Drinking coffee in the morning, rather than only in the afternoon or not at all, would reduce the overall risk of death by 16%, according to a study released Tuesday that tracked more than 40,000 American adults between 1999 and 2018.
“This study is unique in that it examined coffee drinking habits throughout the day instead of focusing on the amount of coffee consumed,” analyzed cardiologist Dr. Jennifer Miao of the Yale Health System. New Haven Health of Connecticut, to ABC News Wednesday.
The longitudinal study published in the “European Heart Journal” reported that coffee consumers, who drink their hot beverage between 4 a.m. and noon, have a 16% lower overall risk of death than those who consume it in the afternoon. or even not at all.
According to the study, which tracked the habits of 40,000 Americans between 1999 and 2018, coffee drinkers were also 31% less likely to die from heart disease compared to non-coffee drinkers, we read. .
What is particular is that, regardless of the number of cups of coffee consumed or the type of coffee – decaffeinated or not – the risk of death was always lower for those who drink their coffee in the morning, at the same time. opposite of those who continue to consume it in the afternoon or who stay away from coffee.
Researchers at Tulane University in Louisiana reasoned that this might be because morning coffee better aligns with the body’s natural sleep and wake cycles.
Another suggested avenue is that coffee would help reduce inflammation, which tends to be higher in the morning, and, therefore, reduce the risk of heart disease, they posited, according to ABC News.
But the study would have some limitations, starting with the fact that it was the participants themselves who followed their consumption habits, which could make the results inaccurate.
Furthermore, the link between coffee and the lower risk of death could be a combination of circumstances, since individuals who consume coffee in the morning could simply have a generally healthier lifestyle, for example with a better diet and a more active daily life.
“I think we need a more in-depth study to demonstrate a real relationship that would change the direction,” commented Dr. Perry Fisher, interventional cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, who finds the results interesting. , but not enough to necessarily change your coffee habits.
