For many of us, morning coffee is an important component of our daily routine.
But have you ever wondered what occurs in your body after the first sip? You can find the answer to that question here!
In the first 10 minutes
The coffee starts to function ten minutes after the first taste. According to Dr. Duane Mellor of the British Dietetic Association, this is determined by the rate at which caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream in various sections of the digestive system.
“After drinking coffee, caffeine will begin to emerge in the blood after about ten minutes. “Some absorb minor quantities of caffeine through the mouth and stomach, but the majority of absorption occurs in the first part of the gut,” she says.
Once the caffeine in the coffee is digested, you will experience a considerable gain in energy, preventing us from feeling fatigued and increasing our alertness.
After 20 minutes.
“Caffeine, which inhibits adenosine receptors in the body, does more than just make you more awake. It is also expected to induce an elevation in blood pressure within half an hour after drinking coffee, with the effects lasting about four hours,” adds Dr Mellor.
Caffeine causes blood vessels to constrict, raising blood pressure and increasing heart rate. Although temporary, drinking more than four cups of coffee each day can raise your blood pressure over time.
After 45 minutes.
Caffeine’s effects on the body peak within 45 minutes. Coffee’s stimulating effect, increased heart rate, and sense of vitality help focus and memory. However, consuming too much coffee can have negative consequences.
Too much coffee might make us feel jittery. According to UK National Health Service standards, people can consume approximately 400 milligrammes of caffeine per day, which is comparable to four ordinary cups. Pregnant women should drink roughly half of that amount, while teenagers should ingest approximately 100 milligrammes.
After 60 minutes.
When the stimulating effect of coffee kicks in, you may experience an undesired side effect.
“Once the caffeine is in your blood, you’ll feel the diuretic effect of the coffee.” This means that coffee can cause urination. “When you drink coffee, the caffeine in the drink inhibits the production of antidiuretic hormone, or ADH, which normally helps regulate the amount of water in your body. This causes the kidneys not to absorb water and increases the amount of urine,” says Dr. Mellor.
But apart from urinating, coffee can also make you want to urinate. Studies have shown that coffee can activate the contractions of the colon and internal muscles. A 1998 study shows that caffeine makes the colon 60 percent more active than water. These contractions in the colon push the contents toward the rectum.
After 90 minutes and more
The time it takes to metabolize caffeine varies from person to person. But for most people, an hour or two after the first sip of coffee, the stimulant effects begin to wear off, as do the diuretic effects, according to Dr. Mellor. This can cause feelings of fatigue, anxiety and poor concentration.
However, just because you sense a decline in caffeine does not indicate it has fully left your body.
“For most people, the amount of caffeine is reduced by about half after six hours as it is metabolised in the liver,” Dr. Mellor explained.
According to specialists at the Sleep Foundation, coffee can persist in your bloodstream for up to 12 hours. They go on to say that many sleep specialists advocate avoiding caffeine for at least eight hours before bed to avoid disrupting sleep, which means that coffee is best avoided as an afternoon beverage.