Like a majority of working professionals, we consume coffee at really odd hours of the day and night, sometimes drinking coffee continuously until we leave work. But, you might be surprise to learn that researchers have determined that there are actually ideal times of the day to drink coffee.
Avoid Coffee in the Morning?
A 2015 article from TIME states that mornings are one of the worst times to drink coffee because the caffeine interferes with the production of cortisol, a hormone crucial to the process of waking our bodies. It’s also known as hydrocortisone, a steroid hormone that treats inflammation. We end up producing fewer amounts of cortisol and our bodies rely more on caffeine to supplant the missing cortisol — a hormone that’s released when you’re stressed and have low amounts of glucose.
The Best Times to Drink Coffee
Caffeine tolerance also increases as a result of fewer cortisols in production. Drinkers end up depending on coffee to provide them with the boost cortisol was already giving them. And cortisol levels aren’t just high in the mornings, but in the afternoons and nights, as well. So, TIME states that the best times to drink coffee are between 10am and 12pm, and 2pm and 5pm, when the amount of cortisol being produced is low.
A 2017 article from Insider agrees. While 85% of Americans regularly drink coffee in the morning, the alertness you feel when you first drink it fades within the first few hours. Ideally, you should drink coffee between mid-morning and early afternoon to get the most out of each cup.
While these time frames are good guidelines, you understand your body, and we all operate on different biological clocks. You can stop in anytime during our hours and choose between a delicious cup of coffee and a hot meal, or order both.
