“Have some coffee, it’ll keep you up for work!”
For some people, it doesn’t work, and there’s actually an explanation why…
Photo via WebMD
As a stimulant, caffeine can boost energy levels and make you feel sharper, however, not everyone reacts the same way to caffeine.
According to Healthline, some people feel tired after only one cup while others can drink several cups a day and feel no ill effect. But it’s not actually coffee that makes you tired, but it’s the way it affects your body that can affect sleepiness.
#1 Coffee blocks adenosine
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Adenosine is a chemical in the central nervous system that regulates your sleep-wake cycle.
When you’re awake, your adenosine levels increase, eventually making you drowsy by suppressing the activity cells in the basal forebrain, but after you’ve fallen asleep, adenosine levels drop.
Caffeine in coffee blocks the brain adenosine receptors from receiving adenosine, but it doesn’t stop the production of adenosine which means once the effects of caffeine wears off, there’s a buildup of adenosine wanting to bind to its receptors which can lead to tiredness.
#2 Coffee is diuretic
Photo via AJ Bubb
A diuretic is a substance that makes you pass urine more often. This leads to the theory that drinking a lot of coffee may increase your risk of dehydration.
If you find drinking coffee makes you urinate more frequently, you may get stuck in a cycle of dehydration that makes you feel more tired.
All in all, coffee itself won’t instantly make you feel tired, but the caffeine it contains may actually lead to fatigue after regularly drinking it over time.
Remember to stick to 400mg of caffeine per day or less and go easy on the added sugar to reap the benefits of caffeine and avoid its drawbacks.
Hope this helps!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
