Is there anyone untouched by the power and influence caffeine has in society today? While caffeine is only found naturally in the fruit, leaves, and beans of a few plants, it is artificially added to a plethora of other consumable products. Caffeine is truly a chemical we hate to love, as enjoyment can quickly become reliance. In moderation, it is a tool in our productivity toolbox. In excess, it’s a toxic poison. Let’s dig into where it comes from, how it works, and what we can leverage it to do.

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Caffeine in Nature

Caffeine naturally occurs in coffee, cacao, and guarana. It also shows up in more than 60 species of plants to include Kola nuts, tea leaves, and Yoco bark! The fruit, leaves, and beans of these magical plants are harvested and distributed on a global scale. The coffee industry alone is pushing past $300 Billion and increasing every year.

Tea is widely regarded as the most natural and healthiest form of caffeine ingestion.

It’s OK, I’ll wait while you steep a cup and come back.

Did you know even some animals chew on caffeine fruit and “release” the bean? Too much caffeine is often fatal for them.

How Caffeine Affects the Body

Caffeine toxicity occurs at very high dosages in the 10+ gram amount. That may not resonate with you without realizing 1 gram equals 1,000 miligrams. So, 10 grams would be 10,000 miligrams.

Of course, everyone’s body reacts differently but you can see how 1-3 cups of coffee a day is no where close to the toxic limit of vomiting’s and convulsions.

Better Health provides an easy chart for comparing caffeine dosages in some of the most popular beverages:

But how does caffeine actually work?

According to Better Health, caffeine is considered a stimulant chemical, which simply means it increases certain bodily function activity rather than decreasing them (which would be considered a downer, like some people we regrettably come across in life).

Caffeine increases activity in the brain and nervous system while also increasing the circulation of cortisol and adrenaline. We’ll get more into those things in another article.

The National Library of Medicine explains caffeine working in a much more sophisticated way…

Caffeine is rapidly and completely absorbed within 45 minutes of ingestion.

Once digested, it is moved throughout the body similar to water. The chemical affects cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and smooth muscle effects. It also impacts mood, memory, alertness, and physical and mental performance.

In low doses, people feel refreshed and alert.

In high doses, people can become restless, nervous, irritable, and down, down, down the rabbit hole they go.

Leveraging Caffeine for our Benefit

Let’s assume you’re a decent person.

Not at all addicted to unhealthy levels of caffeine.

Just like a tool in our tool belt, we can use it or we can just carry it around.

Caffeine can really help us be more successful.

Caffeine can also become a waste of money or an unhealthy distraction keeping us from feeling calm or sleeping well.

Let me be transparent with you from my own life.

My journey into caffeine started similar to most in knocking back one too many sodas as a kid. Mountain Dew was my jam.

In college, I tried a variety of pre-workout powders. At the time, C4 Original Pre-Workout was my favorite and no flavor compared to Icy Blue Razz. I’ll share more on the variety of pre-workouts I’ve tried since and which ones are my leading favorites in a different article.

When I entered the workforce and was more intentional about making healthy choices, I struggled with feeling tired or bored at work. It was especially difficult during that 2pm-3pm slump!

Many of my co-workers drank coffee so naturally I wanted to as well.

After two weeks trying to love black coffee, it just didn’t take. So I doctored it up with French Vanilla creamer (what a sweet, sugary delight that was).

Over time, my coffee with creamer turned into creamer with a little coffee and my teeth were feeling sensitive. I decided to get healthier again, cut the creamer, and went black coffee regardless of how bitter and bad it was.

My body got used to coffee, as our bodies often do, and I wasn’t feeling the same pep in my step with each cup. I also still didn’t like black coffee, so I turned to my favorite thing…energy drinks!

But not just any energy drink…pre-workout energy drinks!

Instead of coffee or tea, I would take a pre-workout in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Now, unlike most people, I am a morning person. I love the mornings. The earlier, the better.

I honestly never regret waking up early, before everyone else, while it’s still dark. I look forward to it!

Now here’s the transparent part…

I went through a season where I would take a pre-workout energy drink and then go workout.

Duh, right?

Well, then I began taking the pre-workout but not go workout.

I would just hang out.

Like a bump on a log.

At the time, I’d play video games.

Can you imagine the scene?

Guy wakes up at 4:30am.

Guy take pre-workout.

Guy plays video games for two hours.

Guy goes to work.

Honestly, after two weeks of that, I felt embarrassed.

What had my life become?

I made caffeine a useless tool in my tool belt.

I was not achieving success in my fitness goals.

Thankfully, I didn’t stay in that season of life and have done much better being focused about using caffeine to benefit me rather than just empty my wallet.

Some people are afraid of becoming addicted to caffeine.

Others are uncomfortable with how their body reacts to it.

That is all very legitimate and sensible!

If you want to stay away, by all means please do!

But if you do feel tired, sluggish, or a little under hyped and not reaching the goals you’re setting for yourself, consider dipping your toe into the world of caffeine.

Start small, like a cup of green, white, or black tea.

Try a little coffee (but I do recommend keeping it black and not being sucked down into the unhealthy world of sugar drinks).

Explore some non-sugar energy drinks or pre-workout powders.

If you’re new to the energy drink scene, there really is something for everyone and some have smaller amounts of caffeine or less filler ingredients.

Optimum Nutrition’s Amino Energy is a lower dosage caffeine that might be good for those newer to the pre-workout game.

I’m currently enjoying Pre-Jym Pinapple Strawberry pre-workout but my body is used to the higher levels of caffeine dosage so I only recommend this one for people who’s done other caffeine products before and know their limits or exercise pretty intensely.

When I run out of my Pre-Jym, I’ve been curious to try Chris Bumstead’s new Secret Stuff.

Some pre-workout powders are disgusting and never worth trying or buying. I won’t even give them the satisfaction of listing them here.

Whatever you choose to do to incorporate the powerful boost of caffeine in your life, remember to start small, stay focused on achieving your goal, and don’t let caffeine impact your sleep routine!

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