For most adults on the planet, the word “morning” only exists if it is followed by “coffee.” Seeking out the elixir that provides alertness has become a habit, however, we may be dead wrong about the timing. According to AsapScience, the ideal moment to have your cup of coffee is around 10 am.
Human being operate in accordance with an internal biological clock, scientifically known as the circadian rhythm. It is responsible for regulating a multitude of processes, many of which we are unaware of. Sleep timing, for instance, is one of these processes. Cortisol release is another.
Although cortisol is released in stressful stiuations, it is also responsible for a person’s alertness levels.
Drinking coffee too early in the morning is actually counterproductive as we are failing to maximize its effects. Cortisol, one of the many stress hormones our body produces, has a rhythmic production with several peaks. One of these natural peaks occurs around 8-9 am (a part of your body’s natural wake-up mechanism).
Sadly, we cannot increase cortisol’s effects by drinking coffee. On the contrary, having our morning cup of liquid pleasure when cortisol levels are high lessens the drink’s effects. Moreover, in time, it also increases one’s tolerance for caffeine.
The same applies for other caffeinated beverages.
Cortisol production is also depends on personal variations in circadian rhythms: if you are a night owl or an early riser, the hormone’s natural peaks may occur at different hours. But as a general rule of thumb, cortisol levels soar approximately 50 percent immediately after waking up.
“Science says, wait at least an hour to get your cup of joe and your body will be optimally ready to go.”
A person’s cortisol levels also rise several other times throughout the day (around noon and between 5:30 and 6:30 PM).
Ideally, you should be drinking coffee outside of these times to ensure the maximum effects of the beverage.
Image Source: Pinterest
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.