Why You Can Still Feel Tired After Drinking Coffee
Most of us don’t drink our morning coffee
just because we like the taste. In fact, that first shot of espresso,
the full big mug of milky and sweet filter coffee, or the good old cup
of plain black coffee all have a very specific added role in our morning
rituals - to wake us up and give us that extra boost of energy, of
course.
But it turns out that there are people
whose system reacts differently, and they need a second or even third
cup of joe to wake up, and even then, the energy-boosting effect may
wear off much sooner than it does in most of us. Do you notice that
coffee still leaves your tired in the morning, while everyone around you
becomes all zippy and animated after their caffeine boost? Care to find
out why that is the case? If so, just continue reading.
Why Does Coffee Make Some People Tired?
As most of you will know, the active ingredient in coffee is caffeine,
which is a natural stimulant that influences our brain chemistry in
several ways. On one hand, caffeine binds to the dopamine receptors in
the brain, giving you energy and also making some people jittery. On the
other hand, caffeine also blocks the adenosine receptors in the brain,
which are the receptors responsible for making you sleepy. This way,
coffee can both energize and make you resistant to falling asleep.
Both of these effects occur after the
caffeine has been absorbed into the bloodstream. According to medical
research, "caffeine absorption is nearly complete within 45 minutes
after ingestion, with caffeine blood levels peaking after 15 minutes to 2
hours." During this time, a person feels the positive effects of
coffee, such as increased alertness, concentration, and a boost of
energy.
However, both of these effects are not permanent, and our liver soon
starts metabolizing (breaking down) the caffeine molecules in order to
cleanse the body, as it does with any other substance. How quickly that
will happen depends on many things, such as whether or not you smoke,
what medications you take, and even your genetic makeup.
As a matter of fact, a recent Harvard study
has shown that there are 6 distinct genetic variants that predict how
much you will enjoy the taste of coffee and even how fast or slowly your
liver metabolizes coffee. Those who metabolize coffee fast will feel
its effects almost instantly, but it will not last as long, and vice
versa, slow metabolizers will feel a steadier and longer effect of
caffeine that lasts for hours.
Generally speaking, after 2.5-4.5 hours, the amount of caffeine in your
body will be cut down by half, or reach its half-life state,
scientifically speaking. By this time, the effects of caffeine will
start wearing off, especially in those individuals who break down coffee
faster, and some people may actually start feeling more tired or even
drowsy. Why this happens is simple. Remember, we mentioned that caffeine
prevents adenosine receptors from receiving adenosine?
While that is true, caffeine doesn’t stop the natural production of
adenosine in the brain, and it builds up in higher quantities than
normal. Once the effects of caffeine start wearing off, all the
adenosine is activated, and this can lead to tiredness, especially in
those who metabolize coffee faster. Therefore, if you’re someone who
feels tired after drinking coffee, this may be due to your genetics, or
because you take certain medications. That said, there are things you
can do to reduce those effects. Below are a few tips that will help you
feel less tired after drinking coffee.
How to Feel Less Tired After Drinking
Coffee
If you really like your coffee and its effect, no matter how short-term
it may be for you, there are several things you can do to reduce how
tired coffee makes you. After all, coffee isn't just about caffeine, and
it has many health benefits. But let's get straight to the point and
share the much-needed advice.
Firstly, you can take a short nap to
normalize the levels of adenosine in the brain, or, you guessed it, you
can have another cup of coffee or tea 2-3 hours after you had the first
cup. Do keep in mind to limit the overall amount of caffeine you consume
daily to 400 mg a day, though, as higher amounts have been linked to
cardiovascular and other health issues. This is equal to about 4 cups of
coffee or 5-6 cups of black tea.
In addition to that, experts point out that the sugar, syrup, and
whipped cream in a coffee drink can make you tired, too, as added sugar
causes sugar spikes that can make you tired about 1.5 hours after
drinking sweetened coffee. So, it’s best to stick to unsweetened black
coffee or coffee with milk or cream for added sweetness and creaminess.
After all, a good variety of coffee should be naturally sweet, and if
the kind you typically buy isn’t, try purchasing a lighter roast that
will typically be less bitter and much sweeter in itself, so that's some
extra advice to consider, too.