PART ONE
Source: Prevention.com
“The neurochemical changes that happen when we consume caffeine are complex and have as much to do with the behaviors and cues surrounding the caffeine consumption as they do with the actual chemical properties of the coffee drink,” says says W. Christopher Winter, M.D..
But that doesn’t mean that coffee is definitely a placebo, says Jamie Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. “Coffee has many other compounds, and there could be some synergistic effects between caffeine and other compounds in coffee,” that make people feel more alert, she says.
Alan also points out that MRIs can be stressful for people, and that could have skewed the results. “They certainly don’t reflect what your brain will be doing if you were, say, drinking coffee and packing lunches, or starting on emails,” she says.
The study’s researchers also noted that it’s possible coffee drinkers feel more alert when they drink coffee because they get relief from withdrawal symptoms (this wasn’t tested in the study, though). Basically, it’s not entirely clear why this happens.
Well, how can you feel more alert in the morning?
To help you perk up in the morning, Dr. Winter also recommends that you make a point to expose yourself to light (i.e. stand by a window or step outside for a bit). Having a set wake time, exercising, and eating “can all help to shake off sleep,” he says.
But the best way to feel alert in the morning really depends on what works for you, Alan says. “Some people really like doing a cold plunge in the A.M. Some people love coffee or tea. Some people really like to stretch, some people like waking to an alarm clock that gradually lights up to mimic the sun,” she says. “Some people benefit from going outside and breathing fresh air.”
If you feel like grogginess is a big issue for you, Dr. Alan suggests reviewing any medications you’re taking with your medical provider to make sure they’re not influencing your alertness. You may also want to be evaluated for sleep apnea, a condition that can make you feel drowsy.
But if you love to start your day with a cup of coffee, Dr. Winter says there’s no reason not to do this. “There is nothing wrong with coffee in the morning,” he says.