These days there is a coffee shop on every street corner, and in between! Café culture is an integral part of the modern social scene, but unfortunately not everyone takes well to caffeine. Some people have one or two sips of a cup of coffee and immediately feel the jitters and won’t sleep that night, and this is referred to as Caffeine Intolerance, we will look at caffeine intolerance symptoms later.
We are also going to take a deep dive into how caffeine affects the body, caffeine intolerance symptoms, what foods its found in and in what amounts, how to know if you have caffeine intolerance and how to get a proper diagnosis, and then what you can do to manage it.
Let’s start with learning about where caffeine is found naturally.
Caffeine occurs naturally, and we usually associate it with coffee beans and tea leaves. It’s also found in cacao beans which make chocolate, kola nuts, guarana and a plant called yerba mate. It’s also added to some medications, especially those used to treat cold and flu or pain. Make sure you check at your local chemist when buying any over the counter medications, and even some prescription medications.
It works in the body by naturally stimulating the nervous system. This causes more alertness but also increases cortisol in the body. This can give rise to the symptoms of anxiety, fast heartbeats, and sweating palms.
Due to its tiny molecular size, it passes very quickly through the digestive wall and into the bloodstream. This is why you can feel the effects of it reasonably soon after consumption. If you’re sensitive to it, unpleasant symptoms may come on quickly.
This list includes foods that naturally have caffeine and those that it is most commonly added to.
This is an averaged guide because the amount will vary greatly depending on what type of coffee or tea variety is used etc.:
30ml espresso shot – 60mg
125ml filtered coffee – 85mg
Instant coffee – 65mg
Black tea – 32mg
Decaffeinated coffee – 4mg
Caffeinated soft drink 330ml – 40mg
330ml energy drink – 80mg
30gm dark chocolate – 60mg
30gm milk chocolate – 6mg
150ml hot chocolate drink – 4mg
Soy latte, cappuccino, flat white. No matter how you like your coffee, most of us drink it on the daily—several times. The average daily caffeine consumption is between 200-400mg, and this equates to 2 – 5 cups of joe.
While this may be normal, it’s recommended that you move to no caffeine, or decaf at the very least if you are very sensitive to it.
There are three different levels of caffeine sensitivity, and they are as follows:
Normal – Roughly 90% of people fit into this group. Having between 200 – 400mg daily produces no side effects for these people. Insomnia is rare if coffee is drunk before lunchtime.
Heightened – People in this group react to tiny amounts of caffeine, even a few sips of coffee or cola. They can experience anxiety, jitters, racing heart and insomnia on days when caffeine is consumed.
Low – This group can have a coffee right before bed and go to sleep fine! Caffeine doesn’t appear to have much of an effect on them at all.
Caffeine allergy is different and will present with high histamine symptoms such as swelling, rash and hives, and sometimes anaphylaxis.
These are some of the causes of caffeine intolerance symptoms you might experience.
There are two main reasons as to why this intolerance occurs.
The first one is based on genetics. Caffeine is metabolised in the liver using an enzyme called CYP1A2. There is a gene also called CYP1A2, and when there is even a slight deviation in the DNA of this gene, it can dramatically affect the way someone will metabolise caffeine.
The second main reason is based on the way caffeine is metabolised through the liver. You can be either a fast or slow metaboliser of caffeine. People who metabolise it slowly can’t take as much and are more prone to caffeine sensitivity.
It’s been shown that gender may have an important role, as men do not metabolise caffeine as efficiently as women.
However, if a woman is on the oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement, it can cause caffeine sensitivity. This is because the same enzyme that metabolises caffeine in the liver also metabolises estrogen. Hormonal imbalances can, therefore also occur in the caffeine sensitive.
Caffeine sensitivity can be picked up through the simple method of a food diary. Simply record your daily food and beverage intake, alongside any symptoms you have. This will show you any patterns and if they coincide with caffeine intake. This isn’t a conclusive method, but it is useful.
The second method is bio-resonance hair testing for food intolerances. This is a more conclusive method by far, and is also non-invasive and insightful. Using our hair intolerance test, you can find out if you are intolerant to caffeine, and also be tested against 700+ other items at the same time.
If you think you may have a caffeine allergy, you can also speak to your doctor about having a test for that. It is via a blood or skin prick method that will show allergies, but not intolerances.
The best thing to do if you are highly sensitive to caffeine is to avoid it. However, if you love your coffee and can’t fathom giving it up, then it’s best to figure out what your tolerance level is.
You may be able to have decaffeinated coffee and tea, or even a half-strength coffee. The way to find out is to simply try and then record any response that you have. Stick to your tolerance levels, and you will significantly lessen any sensitivity symptoms.
IF you find that caffeine is a no go for you, just make sure you are aware of where it is found, and also check any labels on foods that you buy and medications.
If you really love warm drinks, there are plenty of caffeine-free choices. Rooibos tea, caffeine-free chai, turmeric lattes, herbal teas, chicory root and dandelion root coffee, mushroom elixirs and more. Experiment and find which ones you love. You’ll find not only a new drink to enjoy but also a new lease on life without any of the caffeine sensitivity symptoms you use to have.
Caffeine is a huge part of modern culture, and as a naturally occurring substance it packs a punch on the human body. For many people, it’s their drug of choice to give them energy and mental alertness and to get them through the day. Sadly though, there are those of us who just can’t tolerate caffeine’s effects on our system. After just a sip or two, we can be left with the jitters and anxiety, a racing heart, sweaty palms and insomnia for days. This is due to the way in which it naturally stimulates the nervous system, and also due to the way the body metabolises it.
For people with a heightened sensitivity to caffeine as described above, genetics and enzymatic liver pathways play a big part in the condition. Caffeine intolerance symptoms suach as headaches, migraines and blood pressure issues can also occur as a result of caffeine sensitivity. These issues can significantly lower your quality of life, but there is a solution for you. Bio-resonance hair testing for food intolerances will give you the results you need so that you can find out for sure if you have a caffeine intolerance. Once you know, it’s a simple case of removing caffeine from your diet and finding substitutes you love. In the article, we’ve outlined the foods in which caffeine is found, and some yummy alternatives to make it easier for you.
https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/food-drink/drinks/coffee/caffeine-sensitivity/
This website and our hair analysis does not make a medical diagnosis nor any medical claims. The information on this site is intended to provide nutritional advice for dietary optimisation. There is no guarantee of the specific results experienced by our reviewers and by our testimonials results can vary. IntoleranceLab do not claim to treat or cure symptoms and any reports generated by the testing need to be discussed with a medical practitioner. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at own risk
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