Introduction: Drinking coffee at the right time might double the effectiveness. According to a report by the British "Daily Telegraph" on November 6, neuroscientists from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in the United States have calculated that the best time to drink coffee daily is between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM.
This is because the interaction effect between caffeine and an important hormone in the human body (cortisol, also known as hydrocortisone) reaches its optimal state during this period. Cortisol helps the body regulate its own biological clock and increases alertness. The level of cortisol peaks shortly after people wake up and can remain high for up to an hour, with an average peak maintained between 8 AM and 9 AM. Researchers believe that drinking coffee after this peak period is more effective because it can promote its production when cortisol levels are declining.
In addition, drinking coffee when the body's cortisol hormone level is at its highest can lead to tolerance to caffeine, meaning that only by drinking more coffee can one achieve a stimulating effect. There is a similar concept in pharmacology, which is that taking medication when it is most needed; otherwise, the body will develop drug resistance. In other words, drinking coffee at breakfast does not have a significant refreshing effect.
Researchers also pointed out that although cortisol levels peak in the morning between 8 AM and 9 AM, they peak again between 12 PM and 1 PM and between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM. Additionally, the body's cortisol levels are also related to a person's physical constitution and daily routine. People who wake up later should drink coffee later.