Reclaiming Natural Energy: The Truth About Caffeine

Coffee. Matcha. Energy drinks. Caffeine is everywhere and for many, it’s a trusted source of motivation.

I started to wonder: if it’s so normal to need a stimulant to feel energized, what does that say about the relationship we have with our own natural energy?

Caffeine is so widely accepted and accessible that our culture doesn’t question a cup a day, it mostly celebrates it. Our minds convince us we're not addicted, just functioning, just getting by, just enjoying the taste.

What if we’re missing the point? What if even “just one” every day is subtly disrupting our body’s natural rhythm?

Most indigenous uses of coffee or cacao weren’t made for daily consumption. They were sacred, intentional, and often used ceremonially. However, we have normalized daily stimulation.

What I’ve learned is that consistent caffeine intake affects much more than just our alertness. It can impact the nervous system, gut health, and endocrine system. Stimulants place strain on the adrenal glands, which regulate cortisol—our body’s primary stress and energy hormone. When we habitually consume caffeine, we often override these systems, causing a cycle of highs and crashes.

Caffeine gives a temporary boost in dopamine, but as it fades, we find ourselves reaching for something else, like another cup, a sugary snack, a screen—anything to keep the momentum going. It disrupts our ability to be still, to focus inward. 

I’d go days without it, feeling clear and grounded, then I’d have one cup, and by the next day, I’d find myself craving the feelings coffee gave me. Then I realized, I was back in the cycle, reaching for caffeine again and again, forgetting how quickly the dependency returns.

Caffeine doesn’t just stimulate; it signals stress. Just one standard cup of coffee triggers a fight-or-flight response in the brain, raising heart rate and blood pressure. This artificial alertness is your body responding to what it perceives as a threat. Over time, this hurts the adrenals, raises cortisol, and can reduce testosterone—impacting mood, sleep, and metabolism.

Beyond the nervous system, caffeine has real consequences on nutrient absorption. It interferes with iron uptake due to its polyphenols and depletes B vitamins like thiamine (B1), which are crucial for nervous system health and energy metabolism. It accelerates gastric emptying, reducing your body’s ability to absorb nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc—all vital for energy, immunity, and emotional regulation.

Drinking caffeine first thing in the morning is also misaligned with our biology. Cortisol naturally peaks in the first hour after waking. Having caffeine within this time can interfere with that rhythm and build dependency. 

We may associate caffeine with feeling good. Can we cultivate vitality in ways that don’t push the body into overdrive?

I’ve chosen to no longer consume caffeine, not because it’s “bad,” but because I want to trust my body’s natural cycles. I want to feel energized from rest, nutrition, hydration, sunlight, and movement, not from something that mimics those natural states temporarily. Trusting our natural energy returns a deeper vitality—steady, grounded, and sustainable.

This isn’t about demonizing caffeine. It’s about inquiry. It’s about taking a moment to ask, what am I really needing? Perhaps, it’s more rest, nourishment, or time in nature. 

Our bodies hold incredible wisdom. We can’t hear them clearly if we keep overriding the signals. When we honor our natural rhythm and energy, life flows more smoothly. We become more resilient. More present. More ourselves.

Should you choose to walk a path of deeper presence and embodied energy, I’m here to support you in cultivating that truth.

👉🏻 Book a Session