Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that give you a quick burst of energy and alertness. When the effects wear off, your body crashes and is left with a greater depletion of vital energy. Stimulants function by causing the release of stress hormones, notably adrenaline and cortisol, and so provoke the stress response rather than helping your body adapt to it. When you use stimulants for an extended period of time, you're more likely to have unpleasant side effects such insomnia, jitters, anxiety and adrenal depletion.
On the contrary, adaptogens provide a sustained release of energy along with improving your body's capacity to adapt to stress. The best part is that the benefits of adaptogens build up over time with no negative side effects.
A daily cup of coffee or tea doesn’t hurt, but including adaptogens into your daily self care regimen can help counter the adverse effects of stimulants while providing a wide range of benefits.