Coffee can also be used to refresh you at the right time: Drinking it in the morning can protect your heart and prolong your life? 

Coffee is a life-saving magic weapon for many people to start the day. But you may not know that drinking coffee also requires “the right time, the right place, and the right people”. Recently, a study published in the European Heart Journal revealed the subtle connection between coffee drinking time and health. The study found that drinking coffee in the morning seems to reduce health risks, while drinking coffee throughout the day did not observe similar benefits. What is going on?

Coffee: A double-edged sword?

Coffee contains caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant that keeps us awake and alert. Moderate coffee consumption has been shown to have a variety of health benefits, such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. These benefits are also recognized by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

However, caffeine is also addictive, and excessive drinking (usually more than 3 cups a day) may bring some negative effects. In addition, an individual’s tolerance and intake of coffee are affected by many factors, including genetics, lifestyle habits (such as smoking), and added sugar and milk, which complicates the results of related studies.

Biological clock: the invisible driving force behind health

In recent years, more and more research has focused on the important role of biological clocks (circadian rhythms) in regulating human metabolism and health. The biological clock affects various physiological processes in our body, including sleep, diet, and hormone secretion. Studies have shown that the time of food intake can have a significant impact on health. Although we all know that coffee can refresh us, the specific effects of drinking coffee at different times of the day have rarely been studied in depth.

Research reveals: The “special effects” of drinking coffee in the morning

The study analyzed more than 42,000 American adults, collected their coffee drinking habits through a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire, and followed them up for 9.8 years. The researchers used cluster analysis to divide the participants into two categories:

Morning drinkers: Drink coffee primarily in the morning (4 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.). All-day drinkers: Drink coffee all day long. The findings were surprising:

Compared with non-coffee drinkers, morning types had significantly lower cardiovascular disease-specific mortality and all-cause mortality. No similar benefits were observed in all-day drinkers. Further analysis found that among morning types, there was a certain correlation between daily coffee intake and mortality – a moderate increase in coffee intake (for example, from 1 cup to more than 3 cups a day) seemed to bring more significant health benefits. There was no such association in all-day drinkers.

Why is coffee more effective in the morning?

While the study was observational and cannot directly prove cause and effect, the researchers speculate that it may be related to:

Synergy with the biological clock: Morning is the time when the body naturally wakes up and metabolism becomes active. Drinking coffee at this time may better synchronize with the body’s biological clock, thereby more effectively exerting its health benefits. Anti-inflammatory mechanism: Coffee contains some anti-inflammatory substances, which may be more easily utilized by the body in the morning, thereby better exerting its cardiovascular protective effect. How to “enjoy” coffee correctly?

This study provides us with a new perspective: drinking coffee should not only be done in moderation, but also at a certain time. Here are some suggestions:

Try to drink coffee in the morning: If you like coffee, try to enjoy it in the morning, preferably before the end of the morning. Pay attention to the intake: Although studies have shown that increasing the morning coffee intake in moderation may bring more benefits, you should also control your intake according to your own situation and avoid excessive intake. Pay attention to your own reaction: Everyone’s physical condition is different, and their reaction to coffee will also be different. Pay attention to your own reaction after drinking coffee, and make timely adjustments if you feel uncomfortable. It is not recommended to use coffee to replace a healthy lifestyle: Although coffee may bring some health benefits, it cannot replace a healthy lifestyle such as a balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep.