Some days, the only thing that motivates us to start our day is the promise of coffee in the morning. Actually, coffee is one of the most consumed beverages around the world, so we are by no means alone. But why do we all like it? Well, we have all the reasons why you should start or continue drinking coffee in the morning.
What Makes the Morning a Challenge?
If you are a morning person, you are lucky! Others have to fight off the gravitational pull of their bed every morning. Some people find themselves hitting the snooze button a million and one times every morning. Maybe you have listened to many motivational talks about why you should wake up early in the morning and want to change your routine. Luckily, coffee is there to help you.
You may have incorporated some tricks to help you wake up in the morning but failed miserably. So why is waking up in the morning an uphill task? Surprisingly, it is not laziness that makes you think of your mattress and pillow hours after you’ve woken up. There are scientific reasons why you find it hard to wake up in the morning.
One is exposure to light in the evening or before you sleep, especially if you’re exposed to artificial light. Artificial light tends to trick the mind into thinking it is still daytime. An inner clock also sets your sleep times, and late wakes are known as a phase delay.
If you are one of the people who have tried to sleep early in order to wake up early too but failed, then you might have what medics call sleep inertia. It is a psychological condition that makes you feel groggy even after the required sleeping time. It is not a sleeping disorder, so it may not require treatment or medicine. However, it can be managed by getting some naps throughout the day or having a cup of coffee whenever you wake up.
A Morning Person Thoughts
Becoming a morning person may be a combination of inherited genes and regular habits or either one of those. Good for you if it comes naturally! However, if you are not naturally a morning person, you can use some strategies to become one, like sleeping in early.
Most morning people we may know consider mornings the best time to drink coffee. You need to understand that some people may not wake up early because of coffee. In fact, some even tend to sleep more after a nice cup.
Some morning people recommend finding something that will motivate you to wake up early in the morning. These things include planning to binge-watch TV shows or movies, play some games, accomplish some tasks that you love, and many more.
Also, incorporate coffee in your morning ritual to ensure that you look forward to waking up. If you love the sounds of birds chirping, you can choose this as a motivation to help you wake up early, too, and enjoy your cup while listening to them.
Coffee Is Best in the Morning Because…
In addition to the rich aroma and great taste, other benefits make people fall in love with this beverage, for example:
- Lower dementia and Alzheimer’s disease risk
- It helps one to stay awake and alert throughout the day
- It helps you burn fat
- Enhanced physical performance
- Reduced risk of cancer and Parkinson’s disease
- It has a lot of essential nutrients
- May reduce the risk of type 2 Diabetes
- It helps to fight off depression
- It may help to protect the liver
- Minimizes the risk of heart diseases and stroke
- It is the most significant source of antioxidants
Does It Have a Specific Time in the Morning?
So, we know it is best to take coffee in the morning. But what is the specific time you should do it? Does it have a specific time? The answers to these questions depend on your sleeping patterns and general morning routines.
Cortisol, or the stress hormone, is highest during the 8–9 am period. If you take coffee during this period, the caffeine will interfere with hormones, causing more stress. That is why you will sometimes experience morning anxiety if you take coffee before, say, 9:30 am.
So regardless of your sleeping patterns, the best time to take coffee is after 9:30 am. See, that’s not that early! Maybe you can even hit that snooze button once too.
What Makes It Different From Drinking at Other Times?
Coffee helps you stay awake and alert. Taking it in the morning means that you will have a bright day ahead, unlike taking it in the evening. That would only make you sleepless.
Also, coffee might help you to burn fat and lose weight. Taking it in the morning also means that your body will keep burning at most hours of the day.
Despite the after 9:30 am recommendation, coffee will still serve you all its benefits even if you choose to make it an afternoon beverage. Your body will still gracefully absorb all of its nutrients, and you will stay focused for longer until your work is done.