Coffee Facts: Can Coffee Relax You?

Caffeine is known for waking people up, but plenty of coffee drinkers also say their daily cup feels relaxing. Here’s a look at what caffeine does and why that might be. 

The Nature of Caffeine

Coffee and other caffeinated beverages contain caffeine, which is considered a psychoactive substance because it acts on the nervous system. According to MedlinePlus from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, caffeine stimulates your central nervous system, which can make you feel more awake.

Since caffeine is part of so many daily routines, plenty of people drink it more than once a day, and the key is to drink it moderately. In fact, coffee is so common that people don’t normally consider it to be a drug.

Examples of stronger psychoactive drugs include alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and other medicines. 

How Does Coffee Work?

Caffeine works to keep people awake by blocking receptors in the brain from attaching to certain chemicals, which signify the need for sleep or rest.

Adenosine is a chemical in the brain that makes people feel tired. When adenosine molecules are released in the brain, certain unique receptors attach to the molecules, sending signals of relaxation and sleepiness. However, when one consumes caffeine, caffeine molecules mimic adenosine, and attach to the same receptors that adenosine molecules usually do. 

This has a different effect, making one feel more awake, and eliminating the sleep-inducing effect of adenosine. Caffeine’s effects build after you drink it and then fade over several hours, and the FDA notes there is wide variation in how sensitive people are to caffeine and how fast they eliminate it from the body. 

While caffeine can make people feel less sleepy, it is only a temporary effect that isn’t truly tangible. Since the effect occurs through chemicals creating different signals in the brain, the human mind doesn’t feel tired, but once the effect of the caffeine wears off, it still requires adequate rest. Due to this, overconsumption of caffeine can cause negative effects that are fueled by a lack of rest or sleep. 

Coffee, Mood and Anxiety

For many people, part of coffee’s appeal is how it makes the moment feel. Fans often say the warmth of the mug and the aroma of a fresh cup put them in a good mood.

But caffeine affects everyone differently. The FDA lists anxiety and jitters, along with sleep disruptions, headache and an upset stomach, among the signs of having too much caffeine. So the same cup that feels calming to one person can leave another feeling on edge.

That’s why it’s worth knowing how much coffee is too much for you.

So, Should You Drink Coffee to Relax?

Depending on the person, coffee can feel energizing, calming, or like a little too much. It truly depends on the person drinking the coffee, the amount of coffee they consume, and when they drink it.

For many of us, the relaxing part is the ritual itself: slowing down for a few minutes with a warm cup. If caffeine tends to leave you jittery, a smaller cup or an earlier coffee break may suit you better. 

 

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This article is for general information only and isn't medical or nutritional advice. If you have questions about caffeine, your diet or a health condition, talk to your doctor.