You just finished a cup of morning coffee, but for some reason, you still feel sluggish. Should you have another one? Do you know why this happens?
You may be experiencing caffeine tolerance, a condition that leads you to crave more coffee (or another caffeinated beverage) to achieve the desired alertness.
Does drinking a lot of coffee make you develop caffeine tolerance? The answer is yes.
How does this happen? First, let’s understand how caffeine works.
This stimulant can block adenosine molecules from binding to adenosine receptors in your brain, which are responsible for controlling sleep, alertness, and cognition. When adenosine is blocked, you feel a surge of energy from caffeine.
As you continue to drink coffee daily, your adenosine receptors also increase in number. As a result, you need more caffeine to block the adenosine molecules from binding to these new receptors—just to feel that same energy boost you initially experienced!
Just like with medications, taking them frequently can lead to tolerance, so does drinking coffee lead to caffeine tolerance? The answer is yes, and if you are concerned about the amount of caffeine you consume daily, there are ways to help you manage your cravings.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, you will not face any negative consequences if you consume less than 400mg of caffeine per day. Just keep it below that level, which is about 4 to 5 cups of coffee, and you can rest assured regarding your health. But what if you want to cut back for personal reasons?
Gradually reduce your daily caffeine intake, noting that each time you should only cut back a small amount, and maintain this for an extended period. If you are caffeine tolerant, you are likely to experience cravings and restlessness if you cut back too quickly. Symptoms may include headaches, irritability, nausea, and fatigue. The reason you need to “wean” off caffeine slowly is to alleviate these symptoms.
After a period of reducing caffeine, if you find that one cup of coffee is not satisfying, you can certainly try increasing your coffee intake again—or just have a second cup, as long as you don’t exceed 400mg per day. Everyone is different!
