Foods rich in natural caffeine are typically richer in nutrientsĪlthough they have a similar chemical structure and similar effects on the body, I believe that natural and synthetic sources of caffeine have two main differences that are worth considering. The researchers found that all three types of caffeine were absorbed about as quickly, although the absorption of synthetic caffeine was slightly slower than that of the two natural types.Īll three caffeine sources had similar effects on the participants’ heart rate, blood pressure, and nervous systems. The natural caffeine was sourced from either green coffee beans or a guayusa tea leaf extract ( 7). It compared the effects of two sources of natural caffeine with that of a synthetic caffeine control. So while it’s technically true that synthetic caffeine is absorbed more rapidly than natural caffeine, it’s very unlikely that this slightly quicker absorption leads to the peak-and-crash scenario.Ī small, slightly older study reported similar findings. In addition, there was no evidence of a quicker decline in blood caffeine concentrations when the participants consumed synthetic caffeine instead of natural caffeine. The natural caffeine took 45 minutes to peak in the blood, while the synthetic caffeine took 37.8 minutes ( 6). One study compared synthetic caffeine with natural caffeine sourced from green coffee beans. The only recent studies I could find that researched this topic found just slight differences between the effects of natural and synthetic caffeine. Natural caffeine and synthetic caffeine have similar effects on your body However, there is very little scientific backing to this claim. The chemical structure of synthetic caffeine is almost indistinguishable from that of natural caffeine.ĭespite this, many claim that synthetic caffeine is absorbed much more quickly than natural caffeine, causing a peak in energy followed by a steep crash. Is natural caffeine better than synthetic caffeine? You can usually tell whether a food contains synthetic caffeine by looking at its label. It differs from synthetic caffeine, which is made in a lab. Natural caffeine is found in only a handful of foods. So if you see caffeine on a food or beverage’s label, that product most likely contains synthetic caffeine. This is not required of foods that naturally contain caffeine, such as coffee or tea ( 5). The Food and Drug Administration requires that caffeine be listed on food labels when it has been added during production. That’s why natural caffeine is rarely added to foods that don’t naturally contain it ( 4). Synthetic caffeine is also often added to non-food products such as pain relievers, makeup, face creams, and other cosmetics ( 2, 3).Ī 2012 study found that extracting caffeine from natural sources is more expensive than making caffeine synthetically. It’s commonly added to packaged foods and beverages such as soda, juice, chewing gum, candy, and energy drinks. Unlike natural caffeine, which comes from foods found in nature, synthetic caffeine is produced in a lab. How is natural caffeine different from synthetic caffeine? This keeps your brain from realizing that it’s tired, which is why caffeine is so effective at fighting off sleepiness and helping you remain more alert ( 1). Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that relaxes your brain, making you feel tired ( 1).īy blocking adenosine receptors, caffeine prevents adenosine from binding to them. It works by blocking adenosine receptors in your brain. Natural caffeine is the type of caffeine that is naturally found in foods like coffee, tea, and chocolate.
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