Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffects on the BodyCaffeine and StressThe Verdict on Caffeine

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Effects on the Body

Caffeine and Stress

The Verdict on Caffeine

Caffeine is widely considered a drug and is most often consumed in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, and chocolate. Confusion and controversy surround caffeine, however. Here’s a look at the pros and cons.

How Caffeine Affects the Brain

You can feel the effects of caffeine in your system within a few minutes of ingesting it, and it stays in your system for many hours: Its half-life ranges from two to 12 hours due to individual differences in metabolism and absorption.Caffeine affects many factors involved in the body’s daily functions.

Hormones

Caffeine can alter the effects of several hormones.

Caffeine Addiction Symptoms and Withdrawal

Sleep

Weight

Many experts believe that increased levels of cortisol lead to stronger cravings for fat and carbohydrates and cause the body to store fat in the abdomen. Also, if increased cortisol levels lead to stronger cravings for caffeine-laden foods, the body becomes trapped in a detrimental cycle.

Research also suggests that caffeine can impair the ability to taste sweet flavors and can increase cravings for sugar-laden treats.The good news, though, is that caffeine can speed up metabolism and help the body break down fat about 30% more efficiently if consumed before exercise.Additionally, caffeine can keep blood sugar levels elevated, staving off hunger.

Exercise

When caffeine elevates levels of cortisol and other hormones, you might feel a temporary boost; however, after the caffeine wears off, you can feel fatigued and slightly to moderately depressed. This can make physical activity more difficult than usual.

On the positive side, caffeine has been found to enhance physical performance and endurance if it isn’t overused.

Caffeine and stress can both elevate cortisol levels. High amounts of caffeine can lead to the negative health effects associated with prolonged elevated levels of cortisol (as inchronic stress). However, small to moderate amounts of caffeine can lift your mood and give you a boost.

If you ingest high levels of caffeine, you may feel your mood soar and plummet, leaving you craving more caffeine to make it soar again, causing you to lose sleep, suffer health consequences, and feel more stress.

How Does Caffeine Affect Anxiety?

With potential negative and positive health consequences, caffeine can be your friend, as long as you don’t overdo it.

A Word From Verywell

Caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world.Whether it benefits you seems to depend on how much you consume. Talk with your healthcare provider about the amount that’s best for your particular health status.

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cappelletti S, Piacentino D, Sani G, Aromatario M.Caffeine: Cognitive and physical performance enhancer or psychoactive drug?.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015;13(1):71-88. doi:10.2174/1570159X13666141210215655Bennett JM, Rodrigues IM, Klein LC.Effects of caffeine and stress on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in healthy men and women with a family history of hypertension.Stress Health. 2013;29(5):401-9. doi:10.1002/smi.2486O’Callaghan F, Muurlink O, Reid N.Effects of caffeine on sleep quality and daytime functioning.Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2018;11:263–271. doi:10.2147/RMHP.S156404Choo E, Picket B, Dando R.Caffeine may reduce perceived sweet taste in humans, supporting evidence that adenosine receptors modulate taste.J Food Sci. 2017;82(9):2177-2182. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.13836Ramírez-Maldonado, M., Jurado-Fasoli, L., del Coso, J.et al.Caffeine increases maximal fat oxidation during a graded exercise test: Is there a diurnal variation?J Int Soc Sports Nutr18, 5 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12970-020-00400-6Gotshalk, L.A. et al. (2020). Caffeine intake improves muscular performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise.Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45(7), 670-677.Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Hamilton RJ.Caffeine withdrawal. In:StatPearls[Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Caffeine: What You Need to Know.https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/dyk-caffeine.pdf.

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cappelletti S, Piacentino D, Sani G, Aromatario M.Caffeine: Cognitive and physical performance enhancer or psychoactive drug?.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015;13(1):71-88. doi:10.2174/1570159X13666141210215655Bennett JM, Rodrigues IM, Klein LC.Effects of caffeine and stress on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in healthy men and women with a family history of hypertension.Stress Health. 2013;29(5):401-9. doi:10.1002/smi.2486O’Callaghan F, Muurlink O, Reid N.Effects of caffeine on sleep quality and daytime functioning.Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2018;11:263–271. doi:10.2147/RMHP.S156404Choo E, Picket B, Dando R.Caffeine may reduce perceived sweet taste in humans, supporting evidence that adenosine receptors modulate taste.J Food Sci. 2017;82(9):2177-2182. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.13836Ramírez-Maldonado, M., Jurado-Fasoli, L., del Coso, J.et al.Caffeine increases maximal fat oxidation during a graded exercise test: Is there a diurnal variation?J Int Soc Sports Nutr18, 5 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12970-020-00400-6Gotshalk, L.A. et al. (2020). Caffeine intake improves muscular performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise.Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45(7), 670-677.Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Hamilton RJ.Caffeine withdrawal. In:StatPearls[Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Caffeine: What You Need to Know.https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/dyk-caffeine.pdf.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cappelletti S, Piacentino D, Sani G, Aromatario M.Caffeine: Cognitive and physical performance enhancer or psychoactive drug?.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015;13(1):71-88. doi:10.2174/1570159X13666141210215655Bennett JM, Rodrigues IM, Klein LC.Effects of caffeine and stress on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in healthy men and women with a family history of hypertension.Stress Health. 2013;29(5):401-9. doi:10.1002/smi.2486O’Callaghan F, Muurlink O, Reid N.Effects of caffeine on sleep quality and daytime functioning.Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2018;11:263–271. doi:10.2147/RMHP.S156404Choo E, Picket B, Dando R.Caffeine may reduce perceived sweet taste in humans, supporting evidence that adenosine receptors modulate taste.J Food Sci. 2017;82(9):2177-2182. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.13836Ramírez-Maldonado, M., Jurado-Fasoli, L., del Coso, J.et al.Caffeine increases maximal fat oxidation during a graded exercise test: Is there a diurnal variation?J Int Soc Sports Nutr18, 5 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12970-020-00400-6Gotshalk, L.A. et al. (2020). Caffeine intake improves muscular performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise.Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45(7), 670-677.Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Hamilton RJ.Caffeine withdrawal. In:StatPearls[Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Caffeine: What You Need to Know.https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/dyk-caffeine.pdf.

Cappelletti S, Piacentino D, Sani G, Aromatario M.Caffeine: Cognitive and physical performance enhancer or psychoactive drug?.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015;13(1):71-88. doi:10.2174/1570159X13666141210215655

Bennett JM, Rodrigues IM, Klein LC.Effects of caffeine and stress on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in healthy men and women with a family history of hypertension.Stress Health. 2013;29(5):401-9. doi:10.1002/smi.2486

O’Callaghan F, Muurlink O, Reid N.Effects of caffeine on sleep quality and daytime functioning.Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2018;11:263–271. doi:10.2147/RMHP.S156404

Choo E, Picket B, Dando R.Caffeine may reduce perceived sweet taste in humans, supporting evidence that adenosine receptors modulate taste.J Food Sci. 2017;82(9):2177-2182. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.13836

Ramírez-Maldonado, M., Jurado-Fasoli, L., del Coso, J.et al.Caffeine increases maximal fat oxidation during a graded exercise test: Is there a diurnal variation?J Int Soc Sports Nutr18, 5 (2021). doi:10.1186/s12970-020-00400-6

Gotshalk, L.A. et al. (2020). Caffeine intake improves muscular performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise.Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 45(7), 670-677.

Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Hamilton RJ.Caffeine withdrawal. In:StatPearls[Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Caffeine: What You Need to Know.https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/dyk-caffeine.pdf.

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