Caffeine And Anxiety: Too Much Caffeine And Anxiety Symptoms

To feel anxious is to feel worried, and nervous in its intense form. Anxiety can manifest with number of symptoms such as trembling, twitching, restless and breathlessness with increased heart rate. Caffeine can increase the state of anxiety and cause many symptoms such as increase of heart rate, insomnia, and muscle tension etc for those who don’t normally feel anxious, and for those who are anxious caffeine can exacerbate the symptoms of anxiety.

Caffeine And Anxiety

  • Caffeine is an alkaloid found in coffee, tea and energy drinks. Caffeine is a central nervous stimulator, with its consumption; adrenaline is released from adrenaline gland which causes spike in the energy level.
  • Caffeine can increase anxiety disorder. This is a general view among scientific community.
  • Effects of caffeine on health: Caffeine can increase heart rate and lead to panic anxiety state.

Too Much Caffeine And Anxiety Symptoms

A person addicted to caffeine may have worsened anxiety symptoms such as jitters, headache, nervousness, fatigue and breathlessness. Poor concentration, irritability, and agitation are other observed symptoms of anxiety related to caffeine intake.

Anxiety Caused By Caffeine

People with anxiety disorder should avoid caffeine products. If there is no previous history of anxiety and if you exhibit it after consuming caffeinated drinks, it is better to stop drinking the caffeinated product such as coffee, colas etc or at lest reduce it.

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Caffeine Side Effects

A study from the Medical Centre at Duke University, USA, says, regular daily caffeine consumption, tends to increase the level of blood sugar in people suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2, significantly.

Further, the as per the study, caffeine also negates the efforts of the individual to fight the disorder. See also Caffeine and anxiety
Researchers carried out a trial, using a small glucose monitoring device, which was embedded below the skin, to assess the impact of consumption of caffeine on blood sugar levels in the subject. The clinical trial showed, that, when volunteers consumed caffeine, the daily blood sugar level, hiked by 8 %. What’s more, caffeine, also exaggerated the normal rise in the blood sugar levels after breakfast by 9%, after lunch by 15%, and after dinner by 26%.
The lead researcher, James Lane, states, that the easiest way to battle diabetes is by cutting down on the daily intake of caffeine. It will show beneficial effects.

How Caffeine Affects Body?

  • Excessive caffeine effects includes dehydration. It draws water from the cells and, causes you to urinate more water from the body, than you are consuming. If you drink 1 cup of a caffeine beverage and urinate 1 cup of water, your net intake of water is zero.
  • An excessive consumption of caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee) can be over-stimulating. They cause symptoms such as, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, and irritability.
  • Caffeine triggers anxiety attacks in an individual by raising the lactic acid (the final product of glucose breakdown, when there is a lack of oxygen) levels in the blood. Read about natural healthy coffee recipes

Diet for Diabetics:

A diabetic ought to consume foods that have a low glycemic index. The glycemic index, measures the impact of carbohydrates on the level of blood sugar. A diet that comprises of foods that are low in glycemic index, help keep blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels in check. They also help burn more fat and control the appetite.

What is the glycemic index?

The glycemic index is a numerical scale which indicates how fast and how high, a particular food raises the blood sugar level.

Health tip:

  • A diabetic can enjoy a food which has a high glycemic index, if he keeps the serving size reasonable.
  • Essentially, foods which have a lot of water in them (e.g. watermelon), loads of fiber (e.g. beetroot), and are filled with air (e.g. popcorn), will not cause a steep rise in the blood glucose levels.
  • Never eat large portion sizes of any food.
  • High glycemic index = 70+

Foods that fall in this category are:

  • Bread (white bread, brown bread, multi-grained bread)
  • Cakes, muffins, pastries, pancakes, waffles, donuts.
  • Wafers and fried foods
  • Cereal bars
  • Potatoes
  • Rice, pasta, noodles
  • Cornflakes
  • Medium glycemic index = 56 – 69

Foods that fall in to this category are:

  • Brown rice
  • Broken wheat
  • Buckwheat
  • Basmati rice
  • Bran
  • Oats
  • Low glycemic index = 55 and below
  • Foods in this category are:
  • Dried fruits (apple, apricot)
  • Nuts
  • Fresh fruits (figs, berries, cherries, papaya)
  • Yellow corn
  • Sweet potato
  • Lentils, and legumes
  • Skimmed milk yogurt

1 comment


  1. Leigh Callen

    I am willing to cut out caffeine, and go on a low glycemic diet! I have always believed that my consumption of coffee has caused bad sugar cravings when I crash from the caffeine! I also believe that caffeine raises cortisol levels and puts way to much of a strain on the adrenal glands! I would like an easy to follow diet plan to go on, and some sweet alternatives from sugar! I have never cut out sugar in my diet, but I do think that I at least need to cut it way down. I am just trying to lose about 14 lbs.I hope that I will make positive changes for a life time! Thanks
    Leigh Callen

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