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Coffee Jitters: What It Is And How To Get Rid Of It

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Do you start your day with a nice, hot cup of coffee?

If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people enjoy coffee every day.

But, what if that coffee makes you jittery and anxious? Believe it or not, this is a common problem called coffee jitters.

In this article, we will discuss what coffee jitters are, how caffeine affects the body, and how to get rid of that annoying anxious feeling.

What Are Caffeine Jitters?

Caffeine jitters are the feeling of anxiety, nervousness, or unease that can come from drinking coffee. The feeling comes from the release of adrenaline in the body.

Adrenaline is a hormone that gives you energy and makes you more alert. It’s often referred to as the “fight-or-flight” hormone. It’s released in situations where you need to be alert and ready to respond quickly.

For some people, the coffee jitters can feel mild and barely noticeable. For others, the coffee jitters can become severe and cause discomfort.

The symptoms of coffee jitters can include the following.

  • Heart palpitations
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Sweating
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Anxiety
  • Tremors
  • Insomnia

What Causes Coffee Jitters?

Coffee jitters are the result of consuming too much caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can speed up your heart rate and make you feel more alert. However, if you consume too much caffeine, it can have the opposite effect and make you feel anxious and jittery.

How Caffeine Works

Caffeine works by blocking a neurotransmitter called adenosine, also called adenine. Adenosine is a chemical that makes you feel tired. By blocking adenosine, caffeine prevents you from feeling sleepy and increases alertness.

Caffeine also causes the release of other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for making you feel more awake and focused.

Why Can Coffee Make You Shake?

Caffeine can cause your body to shake because it speeds up your nervous system. Your nervous system is responsible for sending signals to your muscles telling them when to contract and relax.

As caffeine prevents adenine from binding to its receptors, it causes an increase in the activity of your nervous system. As a result, your muscles can start to twitch and you may feel jittery.

How Much Is Too Much Caffeine?

How much coffee you need to drink to get coffee jitters varies from person to person. Some people may only need one cup of coffee to start feeling the effects, while others may not start feeling coffee jitters until they’ve had several cups.

People who are sensitive to caffeine may start feeling coffee jitters after only a small amount of coffee. On the other hand, people who are less sensitive to caffeine may be able to drink more coffee before feeling coffee jitters.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 400 milligrams is the daily caffeine limit for most adults. You will achieve this level of caffeine after drinking about five cups of coffee. If you consume approximately 1,200 mg of caffeine, however, it could induce seizures.

Keep in mind that these are estimates. Each person reacts differently to caffeine and could experience coffee jitters with as little as 100 to 200 mg.

Other Symptoms of Too Much Caffeine

Consuming too much caffeine can cause other side effects in addition to the ones we listed above. These side effects include the following.

  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Stomach upset
  • Dizziness

Effects of Caffeine on Your Heart

Caffeine typically causes an increase in your heart rate. While this may not be harmful to most people, it can be dangerous for those with heart conditions. If you have a heart condition, you should be especially careful when consuming caffeine.

Caffeine Can Contribute to Anxiety

Caffeine can also worsen anxiety symptoms. If you already have anxiety, you may want to avoid caffeine or at least limit your intake.

How To Get Rid of the Notorious Caffeine Jitters

If you’re already experiencing coffee jitters, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them.

1. Stop Caffeinating as Soon as You Notice Adverse Effects

The first and most obvious solution is to stop consuming caffeine as soon as you start experiencing coffee jitters. It may mean cutting your coffee intake down to one cup per day or avoiding coffee altogether.

2. Wait It Out

Another solution is to simply wait it out. Caffeine typically stays in your system for six hours. So, if you have coffee jitters, they should start to subside after a few hours.

3. Drink Water and Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can make coffee jitters worse. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Try to avoid diuretics like alcohol and soda as they can further dehydrate you.

4. Eat a Hearty Meal

If you’re feeling lightheaded or dizzy, try eating a hearty meal. A filling meal can help to stabilize your blood sugar and make you feel more grounded. Avoid sugary snacks as they can cause your blood sugar to spike and then crash.

5. Replace Lost Electrolytes

Caffeine can cause you to lose electrolytes through increased urination. You’ll become more dehydrated through this process and make coffee jitters worse. To replace lost electrolytes, drink fluids that contain electrolytes like sports drinks or coconut water. You can also eat foods that are high in electrolytes. Try eating bananas, avocados, and spinach.

6. Take L-theanine

You could also take an electrolyte supplement if you’re struggling to replace lost electrolytes through diet alone. L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves. It’s known for its calming and relaxing effects. L-theanine can help to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

You can find L-theanine supplements online or in most health food stores. L-theanine can be especially helpful if you have anxiety and tend to experience coffee jitters often. Start with a lower dose and increase it gradually until you find a dose that works for you.

