That extra cup of joe may perk up your system, but it could also secretly zap your productivity.
Caffeine consumption turns hard workers into slackers, finds a new study in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Researchers monitored the effects that caffeine had on 20 lab rats while putting them through a series of tests. They split the rats into two different groups based on their behavior: One group was classified as the ‘hard workers,’ the other as ‘slackers’. After monitoring the rats’ performance on various tasks (some challenging, some not), the researchers found that caffeine appeared to make the hard working rats lazier.
Must. Resist. Java.
“We observed that, although the ‘slacker rats’ didn’t seem to improve at the tasks, the hard working rats chose fewer of the hard trials,” says Jay Hosking, lead study author and a graduate student at the University of British Columbia. “But the good news is, it didn’t make the hard workers any worse at the task, it just made them less motivated.”
As for why caffeine can have the odd effect, Hosking explains that these sorts of stimulants affect everyone differently. Just because you think it’s aiding your performance, doesn’t mean it actually is.
So in order to help you survive that afternoon coffee crash, here are three alternatives that you can resort to before hitting up the Starbucks drive-thru this afternoon.
More from MensHealth.com: Have More Energy All Day Long
Go Green
Just because we’re steering you away from coffee, doesn’t mean we’re ruling out caffeine all together. If you still need a fix, why not ingest it from a source that comes packed with additional benefits? Green tea comes loaded with EGCG catechins, which have been linked to improving cardiovascular health and promoting cancer prevention, and research published in The Journal of Nutrition found that these catechins could help promote weight loss. Plus, since green tea has less caffeine than coffee, you’ll be less likely to experience that post-drink crash. (See how the two stimulants stack up against each other.)
Grab a Stick of Gum
Rather than reaching for that espresso, go for the alternative that will up your energy and help your breath: peppermint gum. Peppermint (as well as citrus) stimulates nerves in your brain responsible for feeling awake and alert, says Alan Hirsch, M.D., founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. So by tasting the flavor (or even just smelling the scent), you’ll automatically get that boost you need—you know, without the coffee breath.
Attack the Snack Cabinet
When you’re hitting that 2:30 p.m. slump, don’t just avoid java—skip the carb-heavy snacks, too. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that people who consumed meals rich in carbohydrates reported significantly higher levels of sleepiness. Why? It all boils down to tryptophan, the amino acid thought to cause sleepiness. Carbs make tryptophan more available to the brain. So for an energy boost that lasts, try grabbing an apple or protein-packed snacks (think: nuts) to stay full and energized.
Today’s Free PDF Download: Learn 27 Ways to Power Up Your Brain