CAFFEINE consumers struggling to get a good night’s sleep

New research has found more than a third of Australians are reliant on caffeine and it’s having a significant impact on our sleep.

DNA testing currently available in Australia can now identify how an individual processes caffeine, foods that may change the speed caffeine is processed and how long before going to bed you should stop drinking coffee.

The research carried out by genetic interpretation company myDNA revealed a staggering 74 per cent of caffeine drinkers reported not sleeping well, while one in four never feel rested in the morning.

The results showed people were consuming more caffeine than they realised with one in two unwittingly consuming equal to five or more energy drinks a day.

CEO of myDNA Doctor Lior Rauchberger said everyone processes caffeine differently and may not understand the extent of the impact caffeine can have on the nervous system.

“Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive drug which acts as a stimulant to increase focus and stay alert, our research found 93 per cent of Australians consume caffeine and a third (36 per cent) admit to being reliant on the stimulant,” he said.

“Not getting enough sleep slows down nerve cell activity in the brain and caffeine causes nerve cell activity to speed up and blood vessels to constrict, putting the body into fight or flight mode. That’s why many people depend on the stimulant.”

A new test released as part of myDNA’s Wellness & Nutrition Report highlighted how our bodies respond to caffeine.

“The simple mouth swab can identify how our diet choices and caffeine consumption are affecting the quality of our sleep and how the consumption of certain cruciferous foods can affect how quickly the body processes caffeine,” Dr Rauchberger said.

“The aim of the test is to help us determine daily-routines that are better suited to our genetic makeup.”

Dr Rauchberger said genetics plays an important role in how long caffeine takes to be processed in the body.

“If caffeine doesn’t leave the body, the nervous system becomes reliant on the stimulant and without topping up, the quality of life and sleep are affected,” he said.

Dr Rauchberger is encouraging Australians who struggle with getting a good night’s sleep, to be mindful of caffeine consumption throughout the day and to find out how long caffeine takes to process out of their body.