Why Your Second Coffee Is Making You More Tired (And a Natural Energy Booster That Works)

It is 2:00 PM on a Wednesday. You have hit the wall. That foggy and familiar mental block that settles in right after lunch. Naturally, you reach for the solution that has sustained the modern workforce for a century: the second (or third…) coffee of the day.

For the first fifteen minutes, it works. You feel a burst of energy and things are looking bright. But by 4:00 PM, the jitters set in. By 10:00 pm, you’re wired but tired, staring at your ceiling unable to drift off. You wake up the next morning, and what do you do? Make yourself the first coffee of the day, and the cycle repeats. If you’re looking for a natural energy booster that doesn’t rely on stimulation, the answer isn’t another cup of coffee - it’s a different biological strategy entirely.

Today, we treat energy like a credit card. We swipe it now and worry about the bill later. But biology doesn’t work like that, and eventually, the debt becomes overdue.

The Biology Behind “The Crash”

Let’s take a look at the neuroscience of fatigue. Throughout the day, your brain produces a neurochemical called adenosine. Think of adenosine as “sleep pressure.” It binds to receptors in your brain, slowing down neural activity and signaling that it’s time to rest.¹

Caffeine is structurally similar to adenosine. When you drink it, it rushes into the brain and parks itself in those adenosine receptors.² It doesn't usually remove the fatigue and brain fog; it just blocks the sensor. It’s like putting a piece of duct tape over the “check engine” light in your car. You feel alert because your brain can’t see how tired it is.

But here is the catch: your body doesn’t stop producing adenosine just because the receptors are blocked. It builds up behind the wall of caffeine. When the caffeine finally metabolizes and wears off, the wall crumbles. All that accumulated adenosine floods your receptors at once.

This is the dreaded “crash.” And it is why solely relying on stimulants all day long is a game of diminishing returns.

The Natural Energy Edit

Even the most potent supplements can’t outrun a lifestyle designed to utterly deplete you. If you are looking to reclaim your energy, consider this your baseline audit. The non-negotiables for natural energy.

1. Sunlight before screen time: Your circadian rhythm is governed by light. Getting in natural sunlight within 30 minutes of waking up triggers a natural cortisol spike (the good kind) that signals your body to wake up and sets a timer to release melatonin 12-14 hours later.³ Think of this as your own personal “on” button.
2. Hydration: Fatigue is often just dehydration in disguise. Sometimes water alone isn’t enough. Without minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, water passes right through you. A morning glass of water with a pinch of sea salt or lemon can help.
3. Cold shower: You don’t need an ice bath to get the benefits. Try ending your shower with 30 seconds of cold water. It shocks the system, increases heart rate, and triggers a release of norepinephrine–a neurotransmitter that boosts focus and mood. Ultimately alerting your body that it’s “go time.”
4. Fight sugar cravings: Glucose spikes are energy loans. When you start your day with a sweet pastry or sugary latte, you can spike your insulin, potentially leading to reactive hypoglycemia (blood sugar crash) a few hours later. Opt for savory breakfasts rich in protein and healthy fats to keep your energy levels stable.

Rather than borrowing the energy from tomorrow, the most effective natural energy booster works by supporting how your body produces fuel at the cellular level. Once that is all in place, you are ready to introduce the heavy hitters. This is where we move from sustaining energy to optimizing it.

Cordyceps: The Motor, Not the Driver

Cordyceps are not a stimulant in the traditional sense. Cordyceps are an adaptogen–a category of fungi that help the body manage stress and return to homeostasis. But unlike calming adaptogens (like reishi), cordyceps are what energize the body.⁴ Its power lies in its ability to influence ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

If you remember your high school biology class, you’ll recall that the mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell.” Every single function in your body, from blinking your eyes to solving a complex spreadsheet problem to dancing at the club, requires ATP.

Clinical research suggests that cordyceps supplementation supports the body’s production of ATP. Instead of masking fatigue, it increases the actual fuel supply available to your cells. It has also been studied in relation to VO2 Max, a measure of how efficiently your body uses oxygen.⁵

The Three Pillars of Natural Energy

There is no “one size fits all” approach to energy. You need a different kind of stamina for a three-hour strategy meeting than you do for an intimate evening with your partner. We use cordyceps across three of our key formulations, pairing it with adaptogens to direct that energy exactly where you need it.

