Most people wake up from a deep sleep and put their coffee machines on straight away to wake up.
However, sleep expert and GP, Dr Deborah Lee from Doctor Fox, spoke to The Wooden Bed Company on why this should be completely avoided.
Caffeine works by blocking sleep-promoting receptors in your brain called adenosine receptors, explaining why those who drink caffeine too late in the day may struggle to drift off.
Dr Lee discusses when the best time to drink coffee is for the best effect, as well as why you really shouldn’t reach for the mug as soon as you open your eyes:
Why doesn’t coffee work as soon as you wake up?
“As soon as you wake up from a sleep, your stress hormone cortisol level is at its very highest; a hormone that enhances focus and alertness. This also regulates your metabolism and immune system response.
Cortisol levels that are elevated may impact your immune system, and if they’re already at it’s very highest when waking up, then the coffee you grab may not have any effect at all.
If you’re drinking coffee frequently when you wake up, you actually may become immune to the effect caffeine is supposed to have over a long period of time.”
So, when is the best time to drink coffee?
“The best time to drink coffee would be at least 45-minutes after you wake up.
The cortisol hormone follows a rhythm that’s very specific to your own sleeping cycle, so everyone’s different, so you can’t put a time stamp on it, for say, but if you wait around 45-minutes after waking up for your first sip, you’re in for a good chance of it kicking in better.
Your cortisol hormone will peak around this time, and then slowly start to decline throughout the day as you get closer to bedtime. The longer you leave your coffee, the more you’ll see the benefit,
If you’re someone that wakes up at 8am, for example, leaving your first coffee until around 10-12am will be when your body and mind will appreciate it the very most and you’ll reap the most benefits from the coffee.
However, don’t leave your coffee intake too close to bedtime, as it may keep you awake at night.”
When should you stop drinking coffee for a better night’s sleep?
“Typically, you should stop drinking coffee at least six hours before you sleep. So if you have a 10pm bedtime, aim to have your last coffee, latest, at 4pm.
However, this is different for different people, and only you know your own caffeine tolerance.
To avoid messing up your sleeping pattern, avoid any caffeine after 3pm. Don’t forget, caffeine isn’t just in coffee, but is also in fizzy drinks too, so try and limit those, or opt for caffeine free drinks.
Try switching to herbal teas if you need a hot drink to stay warm, or decaf to trick yourself into thinking you’re getting your caffeine fix.
Your sleep schedule will thank you!”
Photo by Spencer Gurley Films: https://www.pexels.com/photo/coffee-latte-on-brown-ceramic-cup-and-platter-1476647/
