Question regarding coffee

[Max_V]

Hi everyone, 

I want to ask a question about coffee. I thoroughly enjoy coffee; its taste, how it increases cognition, even how it helps with my depression. The only problem is that I’ve come to understand that I probably metabolize caffeine very slowly. This causes me anxiety and heart palpitations from even one cup. It can get so bad that I even experience chest pain and close-to panic attacks. 

So I wanted to ask if you guys have any idea if there is something that can help me metabolize caffeine faster, or perhaps have suggestions for an alternative that provides similar effects.

All the best. 

[Ulax]

I'd advise taking some L-Theanine with your coffee. Perhaps, some ashwagandha too.

[Waves]

I haven't personally experimented with it, but it L-theanine has been shown to help reducing the agitating effects of caffeine. You can check out https://examine.com/supplements/theanine/ for a summary of the benefits and info on dosage.

Depending on the method you use, you could also try making half-decaf coffee, by mixing decaf and normal ground coffee 50/50.

[undeather]

Caffeine is primarily metabolised in the liver by cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are responsible for more than 90% of caffeine clearance. The enzyme responsible for metabolism of caffeine is coded for by the gene CYP1A2. So if you want the drink, get the positive benefits while getting away from the potential side effects you mentioned, a more active CYP1A2-base is the way to go. Most of the data regarding coffeine clearance (the rate you metabolize the molecule) through enzyme induction is highly theortical and the general evidence is low. 

However, this is what you could potentially do:
- Consumption of broccoli and brassica vegetables in general increase caffeine clearance.
- High doeses of Vitamin C supplementatin seems to increase metabolism as well
- L-theanine supplementation seems to counterbalance the agaitation a bit
- Avoid foods high in quercetin right before coffee consumption ( https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-quercetin#1 ) 
- Start smoking (no joke!), almost doubles coffeine clearance ;D 
- Avoid grapefruits & alcohol 
- Certain adaptogens (like ashwagandha) could pontentially counteract some of the negative side effects - BUT, this could also go into the other direction and cause paradox effects. Some of those supplements could actually compete with coffeine for metabolisation, increasing the effects in the process.

Since there is a lot of complexitiy involved, there is no way around trying what works for you individually!

The first and propably most common alternative is green tea. When my patients ask me what they could do when they still want some of the positive effects, I tell them to switch to green tea. Or...you could play biohacker and try the things mentioned here
 

Edited February 2, 2022 by undeather