Caffeine is widely consumed through a variety of beverages ranging from coffee to energy drinks. About 80% of adults in North America consume caffeine every day. So, this begs the question of how does caffeine affect hormones?
Here’s a quick summarized answer to this question, then we’ll get into the specifics of caffeine and hormones.
How Does Caffeine Affect Hormones? The body produces many hormones that impact our mood, behavior, and energy levels. Caffeine also can impact these aspects of our lives. So, there is a correlation between caffeine and hormones. Caffeine affects hormones by either influencing the production of certain hormones or by impacting the receptors of the hormones.
Before we dive into how exactly caffeine affects hormones, let’s gain a better understanding of what exactly caffeine is.
Caffeine can improve alertness, as well as improve your mood. This would explain why college students and busy adults love having coffee and energy drinks handy. By consuming more caffeine, they are able to get more work done without feeling completely exhausted.
However, there are potential side effects of caffeine. These side effects may include:
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. It is necessary for the body to have cortisol, as it is responsible for helping the body perform different daily functions. For example, cortisol levels are typically highest in the morning to help the body wake up.
Cortisol is known to provide you with the “fight-or-flight” response. The primary responsibilities of this hormone include:
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone produced by the ovaries. It appears that caffeine can affect estrogen levels in women, but it depends on the nationality of the individual.
For example, a study found that women from Asia that consumed at least 200 milligrams of caffeine in a day saw an increase in estrogen. The opposite was true for Caucasian women. White women that consumed that same amount of caffeine were reported as having lower levels of estrogen than those that had consumed less caffeine.
Despite these results, the changes and variations of estrogen levels did not appear to impact the women negatively. However, changes in estrogen levels can lead to medical conditions that may include breast or ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and osteoporosis.
Therefore, since caffeine consumption does appear to have an association with fluctuating estrogen levels, it is important to consider caffeine consumption.
What Exactly is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a very popular, naturally occurring “drug.” Yes, caffeine is considered a drug because it stimulates the nervous system. It speeds up the connections traveling between the brain and body.
Caffeine can improve alertness, as well as improve your mood. This would explain why college students and busy adults love having coffee and energy drinks handy. By consuming more caffeine, they are able to get more work done without feeling completely exhausted.
However, there are potential side effects of caffeine. These side effects may include:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- High Blood Pressure
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Diarrhea
- Coffee
- Energy Drinks
- Chocolate
- Soda
- Tea
- Certain Medications
Caffeine and Hormones
As we’ve mentioned above, caffeine can have both positive and negative effects on individuals depending on what medical conditions they may have. In fact, caffeine can be beneficial for those that have asthma. But how does caffeine affect hormones? Caffeine affects various hormones, which, in turn, impacts how an individual feels throughout the day. This can affect one’s sleeping patterns, productivity, and stress levels. Here’s a list of common hormones and how caffeine affects them.How Caffeine Affects Cortisol
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. It is necessary for the body to have cortisol, as it is responsible for helping the body perform different daily functions. For example, cortisol levels are typically highest in the morning to help the body wake up.
Cortisol is known to provide you with the “fight-or-flight” response. The primary responsibilities of this hormone include:
- Decreasing inflammation
- Manages how the body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from food
- Increases blood glucose
- Boosts energy
- Controls sleep cycles
How Caffeine Affects Adrenaline
Adrenaline is similar to cortisol in that it also provides a “fight-or-flight” response. However, adrenaline is more of a short-term hormone, whereas cortisol acts long-term. Adrenaline is also known as epinephrine. Caffeine can cause adrenaline to spike temporarily, giving a person more energy. However, adrenaline levels may drop later in the day, leaving you feeling tired. Research does suggest that too much caffeine can wear on your adrenal glands and eventually lead to adrenal fatigue. So, over time, you may not receive as much of an effect from caffeine as you used to. This means that your morning coffee turns into two cops and eventually even into three.How Caffeine Affects Dopamine
Dopamine is the hormone that is known as giving us a euphoric feeling. The body often releases dopamine after working out, which is why many individuals experience a “runner’s high” after running. The brain always has dopamine, but higher levels increases one’s mood. Caffeine affects this hormone by slowing its absorption. Therefore, caffeine doesn’t directly increase the production of dopamine but slows the rate at which it leaves our brain. So, this results in elevated dopamine levels in our brain temporarily, which can improve one’s mood. This is one reason why caffeine can be addictive. We become used to the way caffeine is affecting this hormone, and we enjoy it.How Caffeine Affects Serotonin
