Coffee in the morning may significantly benefit heart health. According to a study in the European Heart Journal, individuals who drink coffee only in the morning had a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to non-drinkers. This conclusion was drawn from data involving over 40,000 U.S. adults. Furthermore, morning-only coffee drinkers experienced a 16% lower risk of death from any cause.
Interestingly, participants who consumed coffee throughout the day did not enjoy these advantages. This research is pioneering in examining how the timing of coffee intake impacts health. According to Lu Qi, MD, PhD, from Tulane University Obesity Research Center, drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening may interfere with circadian rhythms, potentially increasing the risks of heart disease. The best results in the study were observed in individuals consuming at least two cups of coffee before noon.
The study underscores that timing, not just the quantity of coffee consumed, plays a crucial role in heart health. This finding could lead to a re-evaluation of dietary guidelines, as noted by Thomas F. Lücher, MD, in an editorial. Consuming coffee in the afternoon or evening may disrupt sleep-inducing hormones such as melatonin, which could explain its potential drawbacks.
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