How Long Does Coffee Caffeine Stay in Your System?
Caffeine is most consumed in form of coffee. Slated only second in terms of popularity and revenue to oil; it’s one non-alcoholic addiction that rules the most of the world. The supreme, bold flavor offered by coffee isn’t the only reason why it is savored so much throughout the world. In fact, it’s the caffeine content that usually tilts people to freshly brewed coffee. It’s a life-supporter in a way, because people lean onto coffee for heightened energy and alert levels. To get-going through the day and not doze off while at work.
A niche segment of populous particularly values caffeine for its antioxidant and antidepressant roles. Caffeine is known to directly stimulate the central nervous system. Caffeine intake refreshes brain causing increased attentiveness and focus levels, a definite benefit at office. Besides, the antioxidant effect of caffeine leads to diminished probability of age-related problems like Alzheimer’s. Additionally, antioxidants restrict the irreversible damaging of cells and tissues, caused by the oxidation processes and oxidative stress.
But repeated, prolonged exposure to caffeine intake can be delirious to the body. Studies have shown that coffee in excess amounts is harmful to the human body. Before the caffeine can leave the body, it casts manifold changes and impacts on varied elements of the body. Figures suggest a limited amount of 2-3 cups of coffee every day, and no more than that. That counts to 200 mg to 300 mg of Caffeine. Lest, varying from individual to individual, caffeine stays longer in human system than gauged normally. The longer it stays, the more malicious it gets with respect to your well-being!
45 minutes after the consumption of Caffeine, our body actually starts to work on it. Dependent on external factors like age, gender and body conditions like liver health, elimination of caffeine from the body is different. What’s extraordinary is that caffeine when injected in the body doesn’t accumulate in one place but is spread through the body. It also varies from man to woman. Scientifically, caffeine resides longer in women’s system than that of men.
The average half-life of caffeine in healthy humans persists for 4.9 hours. In men, typically residing between 5 to 9 hours, after the consumption of caffeine. Surprisingly, smokers are at benefit here, because it is flushed out sooner in them in comparison to the non-smokers by 30%-50%. In women, the duration is generally longer. For pregnant women being close to 12-15 hours. The figures marked so by the International Coffee Organization. On a mathematical level, assuming that the body eliminates 20% of what it has taken in per hour, it should not take more than 5 to 6 hours for the body to completely eliminate the 100% caffeine gone into the body.
The figures are obviously variable, but most doctors are in consensus with the half-life of caffeine being anywhere between 3 hours to 12 hours, until it is completely washed out of the body. It is, thus, discernible that the more you binge on caffeine, the more it stays in your body, and the more impairment it could cause. Of course, healthy people are slightly risk-free from the adverse effects prolonged caffeine intake could do. People with health issues have to keep a check.