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Best time to have your morning coffee, as backed by science
There is nothing quite like that first sip of coffee after youve rolled out of bed in the morning and for many of us, that caffeine hit can be vital in getting us through the first few hours of a busy day but scientists say that you should probably wait a little while before gulping down your morning cup of joe.
This is because drinking caffeinated beverages like coffee could impact the bodys production of a chemical called cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone, which helps to naturally boost alertness at certain times of the day as part of the bodys fight or flight response. �
The best time to have your morning coffee
Parvinder Sagoo, a Pharmacist and Online Health Adviser for SimplyMedsOnline, said in an interview with Glamour: I would wait at least an hour after waking up before you have your first coffee of the day.
Drinking coffee as soon as you wake up could interfere with your body’s cortisol production, she added. Which could leave you feeling more stressed and anxious if you dive straight in for a coffee as oppose to a glass of water.
This advice is backed up by a study published by the National Library of Medicine which explored the bodys production of cortisol and found that it peaked during the first hour after waking up – on average between 7:59am and 9:05am.
Consuming caffeine first thing in the morning when cortisol production is naturally at its peak can teach the body to produce less of the hormone which could interfere with your natural circadian rhythm – effectively your body’s internal clock – and leave you feeling more tired later in the day.
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Cortisol peaks explained
As well as being at its highest level first thing in the morning, cortisol production also peaks around mealtimes according to the study.
These further peaks typically occur between 12pm and 1pm as well as between 5:30pm and 6:30pm.
This lines up with the bodys circadian rhythm as the body learns when you typically grab some lunch during the day or have dinner in the evening and is producing chemicals to remind you to eat.
The peaks and subsequent drops in cortisol levels also help to explain why you experience a mid-afternoon slump after lunchtime and why you start to feel tired as you wind down for the evening after dinner.
When to have your last cup of coffee of the day
As is the case with your morning cup of coffee, there is also scientific advice on when to have your last cup of coffee of the day as well.
Caffeine is, of course, a stimulant which means that drinking coffee late on in the afternoon or into the evening can impact your sleep, either resulting in you not being able to nod off or reducing the quality of your sleep throughout the night.
Speaking to Fortune, Kristine Dilley, lead outpatient dietitian in nutrition services at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said: It can take six to eight hours for your body to process and eliminate the caffeine you consume in one sitting.
This means if youre planning on going to bed at around 10pm, youll want to have your last cup of coffee of the day between 2pm and 4pm.
