When is the best time to drink coffee? The experts weigh in on exactly when they think you should reach for your daily coffee…
Whether or not to drink your coffee first thing in the morning is a hotly debated topic.
Some people like to enjoy a nice hot cup of bean water just minutes after getting out of bed, while others prefer to have some breakfast, get a few things done, and then drink a coffee once they’re really ready to kick their day into gear.
But the topic is no longer up for debate, researchers have revealed the best time of day to enjoy a coffee.
Marilyn Cornelis, a caffeine researcher at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine says that genetics play a huge role in the effect of caffeine.
”Everyone responds to caffeine differently,” she told the New York Times, explaining that some people clear it out of their systems faster leaving them craving another cup, while others are satisfied with one a day.
Michael Grandner, the director of the sleep and health research program at the University of Arizona, said that after consuming a cup of coffee, it usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes for the effects of the caffeine to kick in.
He said that, personally, he prefers to wait 30 to 60 minutes after he’s woken up to have his first cup.
Some say that drinking coffee first thing in the morning can negatively affect your immune system, since your cortisol levels are elevated when you first wake up.
But neurobiologist for the US Army, Alison Brager told the New York Times that that argument holds no weight.
Brager explained that research shows regular caffeine consumption doesn’t actually have any effect on your cortisol levels.
She said that enjoying a coffee in the morning can help you get and stay focused, but if you leave it too late the effects of the caffeine will carry into the afternoon.
So it seems it’s mostly personal preference as to when you enjoy your cup of coffee, with most recommending you wait at least a little bit after you first wake up.
However, Grandner cautions not to wait too long, saying to finish your last cup at least six hours before going to bed so you can enjoy a restful sleep.
This article was reproduced with permission from 9Honey. To read the original article, click here.