New study shows the best time to drink coffee for heart health
A recent study suggests that drinking alcohol at a particular time of day provides maximum health benefits.
According to a new study, drinking coffee in the morning may have more health benefits than drinking it throughout the day.
Published in the European Heart Journal, the findings suggest that morning coffee drinkers may have a lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who drink coffee throughout the day.
The study, led by Dr. Lu Qi, director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center, examined data from more than 40,000 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the US (1999-2018). Participants shared details about their coffee habits, including how much coffee they drank and what time of day they drank it.
During an average follow-up period of about 10 years, 4,295 participants died, including 1,268 deaths related to heart disease. The findings showed that:
- Morning coffee drinkers had a 16% lower risk of death from any cause.
- They also had a 31% lower risk of dying from heart disease compared to non-coffee drinkers.
- Those who drank coffee all day did not appear to have that much reduced risk.
Dr. Qi explained that although the study does not prove that coffee is the sole cause of the health benefits, one possible explanation is that drinking coffee later in the day may disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm – our natural 24-hour internal clock. Is. This disruption can affect hormone levels, including melatonin, and factors like inflammation and blood pressure, both of which are linked to heart health.
“Coffee drank later in the day may interfere with the body’s natural rest cycle, potentially affecting heart health outcomes,” Dr. Qi said.
Interestingly, the study found morning coffee drinkers also drank less coffee overall and were more likely to consume tea and caffeinated soda than those who drank throughout the day.
Dr. Qi stressed the need for more research, especially clinical trials, to confirm whether shifting coffee consumption earlier in the day could be a practical recommendation for better heart health.
For now, the findings suggest that the earlier in the day you’re going to drink a cup of coffee, the better.
