JAKARTA - For most people, the first thing they do after waking up is make or buy coffee. It feels like coffee has become a savior to get out of a half-conscious mode and start the day.
Moreover, after returning to work after the holidays, many people feel that they really need a caffeine boost to get back to their daily routines that feel heavy.
Although it has become a common habit and is relied on to increase energy in the morning, a sleep expert reveals why we shouldn't drink coffee in the first hour after waking up, because it has a negative impact on the body.
Rex Isap, sleep expert and CEO of Happy Beds, advises people not to drink coffee immediately after opening their eyes. According to him, many people take coffee in the first 5-10 minutes after waking up, even though it's not the ideal time.
"To get the maximum benefit of caffeine, you should wait at least one hour after waking up," he said, quoted from the Unilad website.
He explained that when you wake up, the level of cortisol in the body is at its highest point. Cortisol is often associated with stress, but in fact this hormone also helps increase alertness naturally.
"If we consume caffeine when cortisol levels are still high, the effects of caffeine can be less optimal. In the long run, this can even make the body more resistant to caffeine," he explained.
This means the earlier we drink coffee, the more likely the effects will diminish over time.
Rex also explained how caffeine works in the body. Throughout the day, the brain produces a chemical called adenosine that makes us feel sleepy. The longer we stay awake, the more adenosine builds up.
"Caffeine works by inhibiting adenosine receptors, so we stay awake and feel more alert," he said.
"This is the reason why some people have trouble sleeping after drinking coffee all day," he continued.
Therefore, he suggests delaying a morning cup of coffee at least an hour after waking up. According to him, the levels of cortisol and the quality of your sleep will feel the benefits.
In addition, Rex also shared some alternatives to morning drinks that are considered better than coffee and can give a healthier energy boost.
One of them is turmeric latte or golden milk. This drink is known to have many health benefits and turmeric is believed to help protect the body from lack of sleep and has the potential to improve sleep quality.
He also recommends matcha, peppermint tea, and ginger tea as better choices than coffee. These drinks have a calming effect, anti-inflammatory effects, and provide natural energy without excessive caffeine.
So if you've always been looking for coffee as soon as you wake up, maybe it doesn't hurt to try waiting an hour or replacing it with a drink that is more friendly to the body.
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