You Can Time Your Morning Coffee For Optimal Heart Health, According To Science

Morning routines often involve a glass of water, some light exercise and coffee to keep you energized during the day. But often this coffee consumption is discouraged as too much caffeine is not good for your body. But does that mean you must give up on your favorite drinks and find something else to get you started? No, you just have to time it better! A new study published in the European Heart Journal shows that when you choose to drink your coffee matters. It's not just about whether you're a coffee drinker or not, but the time of day you choose to enjoy your cup that can significantly influence its health benefits, particularly concerning your heart and overall lifespan. The research strongly suggests that shifting your coffee habit to the morning could be a simple yet effective way to maximize its positive impact on your well-being. This study highlights the importance of considering the timing of our daily habits for optimal health outcomes.

One of the most important findings of the research showed that people who drank their coffee earlier in the day significantly decreased their chances of health declining and more specifically, from developing cardiovascular disease. Compared to those who didn't drink coffee at all, morning coffee drinkers had a significantly lower chance of these adverse outcomes. Interestingly, the study revealed that spreading coffee consumption throughout the day didn't offer the same protective benefits. This suggests that the timing of your coffee intake plays a crucial role in its potential health advantages.

Why Morning Coffee Might Be More Beneficial

The link between coffee, melatonin, and sleep is a crucial aspect of this research. Many people who sip on coffee throughout the day often experience sleep disturbances. You must have seen how people like this rely on coffee to keep them awake and going through the day, but what they don’t know is that it is likely because of caffeine. Basically caffeine, which is the active ingredient in coffee, can suppress your melatonin production. Melatonin is a component that affects your sleep cycle, for example when it is night and your usual sleeping time arrives, it signals to your brain that it's time to rest. So naturally, when melatonin is suppressed, it can become harder to fall asleep and even stay asleep, leading to either a restless night or daytime fatigue. The reason why it is advisable to drink coffee earlier in the day is because that allows time for the caffeine to make it out of our system so that at night it doesn’t affect your melatonin production.

This fascinating research highlights the importance of considering not only what we consume but also when we consume it.

Impact on Circadian Rhythm

As mentioned above, the time you chose to drink coffee can affect your body's circadian rhythm, which is your body’s internal clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles and other bodily functions for example it can start feeling sleepy around your usual time of sleeping, same with hunger and etc. Consuming coffee later in the day could disrupt melatonin production which means your body will not feel sleepy on your usual time.

Melatonin Suppression

All-day coffee consumption is often associated with sleep problems. We know that coffee's ability to suppress melatonin may contribute to these issues. While you may be drinking it to stay awake, it is slowly making you much more tired and fatigued by not letting your body rest.

Blood Pressure and Sleep

Disrupted sleep can negatively impact blood pressure, as blood pressure naturally decreases during sleep. When your body is forced to work overtime, it will get tired and disrupt your usual body functions. When you are sleeping poorly it leads your body to have elevated blood pressure for longer periods, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

The research also suggested that the mentioned anti-inflammatory properties of coffee are also more effective when you drink it in the morning.