Buzz
Enticed by various factors, from aroma to enormous health benefits, yet sometimes coffee can also leave you feeling dizzy without warning.
Unlike alcohol or beer intoxication, coffee intoxication is an entirely different sensation. Your body will also be affected by many unwanted side effects.
If you're new to drinking coffee or sensitive to the effects of this beverage, the following tips will help you overcome coffee intoxication effectively in any situation.
Understanding Coffee Intoxication
Coffee intoxication occurs when the caffeine levels exceed the body's average caffeine intake limit, resulting in unwanted side effects.
When consuming coffee, you intake a certain amount of caffeine. The recommended caffeine intake for an adult is 400mg/day. However, exceeding this limit doesn't necessarily mean you'll experience coffee intoxication.
For instance, for a coffee 'rookie' who has never consumed coffee before, the body's tolerance to caffeine is very low. In this case, even a small amount of caffeine can lead to coffee intoxication symptoms.
Common Symptoms of Coffee Intoxication
Here are some common symptoms when experiencing coffee intoxication:
Depending on individual constitution and health condition, each person may experience different signs. Commonly, symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, shaky hands; more severe cases may involve visual disturbances, ringing in the ears, respiratory failure, or even death due to caffeine overdose.
Some types of tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks also contain caffeine. You can completely experience similar feelings when consuming a large amount of these beverages.
4 Main Causes Behind Coffee Intoxication
Certainly, caffeine is the key factor causing the phenomenon of coffee intoxication. However, there are still other factors contributing to your body's reaction.
Below are the 4 main causes along with specific explanations:
Caffeine stimulates the body intensely
Caffeine is a substance capable of stimulating the adrenal glands, releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream at higher levels than normal.
Adrenaline is a hormone that speeds up the heart and intensifies cell activity, even increasing blood pressure and causing nervous tension. It serves as a chemical messenger, transmitting nerve impulses to other organs in the body.
Emotions such as fear, anger, or excitement are closely linked to the process of adrenaline production. This mechanism helps you become more alert and prepared to react to unexpected risks.
Engaging in thrilling activities will cause adrenaline levels to unexpectedly skyrocket.
However, when the body is 'forced' to produce adrenaline after drinking coffee, you may lose control, become excessively anxious and excited, leading to dizziness and a series of other side effects.
The distinctive bitterness of coffee
Some scientific evidence suggests that: The bitterness can also be a factor leading to coffee intoxication.
Our inherent instinct associates bitterness with risk and danger to the body. Therefore, overly bitter coffee can also activate a reaction mechanism, causing tension and anxiety as mentioned above.
Influenced by genetics
A previous study conducted on a group of 3000 coffee drinkers revealed an interesting fact. Scientists discovered several individuals carrying a variant gene, which makes them process caffeine less efficiently than usual. In such cases, caffeine intake will accumulate longer in the body, degrade less, and easily cause coffee intoxication.
Age difference
Age can also cause the level and frequency of coffee intoxication to vary from person to person.
Adults usually adapt and acclimate the fastest, experiencing less coffee intoxication except for some exceptions. On the other hand, individuals under 16 have lower tolerance levels and are recommended to consume no more than 100mg of caffeine per day.
7 Ways to Quickly Alleviate Coffee Intoxication On the Spot
Wondering how to alleviate coffee intoxication? In reality, the symptoms of coffee intoxication will naturally diminish over time. All you need to do is rest and wait.
However, there are several methods you can apply to expedite this process. In case you're unsure what to do when intoxicated by coffee, here are 7 effective ways for you to implement and cope with immediately:
Hydrate with plenty of water
Drinking ample filtered water is a simple yet effective way to counter coffee intoxication by aiding the body in neutralizing caffeine faster in the stomach. As a result, the stimulating effects of caffeine are better regulated, reducing coffee intoxication effectively.
Prepare about 500ml of water (equivalent to a regular-sized bottle of Lavie) and drink it steadily within 10 minutes. Then, sit back, relax, and rest for about 1-2 hours, and the effects of coffee intoxication will gradually diminish.
Consume additional starch
Boosting starch intake when experiencing coffee intoxication can significantly improve the situation. A bowl of rice or a small piece of bread can help saturate the caffeine in the stomach. Additionally, starch provides extra energy to alleviate fatigue and agitation caused by coffee torture.
Note: This is one of the easiest and most practical tips to apply, requiring minimal preparation. If your girlfriend suffers from coffee gut, encourage her to eat full, even at night, without worrying about gaining weight (or if weight gain occurs, don't leave each other!)
Drink lemon water with honey
Lemon and honey are readily available natural remedies that are never ordinary in treating coffee intoxication. Containing large amounts of vitamins and antibacterial properties, a warm lemon water with honey will make fatigue disappear instantly.
Preparation method: Half a lemon, 200-300ml warm water, a small spoonful of honey. You can drink it when feeling coffee-intoxicated or regularly every day.
If consumed daily, you will always be supplied with beneficial nutrients, helping to enhance the body's tolerance to prevent coffee intoxication in any situation.
Drink ginger tea
Ginger tea is renowned for its ability to warm the body, regulate blood pressure, and stimulate toxin excretion.
The amount of caffeine causing your intoxication can be suppressed and mitigated by ginger tea. As your body gradually warms up and perspires (after about 15-20 minutes), you will feel much more refreshed, escaping the discomfort you felt before.
Ginger tea is a remedy often overlooked despite its numerous significant benefits.
Steam therapy with hot water
Similar to treating a cold, using steam therapy with hot water can greatly alleviate coffee intoxication, making you feel much more comfortable.
