Why It's Important to Drink Coffee After 9 AM: Scientists Reveal a Crucial Finding

Many tend to regard morning coffee as their wake-up drink. The question is, what defines morning, and does it truly matter if we drink our first coffee at 8 AM or at 1 PM?

Before you open your mouth in amazement and ask what the connection is between a morning coffee and a 1 PM coffee, note that research conducted a few years ago found that it doesn't matter when we wake up - our cortisol levels spike by 50% upon waking.

What does this actually mean for us? It means that for all lovers of the 'morning coffee,' it's recommended to wait at least an hour before consuming it if you want its effects to be more efficient.

The biological clock, known as the 'circadian rhythm,' regulates cortisol levels in our body and is also responsible for our alertness throughout the day. Researchers who studied cortisol levels found that between 8-9 AM, they peak, and caffeine intake only elevates it further.

Beware of Drinking Coffee Before 9 AM

This is why, immediately after drinking coffee during these hours, we often feel a heightened sense of pressure. Hence, scientists recommend consuming coffee as late as possible during the day, and in any case, after 9 AM.

What will happen to your body if you consume coffee before 9 AM? Well, don’t be surprised if you suddenly start feeling tired. Yes, you heard right. It turns out that consuming caffeine during cortisol's peak times produces the opposite effect of what we aim for, and instead of the necessary energy level, we feel tired and lethargic.

How do we compensate for this feeling? You guessed it: we'll need to consume a few more good cups of coffee to reach the energy level required for a busy workday. For this reason, it's advisable to avoid coffee between 12 and 1 PM, as well as between 5:30 and 6:30 PM, times when sharp increases in cortisol levels are also recorded.