Why coffee makes you more stressed out — and how it affects men and women differently
Cortisol responses to mental stress, exercise, and meals following caffeine intake in men and women.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Exercise alone doesn’t raise cortisol levels in healthy adults.
Everyone assumes physical activity is a stressor that spikes cortisol—but this study proves moderate exercise doesn’t, unless caffeine is involved.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid caffeine 2–3 hours after your workout if you're a woman, especially if you eat a meal afterward.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Exercise alone doesn’t raise cortisol levels in healthy adults.
Everyone assumes physical activity is a stressor that spikes cortisol—but this study proves moderate exercise doesn’t, unless caffeine is involved.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid caffeine 2–3 hours after your workout if you're a woman, especially if you eat a meal afterward.
Publication
Journal
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
Year
2006
Authors
W. Lovallo, N. Farag, Andrea S. Vincent, T. L. Thomas, Michael F. Wilson
Related Content
Claims (6)
When a person skips breakfast or drinks only caffeine, their blood sugar may drop, leading to an increase in cortisol levels as a physiological response.
Consuming 750 mg of caffeine daily in three doses increases cortisol levels throughout the day when individuals are exposed to mental stress, physical exercise, or eating after exercise, and this increase occurs similarly in both men and women, though the overall stress response size may differ by sex.
In response to mental stress, men tend to have a higher peak cortisol level than women, with a 25–30% greater increase. In contrast, women tend to have a stronger cortisol response to eating a midday meal after exercising, especially when caffeine has been consumed.
Consuming caffeine before a mentally stressful task leads to a 15–20% higher increase in cortisol levels compared to taking a placebo, and this effect is similar in men and women.
In healthy adults, doing moderate exercise by itself does not raise cortisol levels much, but when caffeine is consumed before exercise, cortisol levels rise about 40 minutes after the workout in both men and women.