In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “How long does caffeine stay in your system?” Also, we’ll explore what caffeine is, what caffeine does, where it can be found naturally, what are the effects of drinking too much caffeine, and what you should do if you’re suffering from caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
How long does caffeine stay in your system?
Caffeine can remain in a person’s system for up to ten hours, though its peak effects will take place around one hour after it has been consumed. After about six hours, half of the ingested caffeine will be disposed of, and by ten hours, it should be cleared from a person’s system.
However, the exact time will also depend on how often caffeine has been ingested, as some individuals enjoy more than one cup per day and many throughout the day.
At any given dosage, the half-life of caffeine is around six hours. This means that 100 of 200 milligrams of caffeine at breakfast will be disposed of within the first six hours after consuming them.
Below, we’ll explore what caffeine is, and what its effects are.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that can be found in a few select plants. It is a secondary metabolite, which functions as an insecticide.
Plants use caffeine to protect themselves from insects that could feed on their leaves or sap, but its effects were discovered (rather anecdotally) by a ninth-century goat farmer in Ethiopia.
As a stimulant, caffeine is consumed by many to “jumpstart” their bodies and achieve an active, alert sensation. Caffeine helped popularize coffee as a morning beverage, and all of its variations, which are available both commercially, and to make at home.
Where is caffeine naturally found?
Caffeine is naturally found in coffee, tea, yerba maté, kola beans, guaraná, and cocoa beans. In these plants, it can be found in the leaves, fruits, and other byproducts.
Often, these plants are processed for their caffeine content, which can then be added to other beverages such as iced teas, cola beverages, sodas, and energy drinks.
The extraction process has been streamlined, and as a result, consumers can consume copious amounts of caffeine without having to grind or gnash through fleshy berries or leaves.
What are the effects of drinking too much caffeine?
Drinking too much caffeine can have detrimental effects on a person’s health. Notably, it can cause restlessness, anxiety, dehydration, headaches, sleeplessness, a rapid heart rate, jittery limbs, and in some cases dependency.
As it generates dependency, it can lead to having to consume more and more to achieve the same effects that it used to generate at lower dosages.
For these reasons, consuming more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is not recommended.
What should I do if I’m suffering from caffeine withdrawal symptoms?
If you’re experiencing the above-listed symptoms, we encourage you to begin taking steps to moderate your caffeine intake.
This includes gradually reducing the daily intake, by consuming less caffeinated beverages throughout the day, or by replacing normal caffeine with half-regular and half portions.
This also extends to avoiding beverages with added caffeine, such as sodas, teas, and energy drinks.
Readers with caffeine withdrawal should also try to regularize their sleep cycles so that their regime and day-to-day performance depend less on caffeine intake.
It’s also important for those who consume plenty of caffeine to also maintain themselves hydrated. Caffeine can have diuretic properties, which can make individuals urinate more and more often.
As a result, caffeine can also trigger headaches from low blood pressure, triggered by dehydration.
Some individuals may experience migraines, due to caffeine withdrawal, these can be managed with hydration and over-the-counter pain medication.
Other forms of treatment such as pressure point therapy and topic treatments may be available, though the indications for these should be consulted with a specialist.
If your symptoms are severe and persist for many days on end, we urge you to speak to a medical practitioner. A physician will address your symptoms of withdrawal with medication, and provide tailored guidance for you to gradually consume less caffeine and have healthier habits in place.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we’ve addressed the search query: “How long does caffeine stay in your system?” Also, we’ve explored what caffeine is, what caffeine does, where it can be found naturally, what are the effects of drinking too much caffeine, and what you should do if you’re suffering from caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
References
https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/headache/caffeine-withdrawal-headache
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-caffeine-withdrawal-last
