[Zelphyr]

Several years ago I switched to decaf to help with my anxiety. It did help but I also crashed almost every afternoon so I went back. Unfortunately, the coffee started giving me nasty acid reflux so I switched to drinking Earl Grey tea every morning.

About six years ago I changed my diet and started Keto. Now that I'm keto-adapted I drink a cup of green tea each morning more out of habit than necessity. Sometimes I need a little 15-minute nap in the afternoon but otherwise I'm good. On a recent 5-day trip I had no caffeine at all and didn't miss a beat.

So, for people who say they need caffeine to get through their day I say, take a look at what you're eating. You might be surprised at how it's slowing you down.

n.b., I'm not saying everyone must do keto. That's just what worked for me. I'm convinced after six years of researching nutrition that eating real[1], idealy organic food and moving their body on a regular basis is all anyone needs to generally stay healthy and have energy.

1: If you look at the ingredients of the food you're about to eat and you can't find them in your kitchen, then it's not real food.

[sparrow98]

Diet is an interesting angle, do you think diet would contribute to a better sleep? I tend to find a high quality sleep leads to a energetic day for me.

[Zelphyr]

It made a huge difference in my sleep. Before, I kept waking up at night for no clear reason and it was getting worse. Within a week or two of changing my diet I started sleeping like a baby and, aside from some periods of high stress, that hasn't changed.

[AnthonBerg]

Funny thing with carbohydrate metabolism: Histamine is an essential part of glucose metabolism, and histamine is an alertness neurotransmitter.

[sparrow98]

That means carbohydrate diet would keep us more alerted? I also heard the glucose makes us sleepier, but it's total anecdote that I never researched.

[AnthonBerg]

That’s a good question. I’m not sure what the implications are yet.

It’s a complex system of cellular receptors and substances that activate them, and the receptors can become upregulated and downregulated. Histamine is also a pro-inflammatory substance.

I do better with my insomnia and autoimmune disorders if I am… attentive towards carbohydrate intake. Less sugar is better, slower carbohydrates are better. (I can reliably induce an insomnia awakening at precisely 05:30 by eating dessert after dinner. I’m not yet sure why or how exactly, but the histamine connection makes sense. It also has to do with cortisol I believe.) However, I am also more alert and sharp if I get enough carbs – including sugar. At the right time of day.

Here’s my source for histamine being involved in glucose metabolism: Histamine metabolism in diabetes mellitus and vascular disease, dr. Dalvir Gill’s 1991 PhD thesis: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10120875/

Regarding histamine as an alertness neurotransmitter, I point to early antihistamine medication being sedative. This is because early antihistamines were molecules small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier. Histamine receptors in the brain regulate alertness. As well as the hunger response, interestingly. Old allergy meds make you hungry and then you pass out.

[sparrow98]

It seems simple carb diet leads to rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar, which can cause energy level fluctuation and impact alertness and sleepiness. On the other hand, slow carb diet provides better blood sugar control and many other benefits. Also, slow carb diet usually opts for whole, unprocessed food, which links back to Zelphyr's point 1 as well. Fascinating.

[HenryBemis]

On the topic of diet.. I switched to carnivore (mostly red meat). I tend to have one big steak a day. I don't feel sleepy until 8-9pm.

There are days that I KNOW I won't have time to eat, and those days I either fast completely or I start my day with a (Bulk.com - not affiliated) hydrobeef protein shake (2 scoops). Those days I feel steadily energized 8am-8pm as if I've had 2 espressos.

I find it all to be in the food. I remember listening on Huberman Lab that caffeine doesn't give you energy, it merely 'blocks fatigue' (which means fatigue is still there - just suppressed).

Decent sleep and food that doesn't hurt you is the only way to thrive.

[sparrow98]

Sleep and food are essential to our life while caffeine isn't in my opinion. Interesting, my friend also told me about carnosine that can be found in red meat, would that be a reason contributes to your energy? Diet indeed is another intriguing topic to dive deep into.

[J_Shelby_J]

Alternative to keto if you can afford it: exo-ketones.

Ketone salts are ok but ketone esters are fantastic.

People that understand how ketosis effects the brain will understand why this works.

[HenryBemis]

Why resolve to EKs when you can achieve ketosis (and maintain it with discipline)?