Boil water, pour it into a small basin, sit and steam in a closed space like under a blanket, close to the face... Keep it up for about 15-20 minutes until you sweat, and the water evaporates.
Hot steam helps to improve blood circulation, relax the mind, and reduce tension for both the nervous system and muscles. This is truly a simple yet effective way to combat intoxication in any situation.
Practice deep breathing
For mild symptoms like headache and dizziness, proper breathing is also a small but powerful remedy.
Breathing Technique:
Applying the above breathing technique helps you to supply more oxygen into the blood, enhancing alertness and relaxation to better combat dizziness and fatigue.
Combining breathing exercises with light exercise like walking is a very effective way to alleviate coffee intoxication symptoms.
Exercise to counter coffee intoxication
Active hand and foot movements will accelerate the body's metabolism. Consequently, the remaining caffeine will be quickly metabolized and eliminated.
No need for complexity, just take a stroll and breathe some fresh air. Keeping a relaxed mind and steady breathing rhythm is also a very effective way to dispel jitters and tension from coffee intoxication.
7 Ways to Cure Coffee Intoxication Through Daily Habits
Increase intake of zinc and magnesium
Zinc and magnesium have the ability to inhibit and mitigate the effects of caffeine on the body. Fruits like bananas and avocados, snacks like dark chocolate, or legumes are all rich in these two essential components.
The food choices above are benign, so you can eat them as a daily habit to increase the necessary nutrients to combat coffee intoxication.
Reduce the frequency of coffee consumption
As mentioned, coffee intoxication often occurs when the amount of caffeine exceeds the body's accustomed threshold. To curb this phenomenon, gradually get accustomed to it, don't push too hard, and overdo it...
Sometimes switching to a Matcha Latte instead of coffee can be delicious, right?
Simply reduce the frequency of consumption a bit, don't rush too much even if you love coffee so much. Or you can opt for drinks with less caffeine like Latte or Mocha - often jokingly called 'milk coffee' because the main ingredient is milk, while coffee only accounts for a very small amount.
Avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach
Whether it's morning, noon, or night, never drink coffee on an empty stomach. At this time, caffeine will be immediately absorbed by the stomach without any hindrance, making you more prone to feeling dizzy.
*This can also be similarly applied to avoid getting drunk from alcohol.
Not only does drinking coffee on an empty stomach make you more susceptible to feeling dizzy, but it also brings negative impacts on your health. The high acid content in coffee is more likely to stimulate the stomach, especially when there is no food to buffer it.
The consequences of regularly drinking coffee on an empty stomach include psychological tension, acid reflux, and even stomach ulcers at times.
Avoid drinking coffee while taking medication
When you're in the phase of taking medication, coffee can have adverse effects depending on various complex factors.
Mildly, coffee can diminish the effects of medication, while severely, it can irritate the stomach when combined with certain medication components. If you only experience coffee jitters, consider yourself lucky as you're less likely to suffer from poisoning or stomach ulcers.
Still craving coffee while on medication? Choose a time to drink coffee at least 2-3 hours apart from your last medication intake to minimize related risks.
Avoid drinking coffee with alcoholic beverages
Many believe that coffee helps drinkers sober up, escaping the dizziness of intoxication. However, it's all a dangerous and harmful misconception.
True, coffee may boost alertness, curbing the woozy feeling after drinking alcohol. But it's just a temporary sensation, not a complete remedy.
Coffee doesn't reduce the alcohol content in your blood. Moreover, the coffee and alcohol mix can lead to heavy insomnia and dehydration. Even if you manage to sleep, you'll wake up extremely exhausted and drained.
Ultimately, no one probably wants to bear the burden of such a nightmare combo of being both coffee and alcohol intoxicated...
Stick to pure, authentic coffee.
When it comes to coffee in Vietnam, we can't overlook this harsh reality: Many coffee establishments are using a blend of roasted corn kernels and various unknown additives.
This method makes the coffee look more appealing and fragrant, but it's extremely harmful to health. Consumers can't verify or trust the nutritional value.
Many sensitive individuals who unwittingly drink blended coffee may experience dizziness and fatigue, mistakenly attributing it to caffeine intoxication. In reality, it's the side effect of harmful chemicals in it.
These factors, fortunately, only cause dizziness, diarrhea at best, but unfortunately, prolonged accumulation can settle in various parts of the body, increasing the risk of cancer.
Cafes with open designs, where drinks are prepared directly at the counter, will make customers more confident in the quality.
So, always remember if you're feeling intoxicated, only opt for pure coffee sold and served at reputable brands, stores. At the very least, you won't have to worry about health issues and illnesses later on.
Opt for decaf coffee.
Unlike regular coffee, decaf coffee is made from beans that have undergone 97% caffeine removal. Therefore, the side effects of caffeine will be completely eliminated, no longer on your worry list.
Most notably, the experience of enjoying decaf coffee remains entirely intact because caffeine isn't the determining factor in coffee bean flavor.
However, very few places serve decaf coffee as an ingredient for brewing. Therefore, you'll have to make a little effort yourself, buy decaf coffee to make at home mostly.
The queries about how to ease discomfort and fatigue when feeling caffeinated have been addressed almost entirely in this article. Hopefully, each of us will always remember so as not to fall into the situation of being 'onioned' by coffee again.
Remember that coffee is also an extremely beneficial beverage for health, proven with many nutritional advantages and long-term healing properties.
So, learn to control the frequency and habits sensibly, to always have the opportunity to enjoy fragrant and delicious coffee without ever worrying about getting caffeinated.
Posted by: Xuân Thủy Lợi
Keywords: What is coffee intoxication? 14 effective ways to cure coffee intoxication anytime, anywhere
