Coffee Time – You decide when to have that cup of coffee.
Many individuals start their day with a cup of coffee right after the alarm goes off. You could even program the timer to start the pot before you wake up.
“Morning coffee is a popular beverage around the world,” explains registered dietitian Health care specialist . “It’s a common habit, and if something interferes with your morning routine, you might feel uneasy.”
However, should you reschedule your coffee breaks? In terms of science, there is still disagreement about that. Waiting till mid-morning or late afternoon to have your first (or second) cup is advised by some experts.
However, remain calm! According to Health care specialist, there isn’t always a “best time” to have coffee.
Having coffee in the morning
Nearly 100 milligrammes of caffeine can be found in an 8-ounce cup of coffee, though the exact amount varies according on the kind of coffee grounds you use and how you prepare them.
“Drinking coffee first thing in the morning helps you wake up because it’s a stimulant,” adds Health care specialist. Caffeine accomplishes this, among other things, by raising cortisol levels in the body. Now let’s get started.
Your body releases cortisol, also referred to as the stress hormone, in fight-or-flight circumstances when it senses danger. Now, even if you’re not a morning person, an ordinary morning isn’t usually dangerous!,
(even if you’re not a morning person!), but your body still releases cortisol after waking up.
“You naturally release cortisol in the morning to help you become more alert and aware of your surroundings as you wake from your slumber,” Health care specialist explains.
Your cortisol levels typically peak between 7am and 8 a.m. and gradually drop throughout the day, reaching their lowest point in the middle of the night while you sleep. In this way, cortisol helps your body maintain its sleep-wake cycle, known as the circadian rhythm.
But the stimulating effects of caffeinated coffee first thing in the morning can rev up your cortisol production. Some people may welcome this extra jolt to their systems, while others may feel more anxious, jittery or irritable.
According to Health care specialist, “everyone has a different internal response, or sensitivity, to caffeine.”
Stress, an excessive amount of caffeine, or other variables might result in persistently elevated cortisol levels, which can cause inflammation and damage to cells.
He continues, “You’re at an increased risk for weight gain, diabetes, heart problems, and other health concerns when your cortisol levels stay elevated.”
Unless you work a late shift, it might not be a good idea to drink coffee late at night.
Depending on your metabolism, caffeine can have a half-life of two to ten hours, according to Health care specialist. That is to say, your body may take as little as two hours or as much as ten hours to completely eliminate half of the caffeine in a single cup of coffee.
For people with a certain “coffee gene,” a late-night cup of coffee isn’t a problem. The CYP1A2 gene helps your body break down and get rid of caffeine — and some people actually have two copies of this gene, which helps them break down caffeine faster than those who have one copy.
If you can have two shots of espresso at 10 p.m. and still fall asleep, your body most likely processes caffeine rapidly.
What specialists know about the ideal time to drink coffee is as follows:
Coffee raises cortisol levels first thing in the morning, which may cause you to feel more wired.
Depending on your genes and metabolism, drinking coffee at night may or may not effects how well you sleep.
So, when’s the best time to have that cuppa?
There’s no scientific evidence that supports a “best time.” But a mid- to late-morning cup between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. may help you reap the most coffee benefits. That’s when cortisol levels start to dip, and you’ll get the biggest bang from the effect of caffeine.
Alternatively, if you want to get through the afternoon slump, you could wish to have a cup of coffee at 2:00 pm. After lunch, “many of us feel sluggish or less productive,” says Health care specialist. Should you decide against taking a power sleep, a cup of coffee could help you get through the remainder of the day.
Is there a moment when drinking coffee helps you lose weight?
No, there isn’t — because coffee doesn’t help with weight loss. Despite what you might have seen on TikTok or elsewhere on social media, coffee doesn’t have magical calorie- or fat-burning properties. And the scale won’t budge faster if you add lemon to your coffee.
However, coffee makes a fantastic replacement for drinks with more calories.
Depending on the size of the cup, specialty flavoured coffee beverages may contain more than 500 calories, according to Health care specialist. By using sugar substitutes or reduced- or fat-free milk alternatives, you can cut back on those empty calories.
Proffee, or coffee infused with protein powder, may offer additional advantages. Protein helps you feel fuller for longer, which might help with weight loss because it takes longer to digest.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States advises against consuming more than 400 milligrammes of caffeine daily for adults and fewer than 200 milligrammes during pregnancy. This covers the caffeine found in many goods such as tea, chocolate, sodas, and energy drinks.
Americans tend to consume less caffeine than is advised, despite the fact that we are infamous for overindulging in sugar and salt. A lot of us take in about 135 mg of caffeine daily. One and a half cups of coffee is that. It’s totally up to you when you choose to sip those energising beverages throughout the day!
