Fast metabolizers are the ones who feel energetic, mentally alert, and happy after their morning coffee.ĭrinking coffee may have protective effects for fast metabolizers when it comes to cancer. This is why coffee can give slow metabolizers the jitters and ramp up anxiety.įast metabolizers, on the other hand, can metabolize caffeine up to four times as quickly, and since caffeine doesn’t stay in their systems as long, it’s less likely to cause symptoms. The faster the rate of caffeine metabolism, the less pronounced the stimulating effects of caffeine will be because it leaves the system more rapidly. Likewise, it’s possible to be a significantly fast metabolizer of caffeine or one that falls more on the slower end of the spectrum. Remember though, slow and fast metabolizers fall on a continuum rather than having an absolute value, meaning you could be a particularly slow metabolizer or more of a moderate one.Ī moderate metabolizer may very well experience different reactions from drinking coffee than would a very slow metabolizer. Fast metabolizers have more leeway in the amount of coffee they can consume without experiencing negative repercussions. Unlike slow metabolizers, there is no correlation between caffeine and cardiovascular risk for those who metabolize caffeine more quickly. This limits the stimulating effects of caffeine. Fast Metabolizersįast metabolizers process caffeine more quickly than do slow metabolizers. Another variable that could be responsible for negative symptoms after drinking coffee is sensitivities to substances within the coffee itself. Symptoms are likely dose-related, so cutting back or in some cases eliminating caffeine altogether, may be the logical answer for reducing symptoms, and preventing possible health implications associated with caffeine. Caffeine can cause anxiety and insomnia in slow metabolizers, rather than the boost in energy and mental clarity that fast metabolizers experience. Even the gut microbiome is part of the picture. Lifestyle habits, including diet, the amount of sleep and exercise someone gets, how they deal with stress, and whether they smoke or take hormonal birth control all impact caffeine metabolism. Keep in mind, there are many epigenetic factors outside the genome, that can affect how a person reacts to caffeine. Half the population has a CYP1A2 variant.įor instance, slow metabolizers are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and impaired fasting glucose, notably in people who already have hypertension. The rate at which you metabolize caffeine can be a determining factor in whether coffee is beneficial or detrimental to your health. Caffeine stays in the bloodstream longer in people who are slow metabolizers of caffeine, giving it more time to exert its stimulating effects. Your individual genotype may play a pivotal role in how you metabolize caffeine, and therefore how coffee affects your physiology. This amount, however is going to be highly individualized, depending on several factors, which I’ll cover below. The Mayo Clinic has deemed 400 milligrams of caffeine a day to be safe for an average healthy adult. Black tea has more caffeine than green tea, which has more caffeine than white tea. One cup of coffee contains 100 to 200 milligrams of caffeine. The type of tea and coffee used, along with the brewing times, can factor significantly into this equation. Here’s an equation that will give you an idea how the caffeine content compares between the three: roughly 2 cups of tea = 1 cup of coffee / 2 cola drinks = 1 cup of tea. Cutting out caffeine cold turkey can cause headaches due to the impact it has on the blood vessels in the brain.Ĭoffee, tea, and cola drinks are undoubtedly the most heavily consumed caffeinated beverages. The remainder can stay in the body much longer. The half-life of caffeine ranges from three to five hours, which is the period of time it takes the body to eliminate half the amount of caffeine that was taken in. Caffeine is used for its ability to boost energy and alertness, elevate mood, reduce drowsiness, and even increase athletic ability.Ĭaffeine exerts its effects by passing quickly into the brain following absorption, reaching a peak blood level within 30 minutes to an hour. A cup of coffee in the morning is a non-negotiable for millions of people due to its effect on the central nervous system. Caffeine is without a doubt one of the most popular stimulants used worldwide. If you’ve read studies on the effects of coffee you know how controversial it is.