Serotonin is another “feel good” hormone that often determines a person’s mood, sex-drive, appetite, aggression, sleep, memory, and so on. Prolonged and overuse of caffeine may cause serotonin levels to become depleted. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression. Irregulated serotonin levels can affect your sleep patterns, your control of pain, and your appetite cravings. If you are beginning to notice changes in your sleep patterns or mood, then the amount of caffeine being consumed should be considered. Despite this, some studies suggest that though caffeine may lead to a decrease in the production of serotonin, it can increase the sensitivity of serotonin receptors. So, basically, the receptors for serotonin can uptake more serotonin that is present. This can improve a person’s mood.How Caffeine Affects Testosterone
Testosterone is the hormone most often associated with sex-drive and sperm production. Though it is found in both men and women, it is the primary sex hormone in males. Testosterone is also responsible for regulating muscle mass production, fat distribution, and red blood cell production. Research suggests that regular caffeine intake can help regulate testosterone levels. Men that consume caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, are more likely to have higher levels of testosterone. Those that have a testosterone deficiency cannot fix their testosterone production by consuming more caffeine, though. They should absolutely consult their doctor. However, men that have regular caffeine intake may have less testosterone problems. A small study determined that after four weeks of consuming caffeinated coffee, the men saw an increase in testosterone. The opposite was true for the women in the study. They saw a decrease in testosterone with the consumption of caffeinated coffee.How Caffeine Affects Estrogen
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone produced by the ovaries. It appears that caffeine can affect estrogen levels in women, but it depends on the nationality of the individual.
For example, a study found that women from Asia that consumed at least 200 milligrams of caffeine in a day saw an increase in estrogen. The opposite was true for Caucasian women. White women that consumed that same amount of caffeine were reported as having lower levels of estrogen than those that had consumed less caffeine.
Despite these results, the changes and variations of estrogen levels did not appear to impact the women negatively. However, changes in estrogen levels can lead to medical conditions that may include breast or ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and osteoporosis.
Therefore, since caffeine consumption does appear to have an association with fluctuating estrogen levels, it is important to consider caffeine consumption.
How Much Caffeine is too Much?
The Mayo Clinic estimates that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is safe for adults. That amount of caffeine is equivalent to about four cups of coffee. Children and adolescents should avoid consuming this much caffeine in a day as it may have adverse side effects in those that are not fully developed. Caffeine should also not be combined with other substances, such as alcohol. Some individuals are more sensitive to caffeine than others. So, those sensitive to it may experience jitters and nervousness. If caffeine affects you in this way or if your losing sleep, then consider smaller doses of caffeine.What Medications Can Interact with Caffeine?
Certain medications may interact with caffeine causing unwarranted side effects. These medications may include:- Theophylline – This is the generic version of Theo-24, Elixophyllin, and Slo-Bid Gyrocaps. This is a medication used to treat asthma and COPD. Theophylline has effects similar to caffeine. So, taking this medication with caffeine may increase your risk for more serious side effects of caffeine, such as heart palpitations.
- Ephedrine – Brand names of this medication may include Akovaz and Corphedra. It is used to treat low blood pressure and can also improve breathing. Mixing this medication with caffeine can affect you by increasing your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
- Echinacea – This is a common herb that many people use to help treat cold and flu symptoms. However, taking this herb with caffeine may increase the concentration of caffeine in your blood. Therefore, you may be at a higher risk for more severe side effects of caffeine.
What Medications Help Regulate Hormones?
Sometimes our hormones can get off the right track for a variety of reasons. Reasonings can be anything from the type of foods included or not included in our diet to genetic factors. The reality of it is, though, is that our hormones play a crucial role in our life. So, when they are not regulated correctly, our health can decline on a mental and physical level. This is when medications may need to be prescribed to help regulate the hormones that are off track. The medications prescribed to treat hormonal imbalances will vary depending on the hormone that is not regulated. But here is a list of popular types of drugs used to treat these imbalances:- Metformin – Treats type 2 diabetes but may also be prescribed to treat women with PCOS.
- Testosterone Therapy/Supplements – Used to treat low testosterone levels in men.
- Anti-Androgen Meds – Used to block the effect of androgen in women that have high levels of androgen.
- Birth Control – May be used to help regulate menstrual cycles on top of preventing pregnancy.
- Thyroid Hormone Therapy (Levothroid and Synthroid) – Brings thyroid hormones back into balance.
