Coffee is good for you, but only if you drink it at the right time of day

In summary

• Drinking coffee in the morning is associated with a 16% reduction in the risk of mortality and a 31% reduction in death from cardiovascular diseases.
• These benefits do not apply to coffee drinkers throughout the day.
• Circadian rhythms and hormonal interactions may play a crucial role in these differences.
• Coffee consumption alone is not enough to explain these results, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Drinking coffee: a gesture for health, depending on the time

Coffee, a daily companion for many, may be more than just a morning pleasure. An American study highlights a fascinating link between coffee consumption and the reduction of cardiovascular disease risks or overall mortality. But there is a subtlety not to be ignored: the time of your daily cup could make all the difference!

Consuming coffee at the right time - in the morning, according to this research - seems to offer specific benefits for our health. So, what exactly does this mean? This discovery is based on in-depth analysis that sheds new light on this universal ritual. Let's explore what this means in concrete terms.

A long-term study to understand coffee

To arrive at these findings, researchers from Tulane University's obesity research center examined coffee consumption habits over an impressive period: between 1999 and 2018. Over 450,000 participants were followed, allowing for robust statistics. It is therefore rigorous observational work that has linked the benefits of coffee to certain times of the day.

This large sample size allowed researchers to collect detailed data on lifestyle, diets, and the health status of coffee drinkers. With such a study base, the results drawn are not anecdotal.

Morning coffee: proven benefits

Morning coffee lovers can rejoice! According to the study results, those who consume their coffee early in the day have significant advantages compared to non-coffee drinkers. The risk of overall mortality is reduced by 16%, a figure that catches attention!

Even more striking: the risk of death from heart disease decreases by 31%. These numbers show that morning coffee could play a key role in our heart health. As for those who savor their coffee throughout the day? The benefits are not there, as the risk rates remain similar to those of non-drinkers.

Rhythms and hormones: a scientific explanation

But why such differences depending on the time? Scientists put forward interesting hypotheses. Starting with the circadian rhythms, these biological cycles that regulate so many aspects of our health. Drinking coffee at random times would disrupt these rhythms, thus limiting the positive effects that could be derived.

In addition, consumption at late hours could affect essential hormonal levels. For example, cortisol, a hormone linked to our state of wakefulness and stress, could be disrupted by inappropriate caffeine intake. This would explain why the observed benefits in the morning diminish throughout the day.

To be nuanced: coffee is not the only factor

Despite these promising results, it should not be forgotten that coffee, taken alone, cannot guarantee good health. As the researchers point out, it is only one element among a multitude of factors. Diet, physical activity, and genetic predispositions also play a considerable role.

Furthermore, although the sample size of this study is large, it is still important to conduct further research on different populations to better understand the mechanisms at play. The goal? To understand why and how the biological clock influences the effects of a cup of coffee.