Many of us start the day with a cup of coffee, but experts believe it may not be the healthiest choice. It’s important to pay attention to the time of day when you consume coffee.
Scientist James Betts from the University of Bath suggests that poor sleep can increase the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body, which may lead to higher blood sugar levels.
“The best approach is to wait a few hours after waking up before having coffee. It is recommended to drink coffee after breakfast to better control your metabolism,” he wrote in his study.
The optimal time for drinking coffee is late in the morning when your cortisol levels are lower. This means that if you wake up around 7 o’clock in the morning, you should have your coffee between 10 am and noon. If you’re willing to change your morning habits, you might notice that delaying your first cup of coffee will help you stay energized for longer.
The effects of caffeine can last between three and five hours, depending on the individual. Therefore, you should avoid drinking coffee several hours before bedtime to prevent caffeine from disrupting your sleep.
The study showed that cortisol in coffee keeps us alert and helps us focus on tasks we perform. Additionally, cortisol also regulates metabolism, the immune system response, and even blood pressure.
