Improve your mood by drinking coffee at the right time of day

Researchers found that drinking coffee in the morning had a more pronounced effect on improving mood than at other times of the day.

Drinking a cup of coffee between 9:30 and 11 a.m. can help you enjoy the maximum benefits. (Source: Pixabay)

Coffee is known to stimulate the central nervous system, improve cognitive performance, and alter mood. While coffee has been extensively studied in the laboratory, its effects in everyday life are less well understood .

To study the impact of coffee on daily life, researchers from Bielefeld University (Germany) and Warwick University (UK) monitored the behavior and mood of 236 young people for 4 weeks.

Participants were given smartphone questionnaires seven times a day, asking them to report their current mood and whether they had consumed any caffeinated beverages in the previous 90 minutes.

Researchers also looked at whether coffee had different effects on individuals.

Justin Hachenberger, University of Bielefeld (Germany), said: "We were quite surprised to find no difference between groups with different levels of caffeine consumption or between people with symptoms of depression, anxiety or sleep disorders at different levels.

The association between caffeine intake and positive or negative emotions was generally consistent across all groups."

Researchers expected that people with high levels of anxiety would experience negative mood changes, such as increased feelings of restlessness, when they drank coffee. However, this was not the case.

They found that people who regularly consume caffeine tend to feel better after drinking a cup of coffee or other caffeinated beverage. This effect is much more pronounced in the morning than at other times of the day.

Caffeine's mood-boosting effects appear in the morning, researchers explain, thanks to its ability to block adenosine receptors, which helps promote alertness and make people feel more energized.

“Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, which can increase dopamine activity in key brain regions – an effect linked to improved mood and increased alertness,” adds Professor Anu Realo from the University of Warwick.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, there is currently no scientific evidence to determine the “best time” to drink coffee. However, a cup of coffee between 9:30 and 11 a.m. can help you enjoy the maximum benefits that coffee brings.

This is when cortisol levels - the hormone that helps the body stay awake - begin to decrease, so the effects of caffeine will be strongest.

The habit of drinking coffee to feel happier and more alert has been around for centuries.

"About 80% of adults worldwide consume caffeinated beverages, and the use of such stimulants dates back to early human history.

Even wild animals consume caffeine, with honeybees and bumblebees both preferring nectar from plants containing it,” said Professor Sakari Lemola of Bielefeld University, lead author of the study.

While coffee does improve mood, researchers warn that caffeine can lead to dependence. Not only that, consuming too much caffeine has been linked to various health risks. Drinking caffeine late in the day can also lead to sleep problems.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cai-thien-tam-trang-bang-cach-uong-ca-phe-dung-thoi-diem-trong-ngay-331679.html