Starting the day with a cup of coffee is a ritual for many. A little kick in the morning and you’re ready to go. But it is actually better to wait a little longer with that first cup. Why is that, and what are good alternatives to wake up? We ask sleep expert Annelies Smolders. “Coffee spoils your inner alarm clock.”
–
Apparently there is an ideal time to drink your first cup of coffee. And no, that’s not right after you roll out of bed. That says pharmaceutical and health consultant Parvinder Sagoo in an interview with Glamor Magazine. “There are studies that show it’s not a good idea to drink coffee right after you wake up. It can upset your hormones and make you extra nervous or anxious.”
–
The more coffee you drink…the worse you get at awakening
According to Sagoo, your body is also dehydrated when you wake up, since you haven’t had anything to drink for eight hours. “Caffeine is a diuretic, which means you’ll have to pee more. After a night’s sleep, you should in fact take in more fluid than you lose.” That’s why the pharmacist suggests waiting an hour or two before grinding your beans and letting the coffee machine simmer. And there is something to be said for that, confirms psychologist and sleep expert Annelies Smolders. She is known for Start to Sleep and developing online sleep therapy — and she also likes a cup of coffee herself.
–
–
“When your alarm goes off, your biological clock kicks in. Your body then produces active hormones, stress hormones and day hormones. Cortisol, therefore,” says Smolders. “Production does not increase all day long, it comes in waves. Especially in the morning your body makes it automatically to wake up. If you drink coffee at the same time, you’re going to spoil that system — your inner alarm clock, as it were.”
–
“Do you make it a ritual? Then your body gets used to coffee and eventually the cortisol system no longer does its job. It gives up its task. That is why it is better to wait until you have a dip and the cortisol production is at a lower level. That’s around 9 to 10 o’clock. Then a first cup will have much more effect and you will get a real energy boost.”
–
Drink water and swing those curtains open
Do you have a hard time getting the often rubbed out of your eyes in the morning? Then you can drink a simple glass of water instead of a cup of espresso. Because you lose a lot of moisture during the night, by sweating, for example, you are slightly dehydrated. Such mild dehydration causes reduced concentration and drowsiness. And if you need a real pick-me-up, you can wash your face with cold water or take a cold shower.
–
In addition, Smolders recommends opening the curtains to boost your cortisol peak. “The awakening process revolves entirely around darkness and light. The more light, the more you optimize cortisol production. In the summer you are sufficiently helped with the sunlight. During the winter it’s a different story. On such a dark morning you can use light glasses to give your body a helping hand. The extra blue light makes you produce more cortisol and wake you up faster.”
–
Also read:
Large study shows that drinking up to 3 cups of coffee a day benefits from strong health benefits
–
Coffee stimulates your fat burning. Sports doctor explains why that is
–
–
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.
–
–
