The habit of drinking a cup of coffee as soon as you open your eyes has gained a bad reputation lately. Fortunately, no one is saying that you should give up your morning coffee altogether, just that it may be better to wait a while before drinking your first cup.
Coffee consumption has many demonstrable benefits. First of all, a widely known and obvious benefit is that the caffeine it contains helps us stay more alert. While this effect isn’t enough to completely eliminate the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive function, it can help you focus when you need relief, such as on a long car journey.
Also, brewing a fresh cup of coffee can fill a need in our lives as a relaxing and calming ritual. In a recent study, it was revealed that even the aroma of coffee alone has a stress-relieving effect in patients undergoing dental treatment. There is also some evidence to suggest that coffee may protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and type 2 diabetes, and this is certainly sufficient to warrant further research.
But despite all this, there are some people who should avoid coffee. For example, excessive caffeine consumption during pregnancy is not recommended by health professionals. Some people with digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome or gastroesophageal reflux disease may find that their symptoms are easier to manage if they avoid coffee, but there is still no conclusive research in this area and it may be at least partially due to personal preference.
Why does morning coffee have a bad reputation?
One of the biggest factors in getting the first coffee of the day a bad rap is hydration. Caffeine has a diuretic effect, meaning it causes you to urinate more. The water in coffee contributes to your daily fluid intake, so it’s not fair to say that coffee is “dehydrating”, especially in people who are very accustomed to drinking coffee. However, plain water is arguably the best way to avoid dehydration. While you don’t have to worry about reaching the critical goal of two liters a day, it might not be such a bad idea to start your day with a glass of water before your morning coffee.
Another thing coffee opponents will talk about is its known effect on stress hormones through the release of the hormone cortisol. Coffee stimulates cortisol production, which is already at its peak when we wake up, but this effect seems to be reduced in regular coffee drinkers. However, if you’re drinking a heavy cup (or two) of coffee the moment you open your eyes, you may not be getting the full benefit of this caffeine; therefore, it may be better to wait a little longer in your morning routine and drink your coffee when the cortisol decline begins.
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