Ep. 125 | The Coffee-Cortisol Trap: Why Caffeine Keeps You Exhausted

If you can't even think about starting your day without coffee — this episode will show you why that's a problem (and no, you don't have to give it up).

The problem isn't coffee itself. It's that your body is relying on caffeine to do what it can't do on its own anymore: generate energy. When you drink coffee on an empty stomach, it spikes your cortisol and pushes your already-dysregulated nervous system further into stress mode. You feel jittery, anxious, wired but tired — and by 10am, you're crashing again.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why coffee isn't the enemy (but how you're using it matters)

• The coffee-cortisol trap: how caffeine on an empty stomach keeps you exhausted instead of energized

• Why your body can't keep up when you're running on stress hormones, skipping meals, and under-sleeping

• The Coffee → Calm Swap: hydration and minerals before caffeine to support your adrenals

• A real client story of how one simple morning shift gave her real, sustainable energy without giving up coffee

This is what I teach in my free workshop, "It's Not Just Hormones! Why Nothing's Working in Perimenopause."

Key Takeaways:

• Coffee isn't the problem — overload is

• Drinking coffee on an empty stomach spikes cortisol and pushes your body further into stress mode

• The Coffee → Calm Swap: water with a pinch of sea salt (or coconut water/electrolytes) before your first cup supports your adrenals and reduces the stress load

• When you add coffee on top of a stable foundation instead of a depleted one, you stop relying on it to survive and start enjoying it again

Resources mentioned:

Free workshop: "It's Not Just Hormones! Why Nothing's Working in Perimenopause" — Register at https://cindistickle.com/its-not-just-hormones-workshop

Connect with Cindi:

Take the Quiz: What's Really Behind Your Menopause Symptoms? https://cindistickle.com/quiz

Book a Call: Menopause Hormone Clarity Call https://calendly.com/cindistickle/menopause-hormone-clarity-call

Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsmenopause

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