How long after waking should you wait to drink coffee? The timing of when to have coffee after waking up can depend on individual factors and personal preferences. However, as a general guideline, it is often recommended to wait at least 30 to 60 minutes after waking up before consuming coffee.
During the first 90 minutes after waking up, Mr Upton recommends trying to avoid caffeine. "Ninety minutes after waking your brain function has woken up and the stress hormones have all changed and everything's starting to come into daytime mode," he said.
As Parvinder Sagoo, Pharmacist and Online Health Adviser for SimplyMedsOnline, explains: “Drinking coffee as soon as you wake up could interfere with your body's cortisol production which could leave you feeling more stressed and anxious if you dive straight in for a coffee as oppose to a glass of water.”
Drinking coffee immediately after waking can disrupt the natural cortisol rhythm, potentially leading to poor sleep quality and difficulty waking up in the morning. Waiting 90 minutes before consuming caffeine helps preserve your natural cortisol pattern, promoting better sleep and wakefulness.
The Bottom Line
For healthy individuals, having a cup of coffee on an empty stomach is unlikely to cause any significant harm. However, you know your body best. If you find that your body is sensitive to caffeine, consider pairing a snack with your coffee to help with digestion.
“Wait at least an hour [after you wake up] to get your cup of joe,” AsapScience advises, “and your body will be optimally ready to go.” That is, if you don't hit the snooze button and nod off in the meantime.
Drink it black
The healthiest way to drink coffee is plain with nothing added — also known as drinking it black. Dr. Hashmi explains, "Ideally, you shouldn't put sugar in your coffee.
Caffeine can disrupt your sleep up to six hours after consuming it, leading to an hour or more lost in rest, one study found. So if you want to start winding down and going to bed at 9 p.m., drinking coffee after 3 p.m. is a bad idea. Some health experts recommend people stop drinking coffee as early as 2 p.m.
Coffee and Metabolism
Caffeine is a stimulant, which is why your morning coffee jolts you awake and gives you that characteristic buzz. The good news for regular coffee drinkers: they may actually have a point. Some studies show that coffee and caffeine can significantly increase metabolic rate [4].
Drinking water first thing in the morning is good for you, but there's no need to force yourself to do it if it's not your thing. If you want or need to wait a bit, that's fine too. "At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you're staying hydrated," Dr. Kelley says.
In short, tea beats any alternative morning drink. Although it may not have the same amounts of caffeine as coffee, nor the same levels of vitamin C as orange juice, tea has a host of other benefits that make the case for tea – hot or cold – being your new choice of drink in the mornings.
So the first thing you should reach for is a glass or two of water, according to nutrition experts interviewed by USA Today. Doing this not only starts you off on a good path for your daily hydration, but it ensures you've got water in your system to help digest your breakfast.
The Case for Sipping Coffee Slowly
Drinking a cup of coffee slowly lets your body take its time processing the caffeine. You'll feel your energy level slowly ramping up—gently. Meanwhile, your body will be slowly clearing it out of your system.
The effects of caffeine can be felt as soon as 15 minutes after it is consumed. The level of caffeine in your blood peaks about one hour later and stays at this level for several hours for most people. Six hours after caffeine is consumed, half of it is still in your body.
The very first reason why we must drink water before caffeinated beverages are that it hydrates the whole body. Many people believe that tea and coffee actually rejuvenate the body, but instead, it dehydrates the body from the inside.
“After brushing, it is safe to drink water and coffee immediately since the minerals in toothpaste have strengthened, remineralized, and rid the teeth surfaces of bacteria build up,” Dr. Huang shares. “However, for the best taste, you may want to wait 10 minutes to avoid toothpaste-flavored coffee or water.”
Add Milk if you Suffer from Acidity
Besides, having concentrated black coffee also increases acid concentration in your urine. Thus, the best option is not only having coffee with milk but also ensuring you drink enough water and add watery foods such as cucumbers to your diet to help in neutralising this effect.
Drinking water first thing in the morning prevents kidney stones and protects your colon and bladder from infections. Drinking water on an empty stomach increases the body's efficiency to fight against infections. As being mentioned above, drinking water right after you wake up will help flush out toxins.
Morning: You should drink at least 650 mL (3 cups) of water right after waking up. Build up your tolerance to drinking this much water day by day! Avoid snacking or having breakfast for at least 45 mins after consumption.
Eat fiber and protein
“But when we start the day with fiber from a whole food source, we can majorly help to balance blood sugar.” She suggests having half a cup of berries, a banana, an orange, or a date with almond butter before your morning coffee.
Lemon water is packed with a number of health benefits and is one of the easiest drinks to prepare early morning. Just take a warm glass of water and squeeze half a lemon in it. You can add honey to sweeten it up and add to the benefits.
Fruit Juice - Fruit juices have been a breakfast drink for many centuries. Some favorites are orange juice, cranberry juice, banana juice, and pineapple juice. Although, you might find a mix of juices to be your favorite. Mimosa - It's no secret that Mimosa is increasing in popularity when it comes to breakfast drinks.