The best time to drink coffee to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases.

There are many people who love coffee. Some drink it in the morning to wake up faster, while others enjoy it throughout the day. A recent study, the results of which were shared by gastroenterologist and MOH expert Oleg Shvets, found that those who drink coffee have a 31% lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those who do not drink it. However, there is one crucial detail: the timing of coffee consumption is very important. When is the best time to drink it? Let’s take a look at what the study results showed.

“According to a recent study published in the European Heart Journal, people who only drank coffee in the morning had a lower risk of dying from heart issues compared to those who did not drink coffee at all. However, no such health outcomes were observed among those who consumed coffee throughout the day,” the expert writes.

Researchers analyzed data from over 40,000 American adults who reported whether they drank coffee, how often, and when. The team identified two main groups among coffee drinkers: a larger group consisted of those who drank coffee before noon, and a smaller group comprised those who consumed coffee throughout the day.

“By comparing this data with public death records over 10 years, researchers found that those who drank coffee in the morning had a 16% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular issues than those who did not drink it. However, there was no difference in the risk of death between those who drank coffee during the day and those who did not,” Oleg Shvets reported.

According to the doctor, this is the first study examining such aspects of coffee consumption and its impact on important health indicators. The results indicate that it is not only important whether a person drinks coffee and how much, but also at what time of day it occurs.

The researchers' work does not explain why morning coffee consumption reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. It is likely that drinking coffee during the day or evening may disrupt circadian rhythms and hormone levels, particularly melatonin. This, in turn, negatively affects cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and blood pressure.

“The benefits of morning coffee were observed among people who reported consuming any amount of coffee before noon, but the greatest positive effect was felt by those who drank at least two cups,” the doctor writes.

This could be related to how coffee affects the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for action, experts suggest. In the morning hours, when a person wakes up and gets out of bed, there is typically a noticeable increase in sympathetic activity. This effect decreases throughout the day and reaches its lowest level during sleep.

So, as the study authors note, consuming coffee in the afternoon or evening may disrupt the circadian rhythm of sympathetic activity. Indeed, many people who drink coffee throughout the day suffer from sleep disturbances. In this context, it is interesting to note that coffee seems to suppress melatonin, which induces sleep.

Another possible positive impact of coffee on health could be its ability to mitigate the effects of psycho-emotional stress and likely reduce inflammation.

If you haven't had your morning coffee yet, now is the perfect time to brew it.

Important!

This material does not contain medical advice or treatment recommendations and fully aligns with current scientific research. If you have health concerns, please consult a doctor.