A new study suggests that the timing of coffee consumption plays a significant role in its health benefits, particularly when consumed in the morning. The research indicates that enjoying coffee early in the day could reduce the risk of death, especially from heart disease, compared to drinking coffee throughout the day.
The study, which involved more than 40,000 adults in the United States, explored the relationship between coffee drinking habits and long-term health outcomes. The participants were part of ongoing studies focusing on health, nutrition, and lifestyle, with researchers tracking their habits for nearly a decade.
The findings reveal two distinct patterns of coffee consumption: those who drink coffee primarily in the morning and those who consume it throughout the day. Among the participants, 36% were classified as “morning coffee drinkers,” while 14% were identified as “all-day coffee drinkers.”
The study, led by experts from Tulane University, tracked the health outcomes of participants, including a follow-up period during which 4,295 individuals passed away. After adjusting for various factors, the researchers found that morning coffee drinkers had a 16% lower risk of death compared to those who did not drink coffee. Additionally, they were 31% less likely to die from heart disease. No such reduction in risk was observed for individuals who consumed coffee throughout the day.
“The timing of coffee consumption appears to be as important as the amount consumed,” said Dr. Lu Qi, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Tulane University in Louisiana. “Drinking coffee in the morning may be more strongly associated with a lower risk of mortality than drinking it later in the day.”
The study also highlighted that higher coffee consumption was linked to a lower risk of death, but this effect was most pronounced for morning coffee drinkers. According to the researchers, the time of day when coffee is consumed could be an important factor in its health benefits. “We don’t usually offer advice on the timing of food and beverage intake, but perhaps we should reconsider this in future dietary guidelines,” said Dr. Qi.
Although the exact mechanism behind the reduced risk remains unclear, the researchers suggested that consuming coffee later in the day might interfere with circadian rhythms and disrupt hormone levels, such as melatonin. This disruption could, in turn, affect cardiovascular health, increasing inflammation and blood pressure, which are known risk factors for heart disease.
Professor Thomas Lüscher, from the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in London, noted that many individuals who drink coffee throughout the day often experience sleep disturbances. “There is now substantial evidence suggesting that consuming coffee in the morning is likely to be beneficial to health,” he said. “So, if you enjoy coffee, it may be wise to drink it earlier in the day.”
The study’s findings were consistent for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee drinkers. Interestingly, morning coffee drinkers were also more likely to consume other caffeinated beverages like tea and soda but tended to drink less overall coffee than all-day coffee drinkers.
As the research team emphasizes, more studies are needed to confirm these findings across different populations and to explore whether adjusting the timing of coffee consumption could have broader health benefits.
Related topics
