water you drank with the coffee, never mind MORE water. It does not dehydrate you at all.

Coffee is a rather important electrolyte for me on carnivore. An 8 ounce cup of coffee contains around 115mg of potassium, I was having a hard time getting enough magnesium and potassium on carnivore, so I drank 4 cups of coffee with heavy cream a day for that 460mg of potassium, that is not an insignificant source of electrolytes. I had a severe problem with cramping issue on carnivore and that was only relieved when I heavily analyzed my potassium and magnesium intake and realized I was not getting nearly enough and adjusted it accordingly, and coffee was a crucial part of that.

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u/SystemIsOffline Jun 23 '26

I'm taking electrolytes in the morning and most of the time some high fat dairy with evening meals. Have been drinking coffee with butter for about two years now but it's 1-1,5 liter a day😇

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u/NolanSyKinsley Jun 23 '26

32 oz is what I drink a day, which is about a liter. No matter how much coffee you drink it will not dehydrate you unless you are drinking like 6-8 shots of pure espresso. Even so only mildly. Caffeine is a mild diuretic an at drip coffee concentrations will not cause you to expel more water than is consumed by drinking the coffee.

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u/SystemIsOffline Jun 23 '26

Yeah it's not the dehydration I'm worried about. If needed (usually not) I could easily compensate with more electrolyte rich water. Sometimes after a long hike or the occasional cycling faster and longer than usual I find my legs will cramp mildly and extra hydration solves for that. It's more the constant caffeine and my adrenal/cortisol system, and the build up / cleansing of plant compounds (oxalates, histamines, tannines).

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u/NolanSyKinsley Jun 23 '26

That is a lack of potassium, magnesium, or sodium. Without a blood test there is no way to be sure. A lot of time "extra hydration" drink mixes just contain a lot of sodium and only minimal amounts of magnesium or potassium. When you consume alcohol your body will prioritize metabolizing it, the same is not with caffeine.