Does Caffeine Actually Give us Energy?
Do you wake up in the morning immediately reaching for coffee or some source of caffeine? You’re still tired and searching for much needed energy. You know once you have a sip, you’ll feel ready for the day.
But does caffeine really give us energy like we think it does?
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. To put it simply, it blocks our tiredness. Caffeine temporarily prevents signals from reaching the receptors in our brain that tell us we’re tired. More specifically, our adenosine neuroreceptors.
The cycle usually goes something like this:
Wake up tired
Drink coffee or consume caffeine
Feel energized
Energy wears off hitting a 2 p.m./3 p.m. slump
Have another cup or some more caffeine
Sound familiar? You think you’re less tired and that you’ve gotten energy. As the day goes on, it begins to wear off and you start to feel tired “again.” However, your tiredness was always there.
There’s a few things to consider before continuing to start your days with coffee or caffeine. It’s important to not drink coffee on an empty stomach. Doing this feeds the harmful cycle of continuous fatigue.
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach increases cortisol (the stress hormone). Cortisol is highest in the morning helping to wake you up. It counters melatonin to get you out of bed.
However, cortisol levels are meant to fall throughout the day so melatonin can rise and you start to feel tired leading to bedtime. Drinking caffeine first thing or too late postpones the fall of cortisol and the rise of melatonin. This obscures your perception of how your body should truly function.
You can read more about cortisol rhythm in this article on The Rise Blog.
TastingTable explains that disrupting how cortisol operates causes it to spike or remain high. This is just the start. Caffeine first thing can also negatively impact: blood sugar, sleep, gut health, ovulation and weight. Without realizing it, you are interfering with your body’s natural way to regulate and perform.
If you still want to consume regular coffee and caffeine, it’s optimal to wait until after you have eaten breakfast. Aim to drink it before lunch time and no later. You can also try switching to decaf or clean alternatives such as matcha, organic coffee, tea, adaptogenic mushroom drinks, etc.
The same goes for pre-workout. Find a brand that is natural or even try a “clean” pump product. Most pre-workouts contain artificial ingredients leading to gut issues and cravings.
This may be a tough transition. Try slowly incorporating an alternative of your choice. If you drink one cup a day, try drinking your alternative one day a week. If you drink multiple cups a day, replace one of those cups with your alternative. Slowly increase the cups of your alternative beverage while decreasing the caffeine.
You may be wondering how you’re supposed to survive a full day without your typical amount coffee or caffeine. Maybe you’re entertaining the idea of quitting caffeine altogether. Thankfully, there are natural ways you can increase your energy.
Examples include:
Morning sunlight exposure
Adequate sleep
Avoiding the snooze button
Cold showers
Exercise / movement
Grounding
Proper hydration
Eating a nutritious diet
Listening to upbeat music
Managing stress
We challenge you to pick one from our list to try this week. Attempt to go to bed a little earlier or drink more water. You may surprise yourself with how well you feel after keeping up with one for some time.
Combating fatigue and tiredness can feel like a struggle. Especially when most of society is accustomed to running on cortisol, stress and hustle. Once you disrupt the cycle you’ve been stuck in, you’ll be awakened to how you should actually feel.