The benefits of water are well known, but experts say reaching for H2O before your morning cup of coffee could jumpstart your system just when you need it most. After going several hours without a sip, a serving of water first thing can hydrate the body while aiding digestion and metabolism.
By adding water first to your thirsty body, you'll get your metabolism going, and then you can enjoy the effects of the caffeine more intensely. What should a water goal be? Experts recommend drinking about 20-30 ounces of water before you drink any other liquid—even coffee.
Hydration before caffeine
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.
Moreover, the consumption of coffee on an empty stomach will increase the level of acid in the stomach, which can lead to bloating and vomiting. Therefore, you should drink coffee an hour after waking up. It means that you have to eat something before, even if it was only a slice of bread.
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach could damage your stomach lining and cause indigestion and heartburn. It can even increase anxiety and hinder your ability to focus. Instead, try drinking coffee in the mid-morning or early-afternoon for the best results.
Water. My favorite morning beverage is always water, first and foremost. Your body is deprived of water when you sleep, so it is best to rehydrate with water first thing before anything else. I then follow with coffee or a homemade matcha tea latte for a caffeinated boost.
Huberman recommends delaying coffee consumption for a minimum of 1.5 to 2 hours after waking in order to maximize energy, reset your Circadian Rhythms, and improve sleep.
Indeed, according to experts, drinking coffee on an empty stomach right after waking up can interfere with your cortisol levels and actually leave you feeling even more tired later on in the day.
Too much caffeine can also cause anxiety in people with panic or anxiety disorders. For those who drink coffee, experts suggest brewing it with a paper filter, because unfiltered coffee is associated with higher rates of early death, and can contain compounds that raise levels of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol.
Rosenblum recommends eating a breakfast of calcium-rich foods (like yogurt, almonds, spinach, kale or chia seeds), which help neutralize both the acidity of the coffee and your stomach acid. She also notes that cold brew has about 70 percent less acid than hot coffee.
In addition to helping you feel less tired and more alert, the caffeine in coffee may improve your mood, brain function, and exercise performance. It may also boost weight loss and protect against illnesses like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart disease ( 2 , 3 ).
Cortisol levels go up in relationship to sunlight and your body's wakefulness, so it's a good idea to hold off on that coffee for an hour to 90 minutes after you wake up.
Cortisol—aka the stress hormone—is naturally highest between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. When you drink coffee, the caffeine interferes with the cortisol levels, which can lead to feeling more stressed and anxious. This is why some people experience morning anxiety.
This tradition has its origins in the ancient Italian coffee roasters, in which water was served to customers before they tasted the coffee. The roasters, in fact, wanted customers to appreciate all the aromatic nuances of coffee without having the taste of other foods previously eaten.
Drinking water first thing in the morning immediately helps rehydrate the body. Your six to eight hours of sleep is a long period to go without any water consumption. Drinking two or three glasses of water right when you wake up is a good way to rehydrate your body quickly.
An effective way to get rid of your jitters is to flush out your system with water. Drinking water will decrease the effects of caffeine in a relatively short time.
Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That's roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of cola or two "energy shot" drinks.
Coffee still has potential risks, mostly due to its high caffeine content. For example, it can temporarily raise blood pressure. Women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding need to be cautious about caffeine.
In this battle over health benefits, coffee comes out on top. Coffee drinkers can raise a mug to fiber, microbiome health and lowering risk for cancer and diabetes. But tea drinkers, do not despair. Tea is undoubtedly good for your blood pressure, cholesterol, stress levels, mental health and productivity.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks or other products for children under the age of 12, while adolescents between the ages of age 12 and 18 should limit their intake to less than 100 milligrams per day – about the size of an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
Scientists also say that biologically, our cortisol hormone levels peak between 8 to 9 a.m., noon to 1 p.m., and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Therefore, coffee should be consumed between these windows—such as between 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. "I would say that mid-morning or early afternoon is probably the best time to drink coffee," ...
Caffeine can block the effects of adenosine, which is what makes you feel alert after your morning cup of joe. However, once the caffeine wears off, your body may experience a buildup of adenosine that hits you all at once, which is why coffee can make you feel tired.
Acid will weaken your enamel, which can increase your chances of cavities or tooth decay, so you should wait 30-60 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating or drinking. If you don't brush your teeth before drinking coffee, the coffee can bind to the plaque that is on your teeth.
The INSIDER Summary: Many people drink coffee first thing in the morning — but that isn't the best time to get your caffeine fix. Drinking coffee right after you wake up may interfere with your body's cortisol production. It's best to wait at least an hour after waking up to drink coffee.