Drinking coffee first thing in the morning could be detrimental to your health, according to experts, who say the drink can do more harm than good if used incorrectly.
While coffee is said to be beneficial and combat common health problems, it can also be associated with hormonal alteration, bad dream and even dementia.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Brisbane-based Dr Sheena Burnell and anthropologist Siim Land revealed the simple routine tweaks to ensure your caffeine fix is helping, not harming, your health.
1. Avoid drinking coffee first thing in the morning.
Coffee lovers should wait at least an hour before enjoying their first drink, as caffeine can increase cortisol levels.
Mr Land said the ideal time to consume coffee is generally between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“If you can wait an hour after you wake up, that’s optimal because your cortisol levels are still rising,” Land explained.
‘The idea is to let natural cortisol rise to increase your wakefulness before introducing caffeine, which will also slightly increase cortisol, avoiding a big spike.’
However, Dr. Burnell enjoys a cup as soon as she wakes up and believes it is a great start to the day, especially as it can protect people from bowel cancer. Both professionals agree that limiting coffee consumption to late afternoon and evening is a good rule of thumb to ensure it doesn’t disrupt sleep.
Dr Sheena Burnell (pictured) of Ultimate Health in Brisbane is a longevity specialist who loves her daily cup of coffee and knows how to enjoy it for maximum health benefits.
Siim Land (pictured), an author and anthropologist from an Estonian island in Europe, recommends waiting one to two hours in the morning before enjoying your first cup of coffee.
2. Don’t drink more than three coffees a day
Both experts recommend drinking 2-3 cups a day to get all the benefits of drinking coffee.
Dr. Burnell explained that limited coffee consumption offers benefits that increase longevity, but more than three cups could put you at risk cognitive decline in later life.
3. Opt for vegetable milks
Dr. Burnell recommends avoiding cow’s milk, as it is high in lactose and becomes harder to digest with age, especially for women.
But she also doesn’t recommend using commercially produced plant-based milks: she encourages people to prepare their own.
“It’s fresher and doesn’t contain harmful additives or refined oils typically found in commercial nut milks,” she said.
While coffee is said to be beneficial and combat common health problems, it can also be associated with hormonal disruption, lack of sleep, and even dementia.
The medical expert also advises patients to avoid adding sugars or sweeteners, except for a little honey.
“Just enjoy the taste of coffee,” he said.
4. Know how coffee affects you
Mr Land said it’s important to know whether you’re naturally a fast or slow metabolizer, as your genetics play a big role in how your body responds to coffee.
People who have a slow metabolism when drinking coffee will generally feel more nervous and agitated or have a higher heart rate after drinking coffee.
These signs of discomfort mean that your body is more susceptible to the negative reactions of drinking too much coffee, such as mood swings or drops in energy levels.
While people who digest coffee quickly are more likely to feel stable after drinking it and can generally drink more than others without adverse effects.
Dr. Burnell agrees that people react to coffee in very different ways and regularly uses DNA testing on her patients to determine their caffeine metabolism.
5. Enjoy your coffee and slow down
Dr Burnell believes it is important to take inspiration from Europeans and slow down the pace of coffee consumption, making it more of a ritual or social experience than “just a drink”.
“Awareness and appreciation make a huge difference in everything we consume,” she said.
The medical expert often prepares his coffee utensils the night before, and has a special spoon and elegant cup that elevates the simple drink into something more than a sacred ritual.