Our bodies react differently to different substances. For some, coffee boosts their energy levels, keeping them alert and active, while for others, they lack a coffee reaction which may sound strange but possible. Not having a coffee reaction can be caused by several reasons.
In this article, we will discuss the reasons why coffee does not work for you and the coffee alternatives that you can try out. Read on!
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Caffeine Tolerance
Caffeine tolerance is a possible reason why coffee does not work for you. Caffeine tolerance occurs when you can no longer feel the effects of coffee or any other caffeinated beverage.
When you consume a lot of coffee, your body becomes sensitive to caffeine and demands you to take more coffee to have the same effects you should have had when consuming small amounts of coffee. As you consume more and more coffee, your body develops some caffeine tolerance, and this is why you no longer feel the effects of coffee anymore.
The recommended amount of coffee you should consume each day is 400 milligrams. This is equal to 4 eight-ounce cups of coffee. Drinking more than the recommended amount will cause some side effects such as jitter, anxiety, insomnia, and many others.
So, if you drink 400 milligrams of coffee in a day and you still don’t get the benefits you should get from drinking coffee such as energy, being active, and being alert, then your body has built some caffeine tolerance.
If your body has built some caffeine tolerance, you need to take a break from coffee and all caffeinated drinks. However, if you are a regular coffee drinker, taking a break may be hard for you since you may experience some of the coffee withdrawal symptoms such as headache, irritability, and restlessness.
The good news is that you can withdraw from caffeine without experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. How? Do it gradually. Withdraw from caffeine slowly by slowly until you are fully withdrawn.
The gradual process requires you to take smaller amounts of coffee than you already do and keep reducing the amount as days go by until you are fully withdrawn. You can also replace that cup of coffee with a decaf cup or a less caffeinated drink. Also, stay hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day during the withdrawal process.
After you are fully withdrawn from caffeine, you can reset your coffee schedule and try it once more to see if you will feel the effects. The withdrawal length period will depend on how sensitive you are to caffeine.
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Genetics
You can also blame your genetics if you cannot feel the stimulating effects of coffee. But how do genetics play a role in coffee stimulation? Genetics are responsible for how fast or slow coffee affects you.
As mentioned earlier, different people react differently to coffee. This is because people have different genetics. There are two types of liver enzymes. One type of enzyme is responsible for fast caffeine metabolism, while the other one metabolizes caffeine slowly. The form of the enzyme present in your body depends on your genetics.
The enzyme form that metabolizes caffeine faster makes you feel less of the coffee effects. Research also shows that 10% of people contain a gene that makes them hyposensitive to coffee. Hyposensitive people can take more coffee or caffeine and feel less to no effects of it.
In addition to that, genetics are also responsible for how effectively the adenosine receptors in your body can attach to the caffeine molecules. After you take coffee, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your body for caffeine absorption.
Once the caffeine is absorbed, the caffeine molecules move to your brain, where they attach themselves to the adenosine receptors. Adenosine is responsible for making you feel sleepy.
When caffeine molecules attach themselves to the adenosine, they block the receptors from playing their role, and that’s is why you feel active and less sleepy.
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Fatigue
Caffeine in coffee is responsible for boosting your energy levels, making you feel alert and active. However, this may not be the case if you are fatigued. If you are fatigued, even if you take how many cups of coffee, the body may fail to respond to them. What you need at this point is some sleep and rest.
If you are sleep-deprived, your body produces more of the adenosine. The adenosine produced pushes away the caffeine molecules, and that is why you don’t feel the effects of coffee.
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The Coffee is Little
Little coffee may be the reason you cannot feel the effects of it. For you to know the right amount of coffee you should take you to have to put factors such as age, weight, and health conditions into consideration. These factors play a huge role in how your body processes coffee.
Try adding the amount of coffee you take or change to a more caffeinated drink. There are different coffee types, and the caffeine concentration present varies from one coffee to another. If instant coffee is not giving you the effects you need, try a more caffeinated coffee.
Just keep in mind the recommended amount of coffee you should take in a day to avoid the adverse effects of too much coffee.
Coffee Alternatives
If coffee still doesn’t work for you after making the necessary changes like drinking more coffee and having enough sleep, you can try the following alternatives. The best thing is that you don’t have to rely on caffeine entirely. Some people survive without caffeine or that cup of coffee. Maybe coffee is not for you, or it’s time to take a break. Whatever the case is, here are some coffee alternatives.
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Water
It is necessary to stay hydrated. Water hydrates your body and mind when you wake up in the morning. At some point, the reason you reach for that cup of coffee is that your body is dehydrated, and that’s why you feel fatigued and need to take coffee.
Stay hydrated, and you may not need that cup of coffee after all. Try to take at least eight glasses of water in a day.
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Exercise
Exercising helps you stay active and also boosts your energy levels. During exercise, your brain releases endorphins and dopamine, which are responsible for making you stay awake, happy, in pleasure, and active.
With that, you don’t need that cup of coffee anymore. A simple exercise like walking will boost your energy levels, and you don’t have to rely on coffee anymore.
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Eat healthily
Eat healthy foods such as fruits, proteins, and vegetables. For proteins, include more of them in your breakfast as they will provide you with the energy you need for the day. Skipping meals can leave you without energy, and you may grab a cup of coffee.
Eat regularly to make sure you have the high energy that you need. Also, avoid sugary foods and alcohol. Sugary foods spike your sugar level and decrease it quickly, while alcohol will leave you dehydrated and fatigued.
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Get Enough Sleep
Get enough sleep, so you don’t have to rely on that morning cup of coffee. Lack of enough sleep will leave you feeling sluggish in the morning, and this will lead to you making that cup of coffee.
When you sleep well, you wake up feeling energized and ready for the day. Try and get at least 8 hours of quality sleep.
Conclusion
Factors such as caffeine tolerance, lack of enough sleep, and genetics may be the reason why coffee is not working for you. The solution is to withdraw from coffee or limit the intake, and hopefully, your problem will be solved.
Also, take enough sleep and stay hydrated. If coffee still doesn’t work for you, maybe it’s time to let it go and try other ways to boost your energy levels.
Also read: What Does Your Coffee Say About You?
