The caffeine question: brain booster or energy trap?

Written by: Ehsan Siddiqui Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 5 June 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-61ce2b0a-4407-4d33-849f-1b6277794bc7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c988e482-243a-4dc4-b561-c81ee85b875c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 161.79601%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] That morning cup of coffee – a ritual for many. But is caffeine truly a brain booster, or could it be setting you up for an energy crash? Photo Credit: Freepik

How Caffeine Wakes Up Your Brain?

[{"selector":"#anim-e0ca58e8-f6ab-4c86-9186-cbe55272d1f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-624c66ac-6662-4969-8840-2960aa1739da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 147.4984%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0f9311e-9ad8-4d14-8eb9-7f59275be3cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a6951bf-d804-4da4-8f38-738b197e6820","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 456.20899%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Caffeine works by blocking adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired. This leads to increased alertness, improved focus, and a feeling of being more awake. Photo Credit: Freepik

Mood and Cognitive Enhancer

[{"selector":"#anim-1158b13a-387d-4d00-847d-eb7f46f6f85b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef591a42-5683-4334-ba24-731757ff1d40","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.59195%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b72dd39-3bc5-4c58-a616-6d90694e7509","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79d30a16-c8c4-4fd7-b056-fec30ee94a6c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 466.50314%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] By stimulating the central nervous system, caffeine can improve mood, concentration, and even protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Photo Credit: Freepik

A Cycle to Watch Out For

[{"selector":"#anim-47811da7-8859-408b-a6fd-51140b4b41ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d628d1f2-44bd-4f1f-a96b-51f72b7f6af1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.48085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e958b32-1d75-4de3-91e1-6fae65f9a0ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af4d1241-a8c1-454a-8120-826efb2a198e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 426.79729%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Regular consumption can lead to tolerance, meaning over time, you'll need more caffeine to achieve the same effects, potentially leading to dependency. Photo Credit: Freepik

The Energy Crash

[{"selector":"#anim-ba667e25-0a68-4e47-b265-70b925d49359","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99ac5609-0e34-4632-a9b5-b05cf8565609","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 174.80969%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37940697-aa2f-4902-8ebb-c693c00289bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bdddf052-82b2-4703-a7f8-ba5e5f388b4a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 775.61766%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While caffeine provides a temporary energy boost, it can lead to a rebound effect, causing increased fatigue once its effects wear off. Photo Credit: Freepik

Moderation is Key

[{"selector":"#anim-07ea9f65-bb3d-4a55-81ef-45416dac6dea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ec89615-0466-49ec-b878-55f4c64c0f9f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 132.76645%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e91ef2d0-bdb2-45ea-8299-bfe8b6e6e971","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5fabc507-9657-4e23-a023-8207b8981b75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 792.28427%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The benefits and drawbacks of caffeine often depend on the amount you consume. Moderate intake (3-4 cups a day) is generally considered safe and potentially beneficial. Photo Credit: Freepik

Final Thoughts

[{"selector":"#anim-d9757bfc-4f17-4895-ba5b-f420171978db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34ac81c1-4a7d-433a-8e9f-90d0f1bc0834","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.42486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d379d64f-9dcf-4b84-bcfa-22aa969ac26e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f638f551-34a7-4eba-bb93-cefb780e068c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 814.50653%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Caffeine can be both a brain booster and an energy trap. Understanding its effects and consuming it mindfully can help you harness its benefits without falling into its pitfalls. Photo Credit: Freepik

If you found this helpful,

[{"selector":"#anim-0eabed4e-a708-42c2-b45a-787b244acd08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c695a56-83bd-41ff-936d-f1eb37f39aca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.61058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3034349d-0ee6-44a8-8d09-bafaadd2baab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-449d2e2e-43ff-4c27-9ce7-467fa5723407","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, -2448.9724%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next! Video Credit: Tata 1mg Arrow