The large majority of the population loves having their first cup of coffee the first thing in the morning. If some may dedicate some time enjoying it after waking up, others make sure to grab their cup of coffee while commuting to work. Indeed, no one wants to look bleary-eyed in morning meetings and coffee has, time and again, helped to give the right kick. However, fresh research has come to back previous studies affirming that the best effects of coffee are reaped when consumed after 10 am.
The boosting effects of coffee are higher after 10 am
Drinking coffee immediately after jumping out of bed may not result in the desired effect. A recent research carried out by bed and sleep specialist Time4Sleep has come to buttress previous findings that it is better to enjoy coffee about 4 hours after waking up. As a matter of fact, the effects of caffeine are intricately linked to cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone produced in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration. It functions to increase blood sugar and to help in the metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates, just to name a few. In other words, it acts as nature’s built-in alarm system.
In the human body, cortisol levels in the blood undergo diurnal variations, with peak levels noted early morning between half an hour and two hours after waking. Drinking caffeine mimics the effects cortisol brings to the body by helping it to stay alert. As a result, the positive boosting effects of coffee may be minimized when taken when the cortisol level in the blood is already at its peak. Consuming a cup of coffee after 10 am, will, on the other hand, guarantee that the caffeine kicks in as it should as cortisol levels will have dipped by that time. The effects of caffeine, however, vary from person to person according to health experts. In certain people, it can take around 2 hours to remove itself from their system, while in others, it can stay as long as nearly 10 hours.
Coffee has been proven to help people working on shift systems
Every person is guided by the 24-hour hormonal cycle known as the circadian clock. These basic biological rhythms are programmed genetically, largely based on sunlight for regulation. For people who rise at 6.30, peak cortisol levels are noted between 8-9 am, 12-1 pm and 5.30-6.30 pm. Hence, the perfect time periods for consuming coffee are between 9.30-11.30, and 1.30-5 pm in order to benefit from the caffeine boost the most.
However, the cortisol peaks differ for those who rise earlier or later. Night owls, those working on shifts or those having irregular sleep cycles have a different circadian clock. Someone waking up at around 3.30 am will have to back out 3 hours from the abovementioned time frames for cortisol peak levels, while someone waking at around 10 am will have to add 3 hours. Various research works have demonstrated that shift work can negatively affect an individual due to sleep disturbances. Fatigue, sleepiness, trouble focusing, slower reaction times, poor decision making are some of the major predicaments encountered by those working on shift.
Apart from physiological issues, shift work has also been blamed for disrupting an individual’s personal relationship, preventing him or her to have a stable life. Coffee, a natural stimulant, has long been embraced as a solution to combat shift work disorder. A number of research work and studies have concluded that coffee can help workers stay more vigilant and alert while on the job. Consuming more coffee equally reduced their risk of cognitive mistakes and injury by approximately 50%.
Coffee is a staple at the workplace
Substantial scientific evidence underlines the array of benefits of coffee on the human body. For instance, it is known to reduce the risk of cancer by up to 20%, the risk of Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease by 30%, and the risk of heart disease by 5%. By flooding the body with natural oxidants, coffee not only repairs the DNA but equally soothes stress-related inflammation and improves the efficiency of enzymes regulating insulin and glucose. Not surprisingly, research has proven that drinking 4 cups of coffee everyday significant decreases mortality rates and hence, on the average, coffee drinkers live longer than non-drinkers.
Today, coffee holds great power over the modern society, most precisely, over the modern worker. First of all, coffee helps to keep people awake and be more productive throughout the day by preventing drowsiness. A study carried out by MIT showed that employees taking coffee breaks together demonstrated an overall improvement in terms of productivity. Furthermore, the National Institute for Health discovered that coffee has been noted to attenuate pain development in those performing pain-inducing computer work.
The professionals consuming coffee the most are scientists/lab technicians, marketing/PR professionals, education administrators, writers/ editors, and healthcare administrators. As it turns out, coffee can moreover strengthen the willpower and self-control particularly in moments of exhaustion, hence reducing the risk of making poor decisions and succumbing to pressures. Apart from boosting mental and cognitive functions, coffee additionally improves physical performance, consequently benefitting those undertaking manual or physical tasks during their daily work as well.
Having a barista-prepared coffee at the office desk
Today, there is no need to leave the office to enjoy a tasty cup of coffee. Most workplaces already have vending machines that propose varieties of coffee to please different taste buds. Smart vending machines now entering the coffee market are also helping to uplift the vending standards.
On a parallel note, office workers are also recurrently opting for freshly-brewed coffee delivered at their workplace. It is almost becoming a norm to enjoy a barista-prepared cup of coffee behind the office desk as ordering coffee has become so simple with brand apps allowing coffee drinkers to make a purchase at a click. The rapidity of delivery service also ensures that the taste does not differ from the in-house coffee.