Your morning cup of coffee may do more than just help you wake up — it could help you live longer, according to a new study. But before you reach for that afternoon pick-me-up, researchers said timing is everything.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, analyzed data from more than 40,000 adults and found those who drank coffee in the morning had a significantly lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer and other causes. However, those who spread their coffee consumption throughout the day did not see the same benefits.
Morning coffee drinkers showed a 16% lower risk of death from any cause and an impressive 31% lower risk of cardiovascular-related death compared to noncoffee drinkers. The protective effects were most substantial in people who consumed two to three cups per day.
“We found that coffee drinking timing was associated with mortality risk independent of the amounts of coffee intake,” said Dr. Lu Qi, an epidemiologist at Tulane University and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, according to MedPage Today. “Our findings highlight the importance of considering drinking timing in the association between coffee intake and health outcomes.”
So why does it matter if you have your second or third cup later in the day? The research suggests two reasons: One is that drinking caffeine later in the day could interfere with our natural sleep cycles. The other is that morning seems to be the time when inflammation levels in our bodies peak, and coffee’s anti-inflammatory effects may work best then.
Although more studies are needed to fully confirm these findings, they add to the increasing evidence that drinking coffee in moderation can have health benefits. So, for those who love their cup of Joe, it seems wise to savor that last cup before the afternoon to reap the most benefits.
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