Morning Coffee May Offer the Most Heart-Health Benefits
Drinking coffee in the morning may lower the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and other causes compared to drinking coffee throughout the day or not drinking it at all, according to new research.
Compared with non-coffee drinkers, morning coffee drinkers were 31 percent less likely to die from heart disease and 16 percent less likely to die prematurely from any cause. However, those who consumed coffee throughout the day did not experience the same reductions in risk, showing similar rates of heart disease and early death as non-coffee drinkers.
This study is the first to examine not only the quantity of coffee consumed but also the timing of consumption in relation to health outcomes.
2 or 3 Cups of Morning Coffee Were the ‘Sweet Spot’
Most studies have found that moderate coffee consumption—about 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine a day, or approximately two to three 12-ounce cups—is linked with lower risks of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers aimed to explore whether the timing of coffee consumption impacts heart health. The study analyzed over 40,000 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. Participants reported their food and drink intake, including coffee consumption, and were followed for nearly 10 years.
The study defined “morning coffee drinking” as occurring between 4 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. Approximately 36 percent of participants were morning coffee drinkers, 16 percent consumed coffee throughout the day, and 48 percent did not drink coffee at all. Morning coffee drinkers experienced lower risks regardless of whether they were moderate or heavy drinkers.
Why Wouldn’t Drinking Coffee Later in the Day Have the Same Benefits?
Although the study was observational and does not establish causality, it suggests that drinking coffee in the morning may be beneficial for cardiovascular health. One potential explanation is that consuming coffee later in the day could disrupt circadian rhythms and hormone levels, potentially leading to changes in cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and blood pressure.
The researchers highlight that good sleep hygiene is crucial for overall health and suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of coffee may work best when consumed in the morning.
Should You Stop Drinking Afternoon Coffee?
While the findings are intriguing, there isn’t enough data to recommend that people restrict their coffee consumption to the morning. All-day coffee drinkers did not exhibit a worse risk compared to non-coffee drinkers; rather, they simply did not see the same level of reduced risk as morning coffee drinkers.
If coffee throughout the day is a significant part of someone’s routine and doesn’t cause harm, there is no reason to eliminate it based on this study. Further research is necessary to validate these findings in different populations before making definitive recommendations.
