I love drinking coffee because of the stimulation and energy boost I get after sipping a cup. I know this doesn’t happen to everyone. Some people, after drinking coffee, experience what is known as coffee jitters.
Like any other negative reaction to food, anyone who has experienced it must attest it’s not a good feeling. To ensure you don’t quit drinking coffee due to this condition, I will address what coffee jitters are and how to overcome them. Let’s go.
What are coffee jitters?
Coffee jitters are the physical sensation of nervousness, shaking, and increased pulse rate that results from drinking excessive coffee. Usually, when you drink a lot of caffeine beyond the recommended daily dose of 400mg at once, it can lead to coffee jitters.
Typically, caffeine causes an adrenaline rush, leading to energy build-up until the body can’t withstand a caffeine crash. The crash is due to the depletion of vital nutrients and minerals, making it hard to concentrate on your tasks.
What causes coffee jitters?
The jitters are caused by caffeine. The chemical, a stimulant, boosts the body after consuming coffee. It’s available in its natural form in coffee and works by stimulating the brain and nervous system.
When taken in moderation, caffeine triggers cortisol and adrenaline in moderation delivering a refreshing experience. However, when in excess, it can lead to large amounts of adrenaline, putting your body in flight mode.
By activating unnecessary flight mode, the body spends a lot of energy and other vital nutrients. Afterward, you experience relentlessness, nervousness, and confusion. This is why sometimes when you have a lot of coffee results in provocations and irritation.
How long do coffee jitters last?
After drinking coffee, the jitters can last for several hours. However, the effects are almost instantaneous, where they are felt within 5 minutes of drinking coffee.
The duration at which the jitters last is not specific. It depends on your body’s ability to produce the enzyme CYP1A2 to metabolize caffeine. Also, intervention measures can determine the lasting duration of the jitters.
If you have consumed a lot of caffeine, it means the body can take time to eliminate caffeine from the system, thus causing longer jitters experience.
Caffeine jitters symptoms
Usually, the caffeine jitter symptoms are easy to notice and don’t need any examination. Some of the most common ones include;
- Anxiety
- Shakiness
- Increased heart palpitation
- Sweating
- Shortness in breath
- Dizziness
How to get rid of coffee jitters?
Do you find yourself experiencing coffee jitters frequently? It’s not a good experience; hence it’s always to take proactive action. The following are some of the measures on how to get rid of coffee jitters.
Maintain hydration
One of the best ways to get rid of caffeine is to keep the body hydrated. Drinking water is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce jitters. Although there is no scientific evidence, most people report that water helps provide anecdote effect to high caffeine.
Additionally, caffeine is a diuretic which means it triggers frequent urination. More water intake and urination mean quick caffeine removal from the body system.
Consume fiber-rich food
Eating is one of the ideal ways to slow down the release of caffeine in the blood. Especially slow-digesting food is vital in slowing the absorption of caffeine.
Foods high in fiber, like wholegrain, legumes, and nuts, help counter caffeine effects.
Try some workouts
Exercising helps in improving the metabolism. If caffeine is already in the system, workouts might help in releasing caffeine from the system.
Exercising doesn’t mean extreme workouts; you can try walks, jogging, and rope skips. Whichever exercise you are comfortable with, it is essential to fasten caffeine metabolism.
Give the body time to metabolize caffeine
One good thing is the body can metabolize caffeine even without any intervention. Suppose the level of caffeine isn’t extreme; you can let the body stabilize itself. Caffeine can last in the body for up to 5 hours. Therefore, if the jitters aren’t extreme, you can wait for the body to stabilize itself.
Herbal tea can help
Herbal tea is magical. It is one of the best in countering the effects of caffeine. Unlike black tea, herbal tea is fantastic for relieving caffeine jitters and colds and improving digestion. Besides, tea is essential for the protection of cells. Varieties of green tea, like chamomile, rosemary, and others, are superb.
How to drink coffee without jitters?
If you fear coffee for giving you jitters, these are some ways to enjoy it without the effects.
Avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach
Avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach to avoid the awful effects of caffeine. Eating before drinking coffee ensures no fast absorption of caffeine into the body.
Try low-caffeine coffee
Low-caffeine coffee, like half-caff and decaf, can be a solution for people experiencing jitters. It contains low caffeine and hence won’t cause unwanted caffeine effects.
Reduce the sweetener in coffee
Reducing sweeteners is one of the ways to reduce the chances of overdrinking coffee. Also, sugar can have adverse effects and can accelerate caffeine jitters. If coffee makes you uneasy, reduce sugar to see if the effects will reduce.
Final words
While not everyone experiences coffee jitters, overconsumption directly guarantees these effects. However, knowing what causes coffee jitters and how to avoid them is essential to ensure safe coffee drinking. Having looked at some aspects, I wish coffee jitters won’t be a bother anymore.
