“ Once you go over [ your personal caffeine threshold ] , you see negative effects , including anxiety , sweating and insominia .” —Trina Palomrex, a Santa Rosa-based nutritionist.
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assigned to our Physical Fitness Center,” says Norwick. Many student athletes are concerned that consuming compounds like caffeine will impact their performance. SRJC staff work with them to teach them strategies that do not involve caffeine, like drinking more water and eating protein in small meals throughout the day. Addicts in recovery from substance use often consume caffeine as a “replacement drug.” “Most people in recovery use caffeine and nicotine heavily. Coffee is sometimes a very important substance for people in recovery groups. It’s also a common activity that people in recovery enjoy together,” says Dominique McDowell, director of the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program at Marin City Health and Wellness Center in Sausalito. Bateman says there is a fine line between caffeine-alleviating symptoms like fatigue and adjusting to life without substances.
with a doctor or nurse to identify long-held patterns that lead to “invisible” caffeine consumption. People with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) typically become calmer after having caffeine. This is because the stimulation that caffeine offers helps them focus and increases their attention span. The tradeoff of using caffeine to modify behavior is that exceeding a personal limit can increase the risk of migraines and upset stomach. How caffeine affects athletes and recovering addicts Athletes may realize a wide range of benefits from consuming caffeine, including an energy boost and fatigue reduction. Bateman says athletes should avoid overuse. This can lead to dehydration and heart rhythm issues. “We talk about caffeine as part of our mental health outreach to student athletes. SRJC Student Health Services has staff
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February 2025
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