Drinking coffee in the morning instead of throughout the day could cut your risk of heart problems by almost a third, a new study suggests.
A major study of more than 40,000 American adults found that morning coffee drinkers were 31% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who drank coffee at different times.
The study also showed that people who drank their coffee before midday had a 16% reduced risk of death from any cause.
The results suggest that the timing of coffee consumption may be more crucial for health benefits than the amount consumed.
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The research examined data spanning a decade from U.S. adults participating in health, nutrition and lifestyle studies. Clear trends emerged in the way people consumed their coffee, with just over a third drinking it exclusively before midday.
Only 16 percent of participants drank coffee throughout the day.
Half of the people studied didn’t drink coffee at all.
The findings, published in the European Heart Journal, mark the first time researchers have specifically examined the timing of coffee consumption and its impacts on health.
The study found health benefits for moderate and heavy coffee drinkers who consumed their drinks before midday.
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Those who drank two to three cups in the morning showed significant improvements in their health.
Even those who had more than three coffees before noon experienced the same benefits.
People who only drank one cup or less in the morning still saw positive effects, although the reduction in risk was smaller.
However, researchers found no reduction in health risks for those who drank coffee throughout the day compared to non-coffee drinkers.
These findings apply to both cardiovascular disease risk and overall mortality rates.
Pouring coffee into a cup
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Lead researcher Dr Lu Qi, from Tulane University in Louisiana, highlighted the importance of timing of coffee consumption.
“Our results indicate that it’s not just whether you drink coffee or how much you drink, but also the time of day you drink coffee that is important,” he said.
Dr. Qi suggested that timing could become a key factor in future dietary directions.
Professor Thomas Luscher, consultant cardiologist at the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals in London, gave clear advice.
“Overall, we must accept the now substantial evidence that coffee consumption, particularly in the morning, is likely to be healthy. So drink your coffee, but do it in the morning,” he said.
Researchers explained why drinking coffee in the morning might be more beneficial than drinking it throughout the day.
Woman drinking coffee while working on her bed
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Coffee consumed after midday can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythms – the internal clock that controls daily physical and mental changes.
All-day coffee drinkers may experience sleep problems due to coffee’s suppression of melatonin, a brain chemical essential for sleep.
These sleep disturbances can trigger changes in cardiovascular risk factors.
Disrupted sleep patterns can lead to increased inflammation and changes in blood pressure.
This suggests that the timing of coffee consumption could play a critical role in how the beverage affects heart health.