Caffeine is something that a lot of people consume every single day. The presence of caffeine in coffee has become something that many people joke about, with many people claiming that they can’t start their day without their caffeine kick.
However, coffee isn’t the only way to consume caffeine. Caffeine is included in lots of different drinks and foods, and you can even get caffeine supplements too.
Caffeine supplements are commonly used among those who are taking caffeine to enhance their workout routine.
If you are taking caffeine supplements for this purpose, then you will probably want to know how long it takes for caffeine to kick in.
After all, you will want to know the best time to take it to ensure that it enhances your workout. So, how long does it take for caffeine to kick in?
In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at this, and lots more. So keep on reading to find out more!
What Is Caffeine?
Before we take a look at how long it takes for caffeine to kick in, let’s take a look at what caffeine actually is.
As you probably already know, caffeine is a stimulant. It is a natural stimulant that is typically found in drinks such as coffee and tea. It is also found naturally occurring in the cacao plant.
In order to act as a stimulant, caffeine targets the central nervous system and the brain.
In the brain, caffeine increases alertness and focus. This is why a lot of people drink a cup of coffee in the morning before heading to work, or before taking an exam.
It impacts your central nervous system by increasing the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline in your body.
By targeting your brain and central nervous system simultaneously, the caffeine will leave you feeling refreshed and focused.
The caffeine in the central nervous system is also believed to improve your physical performance, which is why a lot of people take caffeine supplements when exercising.
How Long Does It Take For Caffeine To Kick In?
No matter whether you are taking caffeine supplements to enhance your workout, or wake you up in the morning, you’re going to want to know how long it takes for the caffeine to kick in.
So, how long after consuming caffeine will you start to feel the effects of this stimulant?
Well, caffeine actually kicks in pretty quickly. While some supplements may take hours to kick in, this isn’t the case for caffeine.
Instead, you will start to feel the effects of caffeine just 15 minutes after you have consumed it.
However, if you are taking caffeine to improve your exercise regime, then we would recommend waiting a little longer before exercising.
The amount of caffeine in your bloodstream peaks roughly 1 hour after consuming it.
Once the level of caffeine peaks, it typically stays at this level for a couple of hours, and up to 6 hours later, there will still be around half of the caffeine that you consumed in your bloodstream.
So, while it only takes around 15 minutes for the effects to kick in, you will not feel the full effects and get the full benefits until roughly one hour later.
So, it is best to wait around one hour before you start exercising.
How Long Do The Symptoms Of Caffeine Last?
As we have established, the effects of caffeine kick in pretty quickly. After 15 minutes, you will begin to feel the first effects of caffeine.
But you won’t feel the full effects until the first hour has passed as this is when the caffeine in your bloodstream reaches peak levels.
Caffeine will stay in your bloodstream for a very long time. Once the caffeine in your bloodstream reaches its peak levels at 1 hour, it will remain at this level for a couple of hours.
The level will slowly start to drop after a couple of hours have passed, and by the 6-hour mark, you will only have around half of the caffeine that you consumed in your bloodstream.
From there, the level of caffeine in your bloodstream will slowly fizzle out. Even once it reaches its half-level, you will be feeling barely any effects from the caffeine compared to what you felt at the 1-hour mark.
This is why most people consume more than one cup of coffee per day, and drink a second cup once the effects of the first cup run out.
What Are The Benefits Of Caffeine?
Now that we’ve taken a look at the effects of caffeine and how long it takes for them to kick in, let’s take a look at what the benefits are of this stimulant.
There are actually lots of different benefits of taking caffeine, and they aren’t just tied to exercise.
We mentioned earlier that caffeine is linked to productivity and focus, and this is why a lot of people drink coffee before starting work. Caffeine increases alertness and can even improve memory in some cases.
This is why a lot of people drink a hot cup of coffee before examinations.
We’ve already discussed in detail the connection between caffeine and performance in sports, so we won’t say anymore about that one.
One benefit that might surprise you is the fact that caffeine is actually linked with weight loss.
Caffeine can help support healthy weight loss by suppressing your appetite and encouraging your body to produce more heat and energy when digesting food.
That’s without even mentioning the increase in energy that caffeine can give you pretty quickly after you consume it. So, as you can see, there are lots of benefits to taking caffeine supplements.
Summary
In short, it takes around 15 minutes to feel the initial effects of caffeine, and around 1 hour for the full effects of the caffeine to kick in. Once the caffeine in your bloodstream spikes, it will remain at this level for a couple of hours.
Supplements are becoming ever more popular as people turn away from always using western medicine and research more into holistic approaches. But is that wise?
Hi, my name is Arlo Reiner and I have been in the supplementary business for almost seven years.
Before that, I trained as a doctor of general medicine and worked in many hospitals. I have cared for and treated many patients, and I was always intrigued by the world of supplements.
