Some folks can’t start their day without a morning cup of coffee, while other folks prefer to avoid caffeine altogether.

Certainly, the decision to consume caffeine is a personal choice, but whatever your preference, it’s a good idea to know how caffeine works in the body, and which Isagenix products contain caffeine.

How does caffeine work?

Every cell in the body contains a molecule called adenosine that is produced as a part of normal metabolism. Throughout the day, the level of adenosine rises in the brain and creates a signal that slows down nerve activity, promoting tiredness and sleep. When adenosine builds up near certain receptors in the brain, you start to feel drowsy. Since the level of adenosine increases throughout the day, you generally feel more tired the longer you are awake.

Caffeine is a molecule that is naturally produced by a variety of plants, including coffee, tea, yerba mate, and chocolate, which has a similar shape to the adenosine molecule. Because of its similar shape, caffeine can temporarily block the fatiguing effects of adenosine and help you feel more alert. When caffeine is present, the brain can’t detect the buildup of adenosine that leads to feelings of fatigue.

How much caffeine is considered moderate?

When used responsibly and in moderate amounts, caffeine is a safe and natural way to increase wakefulness, alleviate fatigue, and improve concentration and focus. However, like most things, caffeine can become a concern when used in excessive amounts.

So what is considered a moderate amount of caffeine? For healthy adults, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee suggests that consuming up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day can be part of a healthy diet (1). This is the amount of caffeine that is present in about four to five cups of coffee.

Keep in mind that some individuals are more sensitive to caffeine than others and might feel unwanted effects after as little as one cup of coffee. The half-life of caffeine in the body is around three to five hours, so it’s a good idea to limit caffeine in the late afternoon and evening hours to ensure you can enjoy a restful night’s sleep (2).

Which Isagenix products contain caffeine?

If you are following an Isagenix System, how much caffeine are you getting in a typical day? The answer depends on your use of Isagenix Coffee, AMPED Nitro, e+™, Nootropic Elixir™, Energy Bites™, Natural Accelerator, XM+, and BĒA Sparkling Energy Drink as these are the only Isagenix products that contain a substantial amount of caffeine.

 Amount of Caffeine per serving
Isagenix Coffee, brewed (8 fl oz) 85 mg
e+ shot (2 fl oz) 85 mg
AMPED Nitro (1 serving) 100 mg
BĒA Sparkling Energy Drink (12 fl oz) 125 mg
Nootropic Elixir (1.69 fl oz) 80 mg
XM+ (1 packet) 155 mg
Natural Accelerator (2 capsules) 20 mg
Energy Bites™ 65 mg

 

Chocolate naturally contains caffeine, but much less than coffee or tea. Ingredients like cocoa and chocolate chips are used in several Isagenix products, but the amount of caffeine contributed by the chocolate ingredients in these products is very small, similar to the amount of caffeine you might get from a cup of decaffeinated coffee.

The beauty of an Isagenix System is that it provides good foundational nutrition that gives your body the fuel it needs to get through your day, with the option of incorporating targeted products formulated to enhance energy levels through the use of naturally sourced caffeine.

References

  1. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Washington (DC): USDA and US Department of Health and Human Services (2015).
  2. Kaplan GB, Greenblatt DJ, Ehrenberg BL, Goddard JE, Cotreau MM, Harmatz JS, Shader RI. Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and psychomotor effects of caffeine in humans. J Clin Pharmacol. 1997 Aug;37(8):693-703.