Drinking coffee in the morning might offer more health benefits than sipping it throughout the day, according to a new study published in the European Heart Journal. The research suggests that morning coffee drinkers may have a lower risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who consume coffee throughout the day.
The study, led by Dr. Lu Qi, Director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Centre, analyzed data from over 40,000 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018). Participants shared information about their coffee consumption, including how much they drank and at what times.
Over nearly 10 years of follow-up, 4,295 participants died, including 1,268 from cardiovascular disease. The results showed that:
- Morning coffee drinkers had a 16% lower risk of death from any cause.
- They also had a 31% lower risk of dying from heart disease compared to non-coffee drinkers.
- All-day coffee drinkers did not show the same reduced risk.
Dr. Qi noted that while the study doesn’t establish that coffee is the sole cause of these health benefits, it is possible that drinking coffee later in the day disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, which could affect factors such as hormone levels, inflammation, and blood pressure—each of which is linked to heart health.
Interestingly, morning coffee drinkers in the study also drank less coffee overall and were more likely to consume tea and caffeinated sodas than those who drank coffee throughout the day.
While Dr. Qi called for further research, including clinical trials, the study’s findings suggest that drinking coffee earlier in the day could be a positive change for heart health.
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