Buzz
If you're a fresh graduate or about to step into the workforce, the prospect of working, eating, and sleeping with looming deadlines might not be unfamiliar. In those moments, out of 10 people, 8 would turn to the comforting embrace of coffee to combat fatigue, even pulling all-nighters has become a routine.
But then, one day, you realize that coffee no longer brings the surge of energy it once did. Its effects and effectiveness seem to have dwindled significantly. Some even admit to drinking coffee as casually as water, yet feeling no difference at all.
Why do you find yourself in this perplexing situation? Why does coffee make you more tired and drowsy instead of alert and awake? Let's embark on a journey with TopListCafe to uncover the answers!
The Root of the Matter: Caffeine
Caffeine (C8H10N4O2) is a stimulating compound found in coffee beans and even in synthetic beverages, extracted and synthesized by humans.
Typically, the caffeine in your drink is fully absorbed within an average of 45 minutes and lingers in the body for approximately 2-9 hours before breaking down. Caffeine's primary effects include stimulating the nervous system and impacting certain bodily functions related to blood pressure and heart rate.
In particular, caffeine's wakefulness-inducing ability is achieved by intervening with adenosine – a neurotransmitter in our brain.
When the human body undergoes prolonged work or activity under pressure and stress, adenosine in the brain signals the organs to rest, resulting in a sluggish, tired, and drowsy response. However, caffeine has the ability to inhibit the reception of adenosine in the body, preventing the 'rest command' from being transmitted and blocking the usual tiredness reaction.
7 Reasons Why Drinking Coffee Doesn't Have an Awakening Effect
Based on the explanation above, undoubtedly, the lack of coffee's effect on you stems from the body's caffeine absorption function. While the degree may vary from person to person, here are some reasons leading to this perplexing situation.
1. You are overly exhausted and sleep-deprived
Findings from two research institutions, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society, have concluded that if you've become excessively tired—especially due to prolonged sleep deprivation—coffee won't be able to help you stay efficiently alert anymore.
In other words, everything has its limits. The consequence of sleep deprivation is a sudden surge in adenosine production by the brain, surpassing the inhibitory capacity of caffeine. At that point, drinking coffee won't make you feel any more awake, but rather, it may lead to side effects like increased tiredness, restlessness, and unusual anxiety.
The only remedy at this point is to rest, compensating for the hours of sleep deprivation, allowing your body to regulate adenosine levels back to normal.
2. Coffee is a diuretic beverage
Indeed, drinking coffee might send you to the restroom more often than usual. So, how does this relate to the deactivation of coffee's effects, leaving you still feeling tired and sleepy after consumption?
In reality, frequent urination without replenishing fluids can lead to dehydration. The body, when in a state of dehydration, tends to gradually lower blood pressure, resulting in feelings of fatigue and sluggishness.
Dealing with it is quite simple: Just drink an additional 1-2 cups of water. So, if your favorite café often serves a glass of water with every order, silently thank them for this small yet thoughtful gesture.
3. Coffee contains more sugar than necessary
Sugar-based additives are quite common in coffee preparation and decoration, such as whipped cream, frothed milk, or flavor syrups.
Essentially, sugar is a substance that boosts energy along with a sense of euphoria, rapidly absorbed by the body upon intake. However, as the sugar in the bloodstream depletes and that euphoria fades away, you'll unexpectedly experience a subconscious mood drop, leading to a sense of sluggishness.
4. The culprit from milk in coffee
Dairy products contain tryptophan – an amino acid positively influencing sleep induction. This is why many experts recommend drinking a warm glass of milk around 9-10 p.m. for a better and deeper sleep.
However, the amount of tryptophan in milk is relatively low, so even when mixed with coffee, the likelihood of feeling sleepy afterward is very rare. Nevertheless, it doesn't rule out the possibility that you might be part of the sensitive group, or your state at that time could be weakened and fatigued beforehand, hence not experiencing the alertness effect from coffee.
5. Moldy coffee
In a climate characterized by hot and humid weather like Vietnam, if you neglect proper storage, your coffee bean or ground coffee container is prone to mold. Consuming moldy coffee may expose you to mycotoxins—a notorious toxic substance associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
And that's just the beginning, as mycotoxins can even cause damage to the liver, kidneys, or lead to cancer when exposed to large quantities. Therefore, always be vigilant about the quality and condition of coffee raw materials before usage and preparation.
6. Caffeine tolerance
Your body can develop a tolerance to caffeine after consistent and frequent coffee consumption. According to a study in the US, typically, when consuming coffee daily (such as every morning), the stimulating effects of caffeine remain stable for the first 15 days. By the 16th day, this effect gradually diminishes.
However, this only means the duration of alertness after drinking coffee doesn't last as it used to, not becoming completely 'tolerant' to the point of feeling nothing, which is indeed very rare! If it happens, most likely, the scenario aligns with the first reason: You are simultaneously sleep-deprived and in need of immediate rest.
7. Genetic immunity to caffeine
Each of us possesses a unique set of genes, leading to varying levels of response when consuming coffee. Some are so sensitive that a tiny sip is enough to make them feel intoxicated, while others seem almost unaffected by the effects of caffeine.
If you've never felt a noticeable impact on mood and brain function from coffee (even on your first try), there's a high chance you fall into the category of people 'immune' to caffeine.
This trait has a genetic nature. So, if your parents (or one of them) also feel nothing when drinking coffee, it further supports the evidence that you belong to this group.
Of course, no one's stopping you from savoring the delightful aroma of various coffees around the world. Just don't expect it to invigorate you the way others experience it.
So, when you find yourself in a situation where drinking coffee doesn't make any difference, consider the reasons above to find an appropriate remedy.
If you're accustomed to consuming a lot of coffee and gradually become 'tolerant,' try temporarily reducing the frequency or switch to decaf to reset your accustomed mindset. If you've been sleep-deprived for a few days, rest immediately—don't push too hard to avoid turning... overstrained. And if you naturally belong to the genetically immune caffeine group, perhaps there's nothing more to say than a heartfelt condolence to you.
Posted by: Quân Võ Minh Anh
Keywords: Why do I still feel sleepy after drinking coffee? Could you be 'immune' to coffee?
