Who likes coffee?
Or rather… Who doesn't like coffee? Per a recent statistic, 64% of American adults consume coffee every day.
As people say, coffee is like a hug in a mug. Especially first thing in the morning! Most people can’t imagine starting their day without that dark elixir first thing in the morning. But waiting to drink coffee could be a big productivity booster for your late morning and afternoon.
With coffee, it's all about timing. So many people will drink coffee as soon as they get up, but if you waited just one hour to drink your coffee, it would actually give you a greater cognitive benefit.
Three reasons why you need to wait one hour before drinking your cup of coffee:
· Cortisol is the hormone responsible for enhanced alertness and focus. Our cortisol levels rise and stay elevated for about an hour, warming our bodies and waking us up.
· Cortisol-derived alertness and concentration generally peak 30 to 45 minutes after waking. Waiting about an hour will give you the “true caffeine effect.” Effectively, this will boost your alertness, concentration, and productivity to the next level.
· Another good reason you might want to wait a little longer to have your first cup of coffee — drinking coffee on an empty stomach can bother some people. Low-acid coffee can be helpful for this.
I love iced coffee at my desk in the summer and hot coffee in the winter as part of my morning routine.
But if you drink coffee first thing in the morning because you can't start your day without it, focus on getting a good night's sleep the night before.
Let’s train our cortisol levels to work for us!
Consuming caffeine while our bodies are already at peak cortisol production teaches the body to produce less cortisol (according to chronopharmacologists who study how drugs such as caffeine interact with our body’s natural biological rhythms).
Not only does this undermine the effect of caffeine, but it also works against cortisol’s alertness effect. Perhaps even worse, it may contribute to developing a tolerance for coffee (meaning it takes more and more to get to the same place—yikes)!
If we can hold off on that coffee for at least one hour, it won't compete with the cortisol. We won't need as much and it will last longer. Coffee is one of the best cognitive stimulants out there. Maximize it’s benefits!
When do you plan on drinking your next cup of coffee?
You can buy discount, high-quality coffee from Imperfect Foods* or other subscription services here*.
Cheers to your next cup of delicious coffee and increased focus!
Post written by Marcey Rader and Rijul Arora.
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