Enjoy Morning Coffee for Enhanced Heart Health
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New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) While coffee provides numerous health advantages, the optimal time to enjoy this warm drink is during the morning hours, according to a study published on Wednesday.
The research, featured in the European Heart Journal, revealed that individuals who consume coffee in the morning have a reduced risk of dying from heart disease. Additionally, they exhibit a lower overall risk of mortality compared to those who drink coffee throughout the day.
Scientists from Tulane University in the US found that morning coffee enthusiasts were 16 percent less likely to die from any cause and 31 percent less likely to succumb to cardiovascular disease.
In contrast, no significant risk reduction was observed for individuals who consumed coffee at all times compared to non-coffee drinkers.
“This is the first study examining the timing of coffee consumption and its health effects. Our results suggest that it’s not solely about whether you drink coffee or the quantity, but rather the time of day that plays a crucial role,” stated Dr. Lu Qi, Professor at Tulane.
For this study, data from 40,725 adults collected between 1999 and 2018 was analyzed.
Participants were surveyed regarding all food and beverages consumed on at least one day, including coffee consumption details—amount and timing. A sub-group of 1,463 individuals maintained a comprehensive food and drink diary for an entire week.
The research team correlated this information with death records and causes of death spanning nine to ten years.
More than one-third of the participants were identified as morning coffee drinkers (primarily consuming coffee before noon), while less than one-quarter drank coffee throughout the day (morning, afternoon, and evening). This was compared to 48 percent of participants who did not consume coffee.
Morning coffee drinkers enjoyed lower risks regardless of whether they were moderate drinkers (two to three cups) or heavy drinkers (more than three cups). Those who consumed light amounts (one cup or less) experienced a smaller decrease in risk, according to the researchers.
However, the study did not clarify the mechanism by which morning coffee consumption lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
A possible explanation could be that consuming coffee in the afternoon or evening might disrupt circadian rhythms and hormones like melatonin, potentially leading to alterations in cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and blood pressure, Qi noted, urging further research to confirm these findings.
