5 Secrets to Reducing Caffeine Side-Effects

How to Enjoy Your Coffee, Tea, or Energy Drink Without the Caffeine Side-Effects

Have you ever had those days where your caffeine didn’t work? Or wondered about the difference between coffee and energy drinks? Ever worry about caffeine side-effects like jitters, anxiety, or withdrawal headaches? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

Before we can talk about caffeine side-effects, we have to talk about how we got where we are today. Energy drinks have shaped the marketplace so that even “coffee snobs” are affected. With the energy drink boom, coffee companies and even tea companies have come out with ready-to-drink versions of their products in order to keep up with the trends.

This has lead to a fascinating evolution in the world of caffeinated beverages, as well as some myths and misconceptions.

Are you drinking caffeine wrong? Myths, Misconceptions, and Tips to Drinking Caffeine Like a Scientist

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The “evolution of the energy drink”
  • Surprising trends in the world of caffeinated beverages
  • Common misconceptions about caffeine and energy drinks
  • 5 secrets to enjoying your coffee, tea, or energy drink without the caffeine side-effects
    • Finding your “sweet spot” for caffeine and alertness
    • Cortisol Awakening Response
    • Sleep Inertia
    • Surprising caffeine contents
    • Using the 5 Levels of Fatigue to beat caffeine addiction and caffeine withdrawal

In this YouTube Episode, biochemist, food scientist and author Danielle Robertson Rath (the GreenEyedGuide) shares tips for drinking caffeine more strategically (using science). This presentation was delivered at Pauline Haas Public Library in Sussex, Wisconsin, on February 25, 2020.

Want more caffeine tips like these?

Do you work long, unusual, or unpredictable hours? Is sleep is the first casualty in your battle to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities? Do you constantly feel overwhelmed, overworked, or over-caffeinated?

How Energy Drinks Affect Children and Young People: Research Recap

Energy drinks do not belong in the diet of a five-year-old. You already knew that. But do you know what happens when children do have energy drinks? Thanks to research by Durham University in the UK, we now have a good idea how many kids and teens in different countries drink energy drinks and how those drinks affect their health.

›We’re recapping the findings of this paper: “Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a rapid review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitude

*Note – the research paper by Durham University uses the expression “children and young people” to refer to those under 18. At the age of 33, I still consider myself a “young person”, so I’m going to use the expression “kids and teens” instead. Read more

How much caffeine can I have a day? Book Excerpt of the Week

This Book Excerpt of the Week is from PART ONE: ABCs of Caffeine Safety – B=Biological Sensitivity. Did you know a healthy adult can consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day? This magic number is the conclusion of a massive study on caffeine intake and what amounts trigger side effects and health problems.

capture-mon
PS – I also post the Book Excerpt of the Week every Monday morning on my Instagram page! Find me ‘greeneyedguide’

 

Obeying this this limit is SO IMPORTANT because it means the caffeine should not cause any side effects of bone health and calcium balance, heart health, changes in behavior, incidences of cancer, or male fertility.  Going above this magic limit is, well, pushing it. It goes without saying that your personal limits may vary depending on your own sensitivity. Also, I should not have to point this out, but it would be unwise to consume your whole day’s worth of caffeine in one sitting.

As I mentioned with the Book Except of the Week from last week (Caffeine and Panic Attacks), THIS IS WHY IT DRIVES ME CRAZY when people talk about energy drinks WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE AMOUNT OF CAFFEINE. Energy drinks caffeinated beverages and supplements are definitely not for everyone but it’s important to include these details so people can make informed choices about which products work and don’t work for them.

Help me share my story–  An energy drink is like your favorite song: what works for YOU might not work for me, and what works for you on a Monday morning may not be your go-to for a Friday night. As the GreenEyedGuide, I use food science to teach people how to calculate what they need and when, whether it’s water, a nap, or some healthy beverage in between.

For more information:

Get your copy of my book “Are You a Monster or a Rock Star-A Guide to Energy Drinks: How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely” http://amzn.to/2bjHRbk

Do you struggle with controlling caffeine intake? 1 Big Tip

Here at GreenEyedGuide one of the top three overarching themes to almost every post is “Matching your choice of caffeinated beverage with your Level of Fatigue is essential to mitigating caffeine dependence and tolerance.” But what if you struggle with caffeine intake?

Read more