Morning Coffee Linked to Longer Life and Better Heart Health

If you never skip your morning cup of coffee, you’ve got a good reason to keep it that way. A large-scale study found a link between early coffee consumption and longer life expectancy.  The researchers warn however, that drinking coffee after noon may actually harm your health.

The study, conducted at Tulane University in New Orleans, tracked more than 20,000 participants over the course of two decades. The data showed that people who drank coffee in the morning had about a 16% lower risk of overall mortality and a 30% lower risk of death from heart disease, compared to those who didn’t drink coffee at all.

Experts point out that the timing of your coffee is crucial. Dr. Aurelio Rojas, a cardiologist at a hospital in Malaga, Spain, explained on social media that drinking coffee only in the morning was found to be beneficial, while consuming caffeine in the afternoon may disrupt the body’s hormonal balance- particularly the secretion of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep- thereby interfering with the body’s natural relaxation and recovery mechanisms.

Researchers believe the health benefits of coffee are likely due to its nutritional components- including antioxidants and B vitamins- which support heart health and cellular function.

Keep enjoying your coffee, but try to drink it in the morning hours to maximize its health benefits, without paying the price of fatigue or unnecessary stress later in the day.