“Unlock the Power of Timing: How Limiting Your Morning Cuppa Can Add Years to Your Life”

The Optimal Time to Drink Coffee for a Longer Life

Drinking coffee has been linked to improved heart health and a longer life. However, new research suggests that the benefits of drinking coffee may depend on when you drink it. Consuming coffee in the morning may be best, and it’s not related to the amount consumed or other potentially influencing factors, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal.

The study analyzed the diet and health data of 40,725 adults aged 18 and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 1999 to 2018. The authors included a subgroup of 1,463 adults from the male and female versions of the lifestyle validation study who completed at least one week of dietary records.

The researchers found that most past studies examining participants’ coffee intake over time have found that moderate coffee intake may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. However, scientific evidence on whether factors such as genetics, intake, and added sweeteners influence these relationships has been inconsistent and sometimes controversial.

The authors identified two consumption time patterns: morning and throughout the day. By the end of the nearly 10-year median follow-up period, a total of 4,295 people had died from all causes, including 1,268 from cardiovascular disease and 934 from cancer.

Compared with non-drinkers, people who drank coffee only in the morning had a 16% lower risk of dying prematurely from any cause and a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Those who tended to drink coffee throughout the day were not at reduced risk. These findings persisted even after the authors took into account confounding factors such as sleep duration, age, race, ethnicity, gender, household income, education, physical activity levels, diet scores, and health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

For morning coffee drinkers, it doesn’t matter how much caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee they drink – whether they drink less than one cup or more than three cups a day. In terms of risk of death, doing it in the morning is still better than other modes.

“Timing is important,” said Dr. Lu Qi, lead author of the study. “We don’t usually provide advice on timing in dietary guidance, but perhaps we should consider this in the future.”

The study was observational, which means it was not an experimental setting, which is the gold standard. The nature of the study only established an association between morning coffee drinking and risk of premature death, not causation. However, the findings are significant because the leading cause of death in the United States is cardiovascular disease.

Why is timing important? “The anti-inflammatory effects of a morning coffee-focused pattern may be more beneficial than a morning coffee-focused pattern,” said Dr. Qi.

Coffee also contains antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation in the body by neutralizing free radicals that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Free radicals, unstable molecules from environmental sources such as cigarette smoke or pesticides, can damage cells.

The authors conclude that some inflammatory markers in the blood have their own clocks and are typically highest in the morning, so “the anti-inflammatory effects of a morning coffee-focused pattern may be more beneficial than a morning coffee-focused pattern” – this applies to the consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.

Adjust Your Coffee Intake

If you want to start limiting your coffee intake to the morning but are having trouble, consider whether you’re getting enough quality rest on a regular basis, said Vanessa King, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It may also be helpful to see a sleep specialist to find out if you have a condition like sleep apnea that interferes with your rest.

You can also start by diluting your daytime meals and hydrating with water, which can also help you feel more alert, King said.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What are the benefits of drinking coffee in the morning?
A: Drinking coffee in the morning may be associated with a lower risk of dying prematurely from any cause and a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Q: Is there a specific amount of coffee that I should drink in the morning?
A: For morning coffee drinkers, it doesn’t matter how much caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee they drink – whether they drink less than one cup or more than three cups a day.

Q: Can I still benefit from drinking coffee if I don’t drink it in the morning?
A: No, the study found that people who tended to drink coffee throughout the day were not at reduced risk.

Q: Are there any other factors that could influence the benefits of drinking coffee?
A: Yes, the study found that other factors such as genetics, intake, and added sweeteners may influence the relationships between coffee consumption and health outcomes.

Conclusion:

Drinking coffee in the morning may be associated with a lower risk of premature death and a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The study found that the benefits of drinking coffee in the morning are not related to the amount consumed or other potentially influencing factors. While the study was observational and not experimental, the findings are significant because the leading cause of death in the United States is cardiovascular disease.