Having a cup of coffee in the morning could provide more health benefits than drinking it throughout the day, according to a new study. Researchers conducted a study to determine whether the time of day people consume coffee has any impact on their health. The study involved over 40,000 adults in the US who were part of long-term studies examining health, nutrition, and lifestyle. They identified two distinct patterns of coffee drinking – morning coffee drinkers and all-day coffee drinkers.
The research team, led by experts from Tulane University in the US, followed the participants for nearly a decade. During the follow-up period, around 4,295 participants died. The researchers discovered some interesting findings. Morning coffee drinkers were 16% less likely to have died compared to non-coffee drinkers, and they were 31% less likely to have died from heart disease. On the other hand, there was no decrease in risk noted for all-day coffee drinkers compared to non-coffee drinkers.
According to lead author Dr. Lu Qi, from Tulane University, previous research has indicated that coffee consumption does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and may even lower the risk of certain chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. The study found that higher coffee intake was associated with a lower risk of death, but this was significant only among morning coffee drinkers compared to those who consumed coffee all day.
Dr. Qi highlighted the importance of considering the timing of coffee consumption, stating that it might be a crucial factor beyond just the quantity consumed. The researchers also suggested that drinking coffee in the morning could be linked to a decreased risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to drinking it later in the day. However, further studies are required to confirm these findings in other populations and explore the potential impact of changing the timing of coffee consumption.
In a related editorial, Professor Thomas Luuscher, from the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in London, emphasised the potential health benefits of consuming coffee in the morning hours. He indicated that there is substantial evidence supporting the idea that morning coffee consumption is likely to be healthy, and therefore, encouraged individuals to enjoy their coffee in the morning.
The study also observed similar health outcomes among individuals who consumed caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, whether in the morning or throughout the day. Participants with a morning coffee-drinking pattern were more inclined to consume tea and caffeinated soda but less coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, compared to all-day coffee drinkers. These findings suggest that the timing of coffee consumption could play a vital role in its health effects.
Overall, the study highlights the potential health benefits of drinking coffee in the morning and the importance of considering the timing of coffee consumption as a factor in promoting heart health and reducing the risk of mortality. Further research is needed to delve deeper into the relationship between coffee drinking patterns and health outcomes and to explore the mechanisms behind these findings. As Professor Luuscher pointed out, it seems that enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning could indeed contribute to a healthier lifestyle.