Today more than ever, people crave their daily dose of caffeine. It is probably because of the increasing demands of our day-to-day activities that seemingly needs that sugar-rush kind of feeling of caffeine just to keep going.
This natural chemical comes in the form of coffee, tea, yerba mate, cola, guarana, candies, and a variety of other forms. But the newest source of caffeine in this modern world is energy drinks.
Normally, caffeine fuses in your blood generally between 15 and 45 minutes after ingestion. Once it does, your heart rate and blood pressure rise at that time.
Now, before you go all excited, caffeine is quickly metabolized by your liver and its stimulating effects will not last all day. More importantly, caffeine levels in beverages vary, and so does the speed and duration of its effectiveness in your body.
Find out more about how caffeine works and what it does to your body. This article might cross out those frequently asked questions on your list!
How Does Caffeine Work?
To summarize, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. Thus, it only takes effect when it reaches your brain is that it gives you increased alertness. Thus it has to reach our brains first and from it, the brain gives signals to our muscles and endocrine system, only then we will feel the effects of caffeine.
To work its magic, it has to stimulate the heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure. As a result, people feel less tired and awake if not energized after consuming it.
Moreover, caffeine is primarily broken down in the liver. Subsequently, it can stay in the blood for about 1.5 to 9.5 hours, contingent on several factors.
What is more, caffeine increases cortisol and adrenaline circulations in the body. Additionally, caffeine performs what we know as sugar-rush by halting adenosine receptors in your brain, which promote sleep.
Does Caffeine Kick in Immediately?
For most individuals, the level of caffeine in their blood kicks in for about an hour and remains there for several hours.
According to scholarly articles, once the caffeine is ingested, it could take 15 minutes to 2 hours to peak in the bloodstream.
Besides that, specific food components in the gut, mainly fibers, can slow the rate at which caffeine peaks in your blood. Likewise, the caffeine content in various products may differ.
How Long Will Caffeine Keep Me Awake?
Mainly, half of the caffeine you consume remains in your body for an estimated six hours. Aside from that, some studies claim that it can take up to 10 hours for caffeine to completely clear in the bloodstream.
Scientists explained a concept called “half-life” to describe how long a substance like caffeine lasts in the body. Simply put, this pertains to the time it accumulates for the substance to be reduced by half.
Moreover, according to the American Food and Drug Administration, caffeine has a half-life of four to six hours. This just means that half of the caffeine content of the food or beverage you consume remains in your body for up to six hours.
However, just like the speed of caffeine’s peak, there is an indefinite answer to how long caffeine can keep you awake. Again, this is because various factors affect how long your body stays stimulated by caffeine.
Is 200 mg of Caffeine a lot?
The average adult in the United States takes about 200 mg of caffeine per day. This is roughly equivalent to two 5 oz. cups of coffee or four 12 oz. colas. In my opinion, this is a bit much considering I prefer my caffeine in about 50-100 mg.
Based on studies conducted, they proved that caffeine consumption of 200 milligrams has no significant adverse effects in healthy people. In fact, some studies state that many people even have no concerns with consuming 400 mg per day.
But although that may be true, it is a different story for a range of factors, such as pregnancy, drug use, and sleep deprivation. For that reason, it is not recommended that pregnant women consume more than 200 mg of caffeine per day.
In conclusion, according to research, 400mg of caffeine per day or less is an advisable dose for the general population. More importantly, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under the age of 12 avoid consuming caffeine-containing foods or beverages.
As for adolescents aged 12 and up, the recommended caffeine consumption should be limited to no more than 100 mg per day.
How Long Does Caffeine Take to Kick in?
There really isn’t an exact number of how long it takes caffeine to kick in; however, according to surveys and interviews, most caffeine consumers claim that they feel its effects kick in around 15-20 minutes after ingestion.
In most cases, how fast or slow caffeine kicks in is affected by certain factors, including the amount consumed and frequency of consumption. Additionally, health conditions also determine whether caffeine can immediately stimulate your body.
Although there are some instances that the caffeine levels peak around an hour later for most folks who aren’t regular caffeine users. Meanwhile, other respondents of caffeine-related studies claim that it takes approximately 5-30 minutes.
Energy Drink Recommendations
For that reason, you will not go wrong if you do switch to healthier alternatives. There are plenty of options available in the market today but I want to share with you three of my favorites.
| Energy Drinks | Sugar | Caffeine |
| MatchaBar Hustle | 0 g | 120 mg |
| Celsius | 0 g | 200 mg |
| REIZE | 0 g | 50 mg |
MatchaBar Hustle Matcha Energy
There is no added sugar, no artificial ingredients, and preservatives in Matcha Bar Hustle. In fact, it is the world’s first organic energy drink, having matcha as its main ingredient.
Not just that, but this drink has a flavorful spiked matcha taste that is perfectly balanced with organic mint flavors and a hint of sweetness.
Moreover, what makes this caffeinated drink great is that the formulation contains organic caffeine, l-theanine, and other antioxidants that can boost your energy without the unwanted caffeine crash or jitters.
Best of all, this drink is vegan, paleo, and keto-friendly.
Celsius
Drinking Celsius Energy Drinks is an excellent idea if you’re looking for something that’s both nutritious and high in energy.
A low-carb energy drink like Celsius is an excellent option for individuals trying to stick to an organic diet.
You don’t have to worry because caffeine, sugar, and calories are all in the right proportions in Celsius cans to help you stay awake and focused throughout your day.
REIZE Energy Drink (Top Pick)
If you’re looking for an energy drink that you can bring with you to the gym or at the office, REIZE is the one!
REIZE energy drink has a moderate amount of caffeine (50mg). But that’s not all, it also includes Ginseng, taurine, and other excellent B vitamins.
This combination of ingredients will undoubtedly provide you with a long-lasting energy boost more safely and nutritionally. Best of all, this only contains 11 calories.
And what’s even better? Free delivery is included in the price of each sachet!
An excellent deal on an energy drink, right there. What’s the holdup? Now is the time to get REIZE!
Other alternatives you should try:
Verdict
If you are one of those, who cannot get their day started without caffeine, worry not. Because caffeine, if taken with caution, should not pose serious concerns if you include it in your diet.
Nevertheless, it is essential to know that everything consumed excessively will affect your body in one way or another. Utilizing caffeine during the time you need it, brings wonders in your life; but overconsumption of it may have detrimental effects on our bodies.
Hence, not all of the abovementioned health benefits apply to everybody. In fact, it varies depending on your general health.
With that in mind, be aware of the potential side effects of caffeine and be prepared to reduce your intake if necessary.