National Nutrition Week 2024: What Is The Best Time To Drink Coffee For Optimal Health? – News18

The National Nutrition Week reminds us to prioritise nutrition in our daily lives. This is a perfect time to reflect on how our everyday choices, like consuming coffee, can impact our health. Coffee, other than being the popular beverage, has antioxidants and essential nutrients, when consumed at the right times, can provide various health benefits.

Dr Ila Kumar, General Physician, shares, “The best time to drink coffee for optimal health benefits is typically in the late morning, around 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is because cortisol levels, which help regulate alertness and energy, tend to peak early in the morning (around 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.).”

Drinking coffee when cortisol is already high may reduce its effectiveness. By waiting until cortisol levels start to dip mid-morning, the caffeine in coffee can provide a more sustained boost without disrupting your natural hormone cycle.

Raja Chakraborty, CMO, Continental Coffee Limited dives deep to understand which is the best time to drink coffee;

1. Coffee as a Pre-Gym Drink Coffee provides the body and mind the required energy to start the day on an energetic note. The caffeine in coffee activates the central nervous system, boosting adrenaline levels and improving physical performance. If you enjoy morning workouts, drinking black coffee beforehand can boost your physical performance and help with fat burning, while having it afterward may also help in muscle recovery.
2. Morning Coffee to kickstart the dayFor many of us, the day couldn’t start without a cup of coffee. A cup of coffee before leaving for your office or college can provide you with the much-needed energy to kickstart your day. It helps to shake off morning grogginess, enhances alertness, and sets a positive tone for the day ahead. One can control the sugar intake in the coffee or simply opt for a black coffee.
3. Coffee in the Evening for RelaxationEvening coffee can act as a great relaxant and prepare us for a rejuvenated evening. While coffee is often associated with energy and alertness, it can also act as a relaxant. However, one should avoid having coffee 3 hours before bedtime as it may hamper sleep patterns.
4. Afternoon Coffee as an Energy BoostPost lunch, our energy levels often dip, this is a good time to have a cup of coffee for a coffee boost. As cortisol levels (a steroid hormone that helps your body to respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, and fight infections) naturally decline in the afternoon, caffeine can enhance alertness and give you the required energy lift.

How much coffee is too much to have in a day?

When it comes to how much coffee one should consume in a day, finding the right balance is crucial. Between 2 to 3 cups of coffee in a day is considered safe for most people, but it is important to listen to your body and adjust based on how you feel. Additionally, important to control the sugar in your coffee.