Many of us feel the need for coffee as soon as we wake up. Understandable, but incorrect because of biochemistry and cortisol.
The morning smells like coffee. Many of us feel the need for it as soon as we get out of bed, almost as if it were a ritual, a pleasant way to start the day with energy. But are we sure that drinking coffee as soon as we wake up is the right choice for our bodies? In this regard, science offers us an answer, thanks to a study conducted by Steven Miller, a neuropsychologist and expert in chronopharmacology, the discipline that analyzes the interaction between different biological rhythms of the human body and drugs. In fact, according to Dr. Miller, the worst time to enjoy our beloved coffee is right in the morning, just after waking up. Why? It is a biochemical issue: our body produces a substance, cortisol, which is crucial to our hormonal cycle. It is cortisol that helps us wake up in the morning and relax at night. Drinking coffee at times when the body releases more cortisol is a mistake, because caffeine replaces it instead of boosting it. In practice, in this time slot, coffee stimulates us unnaturally and we become addicted to it. In addition, Dr. Miller explains that drinking coffee when our cortisol levels peak, i.e., between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., could cause many people an uncomfortable headache. Excess cortisol, then, could have the opposite effect, making us feel tired and sleepy.
But then, what is the best time to enjoy a good cup of coffee?
The ideal time would be between 9:30 and 11:30 am, just when the cortisol level in the blood decreases and we can replace it with caffeine, and after lunch, from 1:30 to 5 pm. Ample time interval to be able to enjoy it. In the morning, as soon as you wake up, opt for a good orange juice or fruit juice instead. You will probably immediately feel more awake and productive, ready to face the day with more energy.