1. Cognitive Stamina

Found in: Brainstorm

We all have experienced “brain fog” – the inability to hold a thought or focus on a task. This is often metabolic fatigue; your brain consumes 20% of your body’s energy, despite only being 2% of its weight. When ATP runs low, focus is the first thing to go.⁶

In Brainstorm, we pair cordyceps with lion’s mane and a precise dose of guarana. Guarana provides the immediate lift in energy, while lion’s mane supports nerve growth factor (NGF) for long-term neural health. But the cordyceps are the real MVP, they provide the endurance. It helps support the cellular fuel your brain relies on to maintain that focus for hours, preventing that mental burnout that usually follows a caffeine spike.⁷

2. Social Stamina

Found in: Party Trick

Socializing requires a surprising amount of physical and emotional energy. We often use alcohol to “release our inhibitions”, but lest we not forget, alcohol is a depressant. It literally steals your energy (and your tomorrow).

Party Trick is designed to replace the need for “liquid courage” with “fungal vitality.” Here is where cordyceps act as the physical battery. We pair it with kanna, a South African succulent known for its mood-lifting and heart-opening properties. While kanna supports mood, making you feel chatty and connected, cordyceps supports the body, helping you stay engaged and moving without the physical drag that can set in later in the night. The result is a naturally energized, fully present feeling, like the most alive person in the room.

3. Sexual Stamina

Found in: Happy Ending

Sexual health is wealth. It requires blood flow, oxygenation, and physical endurance. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cordyceps were prized specifically for this purpose, often reserved for emperors to ensure their physical stamina. It has been studied for its role in supporting physical sensation. At Alice, we blend it with ashwagandha (to support a calmer cortisol response - that often-annoying mood disrupter) and maca. The cordyceps support oxygen and blood flow, which are important for arousal and physical responsiveness.

This isn’t just about “lasting longer” (though it helps with that, too); it’s about having the surplus energy to actually be present in your body to enjoy pleasure, rather than collapsing into bed exhausted and then spiraling that something is wrong with you.

Invest, Don’t Rent

The shift from synthetic stimulants to functional mushrooms is a shift in mindset. It is the difference between fast fashion and a custom evening gown. One is cheap, easy, and falls apart after a few uses. The other is an investment that fits you better the longer you have it.

Adaptogens like cordyceps work best with consistency. When chosen intentionally and used consistently, a true natural energy booster doesn’t create spikes and crashes - it helps support a higher baseline of energy over time. You stop waking up like you’re in an energy deficit. You stop needing that 3:00 PM sweet treat just to give you that tiny rush that makes you feel slightly human again.

In a culture that glorifies “the grind,” we often confuse stress with success. We wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor. But looking tired as a “girl boss” is so not chic. True luxury is having the energy to do it all–the early morning pilates, the high-stakes presentation, the after-work dinner with friends, and the intimacy with your partner–without feeling like you are running on fumes.

Disclaimer: This blog contains promotional content about our products. The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your wellness routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

References:

1. Ribeiro, J. A., & Sebastião, A. M. (2010). Caffeine and adenosine. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 20 Suppl 1, S3–S15. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3233/JAD-2010-1379?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
2. Dr. Ravi Kumar MD. (2025). How Caffeine Works: Blocking Adenosine Receptors to Prevent Sleepiness. Retrieved from https://drkumardiscovery.com/posts/arousal-effect-caffeine-depends-adenosine-a2a-receptors-shell/
3. Menezes-Júnior, L. A. A., Sabião, T. D. S., Carraro, J. C. C., Machado-Coelho, G. L. L., & Meireles, A. L. (2025). The role of sunlight in sleep regulation: analysis of morning, evening and late exposure. BMC public health, 25(1), 3362. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-025-24618-8
4. Choi, E., Oh, J., & Sung, G. H. (2020). Beneficial Effect of Cordyceps militaris on Exercise Performance via Promoting Cellular Energy Production. Mycobiology, 48(6), 512–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/12298093.2020.1831135
5. Hirsch, K. R., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Roelofs, E. J., Trexler, E. T., & Mock, M. G. (2017). Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 14(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386
6. Dr Oliver Baumann, School of Psychology at Bond University. (2023). How much energy do we expend using our brains? Retrieved from https://bond.edu.au/news/how-much-energy-do-we-expend-using-our-brains
7. I-Chen Li, Li-Ya Lee, Tsai-Teng Tzeng, Wan-Ping Chen, Yen-Po Chen, Young-Ju Shiao, Chin-Chu Chen. (2018). Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2018/5802634