Are you one of those people who thinks that without coffee you can’t function? Well, science debunks the idea that coffee is essential, and suggests that it is more of a habit than a real necessity. What actually happens is that caffeine blocks adenosine, which is released when caffeine leaves the bloodstream, causing a feeling of tiredness and exhaustion. Dr. Sebastian de la Rosa refers to this phenomenon as energy debt. Through his YouTube profile, he explains that what we believe to be energy is actually the blocking of adenosine.
By creating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) -the essential molecules for the body’s functioning-, adenosine drives all that cellular energy. In other words, coffee not only activates but also camouflages adenosine, which appears after 6 hours, giving an even greater feeling of fatigue. According to News Medical, it also acts as a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. That is why De la Rosa advises eliminating or reducing coffee intake and replacing it with other drinks like decaffeinated coffee or matcha tea.
Coffee
The origin of coffee dates back to the 11th century in Ethiopia, where the first coffee trees, the coffee plant, were found when the properties of the seeds of its fruit were discovered. Currently, its cultivation has spread across multiple tropical and subtropical regions of the planet such as Africa, America, and Asia. It is a stimulating beverage due to its caffeine content, a psychoactive substance. In addition to that, it is rich in antioxidants, increases energy and concentration, and protects against certain mental illnesses.
But first, coffee
Despite the multiple properties that coffee has, it has been shown that excessive consumption can also be harmful to health. Moreover, there is a common belief among coffee lovers (including myself) who claim they are unable to function at 100% without their morning coffee. However, science has nuanced this belief, explaining what actually happens. Sebastian De La Rosa, a doctor, uses his YouTube channel to spread information about medical content, and one of his videos specifically addresses this topic.
De La Rosa explains that “the consumption of coffee does not generate energy, it creates a debt that you will have to compensate for; 5 or 6 hours later will be that moment and it will be complicated in terms of energy”.What really happens is this: adenosine is responsible for driving cellular energy by forming ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and ADP (adenosine diphosphate). These molecules are in charge of bodily functions, and moreover, as News Medical indicates, they act as a transmitter that promotes the onset of sleep. Drinking a cup of coffee directly leads to feeling sleepy and tired 6 hours later.
Do I have an energy debt?
To know if your body is dysregulated by coffee consumption, try the following: note the time you have your first cup of coffee, and after 6 hours, observe what symptoms your body has. It is very likely that if you have your cup at 9 a.m., around 3 p.m. you will feel tired and sleepy.
In his video, the doctor explains, “By recording those two times we can understand the relationship caffeine has with our energy levels and with adenosine levels. Because if caffeine stays in the blood for 6 hours and was hiding all the amount of adenosine we had in our brain, when it is gone, it will suddenly release all that adenosine we had accumulated throughout the day and that we had hidden from the brain”.
What can be done about it?
The doctor recommends a series of guidelines to promote the proper functioning of the body and neurotransmitters. If you try it and after 6 hours you see that your body needs a nap, try:
- Temporarily stop drinking coffee.
- Replace coffee with decaffeinated coffee.
- Replace coffee with antioxidant-rich drinks like matcha tea.
- Consume a small dose of coffee and take a 20-minute nap. While you sleep, the brain eliminates adenosine and caffeine starts to take effect,
Do you know the trick to keep coffee from staining your teeth?