My morning latte is a motivation to get out of bed. I literally get giddy walking to the kitchen thinking about that warm goodness in my hands. At different points in my life I’ve drank up to 5 cups a day, and at others I’ve had to remove coffee completely. (Neither was fun.) I’ve settled into one double espresso, whole milk latte a day. My eagerness to have coffee often meant I had it on an empty stomach within 10 minutes of waking up.
Turns out all the science says this was the wrong approach.
It’s best to wait 30 minutes to an hour after getting up before having caffeine. When we first wake up our cortisol levels are naturally at their highest making us feel energized. They then begin to decline 45 minutes after waking…making delaying coffee ideal because it kicks in when we need it. If you have caffeine while your cortisol levels are high, you could increase your tolerance for caffeine, and also lead to a serious energy crash later. Aka, that afternoon pick me up coffee, that then disrupts your sleep, making you more tired the next morning so you immediately pour a cup of coffee when you wake up….I think you know how this cycle goes.
And why is an afternoon coffee so bad? Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain. The gradual build up of adenosine makes us tired at night and promotes quality sleep. If these are blocked by caffeine’s false sense of alertness, we’re effecting our circadian rhyme and fighting our body’s natural cycle.
So how are we suppose to wait an hour? I’ve found that having AG1 greens first thing in the morning helps me pass the time. AG1 is basically a powdered multivitamin that you mix into water. It’s best absorbed on an empty stomach. Having warm water with a squeeze of lemon is another great option to get liver enzymes going in the AM to aid in digestion throughout the day. And on that topic, have a well balanced breakfast with protein to regulate blood sugar setting you up for success. Heck, why not also meditate since you’re now so morally superior and disciplined!!
Give it a try and let know how it goes!