Is Coffee Helping or Harming Your Energy?
Coffee doesn’t truly give you energy. In fact, your coffee is likely sabotaging your energy.
More specifically, I'm referring to the caffeine in that coffee. It doesn't energize you. It stimulates you. There's a difference.
Caffeine essentially gives your body a stressor and the way your body responds is the "boost" you feel. It’s not natural energy. (This can also explain why you might feel anxious and jittery after your morning cup- for many people, caffeine can be way too stimulating).
Here’s what happens when you drink coffee:
Caffeine increases activity in certain parts of your brain and central nervous system. It blocks the activity of a neurotransmitter that makes us sleepy and tired- called adenosine- so you feel more awake. And your nervous system responds to the stimulant by activating the stress response, stimulating your adrenals to release cortisol and epinephrine via the sympathetic nervous system. This then activates a whole cascade of reactions as a result- your heart rate increases, more blood is sent to your muscles, and your liver releases blood sugar into your bloodstream to name a few.
So you'll feel a boost after coffee- from the changes in your brain but also the release of stored sugar into your blood, but it's short-lived, and not without consequences. For some people, it's not a big deal- we're built to deal with acute stress. But for many- particularly those with a high chronic stress load- it's an unnecessary added form of stress. And for most people, even if they don’t realize it, that spike in blood sugar (especially when coffee is drank before breakfast, which many people do), leads to a big drop, which can then trigger cravings, fatigue, and mood swings.
Caffeine can also negatively impacts energy because it:
Suppresses appetite (no, not a good thing- you need food for fuel!)
Increases cortisol levels (stress hormone)-Increases blood sugar (which drops, leaving you exhausted and craving more stimulants, including sugar)
Can interfere with sleep quality and quantity (especially if you’re a slow metabolizer of caffeine)
Puts a bandaid on the deeper issue of low energy, so the root causes never get addressed
Makes you more dependent, compounding the effects on your stress and blood sugar handling and degrading your body's natural abilities to handle both
What you can do instead?
Try shifting when and how you have your coffee (click below to learn more)!
While there are well-researched benefits of coffee and also of caffeine, when it comes to energy, stress, and hormones, the negative impacts often outweigh the pros. Plus, many of the benefits of coffee/caffeine can be achieved through the consumption of other foods, like those rich in antioxidants, and certain lifestyle habits like daily movement and sufficient sleep.
If you drink coffee for the effects of the caffeine, I highly recommend you go without it for at least 1 week and see how you feel. If you're exhausted, cranky, constantly hungry, or just generally feel terrible, there's something else you need to address- and it’s not a coffee deficiency.
Looking for a coffee replacement?
Here are 11 different ones!
Ready to order something now? Check out my pantry list here.
Want to learn more about nutrition? Schedule a one-on-one session with me, sign up for my course, or start by downloading my free PDF! I have plenty of resources available to aid you in your nutrition journey!