We’ve all been there. You’re exhausted, even though you just had a cup of coffee. You reach for another cuppa anyway (or a fourth or fifth one) and suddenly find you’re shaking. Your hands are trembling, or your legs are bouncing. You’ve got a case of jitters.
The jitters are a well-known phenomenon. But how does traditional caffeinated coffee lead to this involuntary response? Let’s break it down.
Why Coffee Makes You Jittery
It’s no secret that coffee has caffeine. In fact, the average 8-ounce cup of coffee has between 80mg and 100mg of caffeine (two to three times as much as a 12-ounce can of soda).
Moderate caffeine intake doesn’t impact most people. (There are exceptions, such as being pregnant, young, or having a caffeine sensitivity.)
However, the American Psychological Association reports that a daily dose of caffeine over 400 mg can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:
- Rambling speech
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Over-excitement and stimulation
These are collectively referred to as “coffee intoxication.” Most of us in the regular world call it “the jitters.”
More Than Just the Jitters
The jitters may look like little more than an uncomfortably entertaining side effect of your fifth cup ‘a joe for the day (or, for some of us, just the morning). But there are some nasty side effects that come along with the outward jumpiness.
For example, as already mentioned above, too much coffee can make you more anxious. Those increased stress levels lower quality of life and can exacerbate many other health conditions.
The most ironic side effect of too much coffee is the fact that it can make you more tired. Excessive caffeine can lead to sleep deprivation, dehydration, and even overcompensated adenosine levels (a primary chemical to make you sleepy) in the body.
Finding a Safe Energy Alternative
The endless need for energy is a hallmark requirement of 21st-century life. And yet, the benefits of coffee are outweighed by the potential side effects that excessive caffeine can have on your physical and mental health.
If you find that you’re always looking for a pick-me-up, but you’re flirting with the jitters too often, you need to find other ways to stay energetic. Alt Health’s range of chickpea coffees are jitter-free source of energy-rich beverages. They are full of nutrients and other positive benefits, and best of all, they can keep you focused for hours without crashing or getting woken up when you finally need to hit the bed.
If you suffer from the jitters, don’t keep going back to coffee. Find an alternative like chickpea coffee to answer that energy need while strengthening (rather than undermining) your health in the process.