7. Get Moving and Exercise

Exercise can also help to reduce coffee jitters. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that have mood-boosting and pain-relieving effects.

So, not only will exercise make you feel better mentally, but it can also help to relieve any physical discomfort caused by coffee jitters.

A moderate amount of exercise is usually the most effective. Too much exercise can make coffee jitters worse. If you’re feeling jittery, go for a walk or do some gentle stretching instead of hitting the gym hard.

8. Practice Deep Breathing To Calm Yourself

Deep breathing is a simple but effective way to calm coffee jitters. When you’re feeling anxious or jittery, your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. Deep breathing helps to slow your heart rate and relax your body.

To do deep breathing, sit up straight with your eyes closed. Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Slowly inhale through your nose, allowing your stomach to expand. Then, exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat this process for a few minutes. You should start to feel more relaxed with each breath.

Can You Flush Out Caffeine?

It’s important to note that while you can flush out caffeine, it takes time. Caffeine has a half-life of six hours. It takes six hours for the caffeine in your body to get reduced by half. So, if you consume 200 mg of caffeine, after six hours you’ll still have 100 mg of caffeine in your system.

Tips To Get the Caffeine Out of Your System

If you want to get the caffeine out of your system faster, there are a few things you can do.

  • Drink plenty of fluids. Water is best.
  • Eat foods high in fiber. Fiber helps to speed up digestion and flush out toxins.
  • Exercise. Exercise increases blood flow and helps to flush out toxins.

To speed up the process, you could try taking a coffee enema. Coffee enemas are a type of colon cleanse that involves flushing coffee through your rectum. Going this route isn’t recommended for everyone. You should only do it under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

You may want to consider whether you suffer from coffee intolerance if you continue to experience coffee jitters after flushing your body.

Preventing Coffee Jitters and Anxiety in the Future

The best way to deal with coffee jitters is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here are some tips.

1. Eat Before You Drink Coffee

If you’re prone to coffee jitters, it’s important to eat before you drink coffee. Eating helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and provides your body with the energy it needs to process caffeine. A light snack or breakfast is usually enough.

2. Burn Off the Pent-up Energy

Sitting still can often make coffee jitters worse. Go for a walk or do some gentle stretching. Burning off the pent-up energy will help you to feel calmer and more relaxed. It’s also a good way to get rid of coffee jitters naturally.

3. Reduce Caffeine Intake

If you’re experiencing a high level of the coffee jitters, it’s a good idea to reduce your overall caffeine intake. It doesn’t mean that you have to give up coffee entirely. You could try switching to decaf coffee or reducing the number of cups you drink each day.

You could also try drinking tea instead of coffee. Tea contains less caffeine than coffee and is a good source of antioxidants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s review a few frequently asked questions to make sure you fully understand the relationship between coffee, caffeine, and coffee jitters.

Why does coffee make me jittery but energy drinks make me focused?

The answer has to do with the way caffeine affects your body. Coffee contains a higher amount of coffee than energy drinks. In addition, coffee will absorb into your bloodstream faster than energy drinks. You’ll feel the effects of coffee more quickly than the effects of energy drinks.

Is it common to start shaking uncontrollably after drinking coffee?

No, it’s not common to start shaking uncontrollably after drinking coffee. If this happens, it’s a sign that you’re sensitive to caffeine and you should reduce your intake.

Why do I feel high from coffee?

The feeling of being high from coffee comes from the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. When you drink coffee, your body releases dopamine, which can cause feelings of euphoria.

Can you get intoxicated from coffee?

No, you cannot get intoxicated from coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant, not a depressant. It speeds up your nervous system and can make you feel more awake and alert. However, it does not produce the same effects as alcohol or other drugs.

Why does tea caffeine feel different than coffee caffeine?

The answer has to do with the way tea and coffee metabolize. Tea metabolizes more slowly than coffee, which means that the effects of tea caffeine last longer. In addition, tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can promote relaxation.

Can caffeine in tea or coffee be reduced?

Yes, you can reduce the caffeine in tea or coffee. It’s done by using decaffeinated coffee beans or decaffeinated tea leaves.

Is drinking decaf better than regular coffee for people with anxiety?

Typically, drinking decaf coffee is better for people with anxiety. Decaffeinated coffee beans have had the majority of their caffeine removed. There will be less caffeine in your cup of coffee and it will have a lower effect on your nervous system.

What is the healthiest coffee substitute?

The healthiest coffee substitute is herbal tea. Herbal tea contains no caffeine and is a good source of antioxidants. In addition, some herbal teas have calming effects that can help to reduce anxiety.

Wrapping Up

We hope this article has helped to clear up some of the confusion around coffee jitters. Remember, too much caffeine can cause coffee jitters. You can lower the chances of experiencing this anxious feeling by reducing your intake of caffeine. If you’re prone to coffee jitters, try drinking decaf coffee or tea instead.

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