Coffee first thing in the morning? What you absolutely should drink beforehand
For many, the ritual of drinking a cup of coffee is part of their morning routine. Experts explain why this isn't a good idea and what you should drink instead.
To get going in the morning, many people rely on coffee. The hot beverage is even the most popular drink, ahead of beer and water. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when consuming coffee. Experts advise not only not drinking coffee on an empty stomach, but also not drinking it after breakfast. Contrary to popular habit, it also shouldn't be the first drink of the day. Instead, you should opt for something else.
Coffee first thing in the morning? What you should drink instead
Reaching for a cup of coffee immediately after waking up is not a good idea from a scientific perspective. Experts recommend not consuming coffee as the first drink of the day. Instead, sleep scientist and clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Breus advises starting the morning with a glass of water. During sleep, the body loses fluids: "We lose almost a liter of water every night, which is why we wake up dehydrated," Breus explained to the US lifestyle website Theskimm.com.
Drinking coffee immediately after waking up intensifies this effect. The caffeine in coffee has a diuretic effect, promoting fluid loss and worsening dehydration. Water is therefore the better choice in the morning. Dr. Breus recommends drinking 600 to 900 milliliters of room-temperature water upon waking. A slice of lemon can be added to provide extra vitamin C. Only then should coffee or other beverages be consumed – ideally also at room temperature.
When is the best time for coffee?
While morning coffee is a firmly established routine for many, experts advise waiting a while before the first cup of the day. In larger quantities, coffee not only acts as a stimulant but also affects the hormonal balance. In particular, caffeine stimulates the release of the body's own stress hormone, cortisol.
In healthy individuals, cortisol levels are naturally highest in the morning – roughly between 8 and 9 a.m. Consuming coffee during this time can further increase these hormone levels. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that caffeine consumed in the morning causes a significant rise in cortisol levels that can last up to 6 hours.
The potential consequences range from nervousness, irritability, and concentration problems to increased blood pressure, changes in the responsiveness of the central nervous system, and an increased risk of depressive moods. Experts therefore recommend giving the body time to naturally adjust to wakefulness after waking up before reaching for that first cup of coffee.
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