I think it's safe to say the majority of us run on coffee or some other form of energy drink LOADED with caffeine in order to get through the day. It's the most highly taken psychoactive drug taken in the world because of its stimulatory and mood-enhancing effects. So how does caffeine do this? It competes with adenosine, which is the molecule that can bind with the A1 receptor (promotes sleepiness and muscle relaxation) and A2A (when adenosine binds with this it inhibits the release of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters). After consuming caffeine it will block the adenosine from binding and at the peak make you feel fully awake and have a lifted mood. While this may sound like a great idea, there are some consequences that come with prolonged use of caffeine. It can worsen anxiety and depression, cause blood sugar to rise, jitters, headaches, dehydration, irritability, upset stomach and many more! Using caffeine in moderation is fine, however if it's something you rely on for energy to get through the day there's a better alternative!
This is where the use of a B vitamin complex come in! B vitamins play a HUGE role in our metabolic pathways and due to their water soluble nature we are constantly excreting it and most of us don't have a diet that is rich in all the vitamin Bs! Your body is able to use the B vitamins more efficiently than caffeine because our body needs them to run processes and one big one being the production of ATP (energy)! The more energy your cells have the more energy YOU have! Adding a B vitamin complex into your diet can help increase energy levels tremendously and is worth a try!