Do you find yourself turning to coffee and energy drinks to get through the day? Perhaps you have the undesired side effects of the jitters and anxiety that can come along with coffee? Maybe you are finding yourself a little irritable, short of breath, or unable to fall asleep at night? Maybe you’re asking yourself, can coffee cause jitters? The simple answer is yes! While coffee may be giving you energy, it may also be depleting some of your bodies essential resources. The good is there are alternatives to coffee.
What are Jitters from Coffee? What is Coffee Jitters Anxiety?
While some of us use coffee to jolt us into action each day, for others it can cause coffee jitters symptoms. Jitters refer to the physical sensation or “rush” an individual experiences, often followed by a crash in energy. Many may even experience some shakiness, shortness of breath, and overwhelming feeling of uneasiness.
Coffee contains caffeine but its is also a stimulant, is acidic, and a diuretic. This means coffee gives you energy and at the same time depletes the body of essential nutrients and necessities. Too much caffeine can disrupt your circulatory system, leading to elevated heart rate and blood pressure. The associated anxiety and nervousness might have more to do with the deficiencies caused by long term coffee use, more so than the coffee itself.
In addition, coffee is acidic which means it disrupts your natural Ph levels. To combat this, the body leaches magnesium and calcium from bones and muscles. So that tight, jittery feeling may also be due to calcium and magnesium deficiency, or you could have just had too many cups of joe all at once.
How to Stop Coffee Jitters and Coffee Jitter Remedies
Snack or Have a Meal With Your Coffee
Caffeine is absorbed faster on an empty stomach, making you more susceptible to coffee jitters. If you insist on having coffee, drink it along with your breakfast or a snack.
Lay Off the Sugar
In addition to the caffeine in coffee, sugar can give you the jitters as well. Consider drinking your coffee black or just using a non sugar creamer.
Wait for Caffeine to Wear Off and Hydrate
Most times, caffeine is used up within the first hour but can last in our systems for up to 6 hours. Coffee is a diuretic, which means it dehydrates your body even more through urination. Dehydration can also cause caffeine to have a more powerful effect. So make sure you are drinking plenty of water.
Burn Off the Excess Energy
Whether its physical or mental, work to expel some of that excess energy. Hit up the gym or go for a run. Work on a project, or get some yard work in. Anything that would normally tire you out can be beneficial.
Breathe! Work to Calm Yourself or Meditate
If you are feeling overwhelmed, clear your mind, slow your thoughts and work to focus on your breath. Aim to calm yourself and be still in knowing this sensation is only temporary. Close your eyes, practice mindfulness, picture yourself in a happy place, or find an object to focus on.
If anxiety is beginning to overwhelm your life and overall sense of well being, don’t be afraid to talk with your doctor. Licensed naturopathic physicians in particular can help give you the tools and skill set needed to overcome anxiety and nervousness.
Alternatives to Coffee: Balanced Lifestyle that Makes you Don't Need Coffee
If coffee is causing more problems than it is solving, it may be time to find alternatives. The truth is a balanced lifestyle can make it so you don’t need coffee. Here are a few tips to boost your energy levels.
Adaptogenic Herbs
Physical and physiological stress can tax your adrenal glands. In addition, our bodies were not meant to function properly with large amounts of stimulates like caffeine. In the long term, caffeine can burn out your adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are vital to our energy levels and when you give them a natural stimulant like caffeine, they can actually produce less of it on their own. After all, why should they show up to work if someone else (like caffeine!) is doing the job for them? So even though you get an immediate pick me up from consuming coffee, it can ultimately burn out your adrenal glands.
Burnt-out adrenal glands will lead to you being even more tired and drained. When you are feeling stressed, exhausted, and fatigued, it is often a sign that the body needs adrenal support. Adaptogenic herbs, such as ashwaganda and holy basil, gently aid the adrenal system and help cope with stress, fatigue, and anxiety. Learn more about the specific adaptogen herbs to help combat adrenal fatigue and help you feel less exhausted, more focused, and calmer.
Juice
Vegetable juice contains a wide variety of nutrients. These important vitamins and minerals help supply cells with the nutrients they need. Because of this, you will see an increase in energy. Make sure to avoid juices that contain added sugars, preservatives, or bizarre ingredients you can’t pronounce. Consider purchasing a juicer and learning to juice with fresh vegetables at home.
Sleep!
Let’s be honest, the less sleep you get, the more coffee you are going to crave. Lack of sleep and coffee consumption can become a viscous cycle. Make sure to eliminate all caffeine after 3pm, work to have a consistent sleep schedule, and aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. There are easy tricks for better sleep If you’re still having trouble falling asleep at night or getting a full night's rest.
Stay Hydrated
One of the first signs of dehydration is tiredness and exhaustion. So if you are feeling sluggish, it may be a big indicator you need to consume more water. Our bodies are 60% water and it impacts nearly every aspect of our health.
Therefore hydration is key to keeping everything in our bodies running smoothly and efficiently. Each individual is different, so you need to know how to calculate exactly how much water you need.
Herbal Tea
Often times, I skip the coffee and drink organic green tea instead. It is important to note that green tea does contain caffeine however, it also has amazing antioxidant benefits. The health benefits are endless, and have been found to be beneficial with different kinds of cancers, cardiovascular disease and different metabolic syndromes.(1)
Another awesome antioxidant, yet caffeine free herbal tea is Roobios tea. (2) But don’t feel limited to just these two. There are so many options and they help keep you hydrated in the process. So cheer to drinking for your health!
Exercise!
I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face, exercise is your friend! It boosts your energy levels and also enhances your overall health and well being. In addition, it has been shown to decrease insomnia and sleep complaints. You may even consider switching your workouts to the mornings for that extra energy boost during the day.
Talk With Your Doctor
It is important to note that low energy levels, fatigue, irritability, and exhaustion may caused by other underlying health care conditions. Diabetes, depression, thyroid issues, and anemia are just a few examples. So if you have tried a few of these natural remedies and are still struggling, make sure to address it with your health care provider to make sure there is nothing more serious or underlying occurring.
