Each person reacts differently to coffee. Have you ever noticed some people can drink coffee before bed and it will not affect them in the slightest? Then you have others who are buzzing from coffee all day.
When we drink coffee, it goes directly into our intestines where it gets absorbed into the bloodstream and attaches to receptors in our brain. Eventually it hits the liver, where it is metabolised.
Why Do We React So Differently?
Fast metabolisers burn through caffeine quickly, so the effects wear off faster. Slow metabolisers are the sensitive ones, caffeine lingers for hours, keeping cortisol elevated and sleep disrupted long after that morning cup. This is largely determined by variants in the CYP1A2 gene, which codes for the liver enzyme responsible for breaking down caffeine.
Coffee and Oestrogen
Research has shown caffeine consumption is linked to changes in oestrogen levels. For women with oestrogen dominance, endometriosis, or PCOS, understanding your personal response matters far more than generic advice.
Coffee and Cortisol
Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol and adrenaline. Adding coffee first thing stacks cortisol on top of cortisol. This can lead to energy crashes mid-morning, increased anxiety, worsened PMS, and disrupted sleep even hours later.
Hormone-Friendly Coffee Habits
- Wait 90 minutes after waking before your first cup
- Never drink coffee on an empty stomach, eat first
- Add a fat source like whole milk or oat milk to slow absorption
- Cap at 1 to 2 cups before noon if you are sensitive
- Consider matcha for focused energy via L-theanine without the cortisol hit
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