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Research shows people who drink coffee in the morning are less likely to die prematurely. But that benefit fades for people who drink the brew later in the day.
A team from Tulane University in New Orleans conducted the first major study to look at how coffee’s health benefits depend on when you drink it. They found that people who drink coffee in the morning see advantages that aren’t seen in those who consume it at other times.
What Else Did the Researchers Discover?
The scientists analyzed the dietary habits of 40,725 adults who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the U.S. from 1999 to 2018. About 36 percent of them drank coffee in the morning, while 16 percent consumed it in the afternoon.
A decade-long follow-up showed that people 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 disease, compared with people who didn’t drink coffee at all.
However, the researchers found that the heart-health benefits disappeared for participants who drank coffee later in the day. Medical records did not show a significant reduction in mortality among those individuals.
Morning coffee drinkers had a lower risk of death whether they drank a moderate amount or more than three cups a day. The benefits were smaller for people who only had one cup in the morning.
“It’s not just about whether you drink coffee and how much you drink, but also the time of day when you do it,” said Professor Lu Qi, a nutrition and epidemiology expert at the university.
The study’s findings were published in the European Heart Journal. The team later validated their results with a smaller group of 1,463 people who kept detailed weekly food and drink diaries.
Why Is Morning Coffee More Important?
One possible explanation is that drinking coffee later in the day may disrupt circadian rhythms and hormone levels, including melatonin. That can affect sleep, inflammation, and blood pressure — all of which are tied to heart health.
In a related editorial, Professor Thomas Lüscher, a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in London, noted that many people who sip coffee throughout the day experience poor sleep. Coffee can suppress melatonin, the hormone that helps initiate sleep.
In addition to caffeine, coffee contains hundreds of other bioactive compounds that influence physiology. Certain inflammatory substances in the blood are often more active in the morning; anti-inflammatory compounds in morning coffee may help neutralize them, The Guardian reported.
Another recent study using UK Biobank data found that people who drank up to three cups of coffee a day had healthier hearts than non-drinkers.
The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK recommends limiting coffee to no more than four cups a day, because higher amounts can increase blood pressure. Pregnant women are advised to limit caffeine intake to 200 mg per day.
“Overall, we should acknowledge the substantial evidence that consuming coffee, especially in the morning, is likely beneficial for health. So, enjoy your coffee, but make sure to have it in the morning!” advised Professor Lüscher.
