Tag Archives: #coffee

When is The Best Time to Drink Coffee? And How Late is Too Late?

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Many people wake up and have a cup of coffee to start their day. And some people drink several cups of coffee throughout the day.  

Depending on the type of coffee grounds and how they are brewed, an 8-ounce cup of coffee can contain close to 100 milligrams of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant, and it helps wake you up by increasing the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your body.  

Cortisol levels usually peak between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and gradually drop throughout the day, reaching their lowest point in the middle of the night while you’re sleeping. Cortisol helps the body maintain its sleep-wake cycle.  

However, drinking caffeinated coffee first thing in the morning can increase cortisol production. 

If you drink coffee later in the day or at night, it could affect your sleep. Depending on your metabolism, it may take two to ten hours to get rid of half the caffeine from one cup of coffee.  

Certain people have a “coffee gene”, CYP1A2, that helps the body break down and get rid of caffeine, and some people have two copies of this gene, which helps them break down caffeine faster than those with one copy of the gene. If a person has two copies of the gene, they may not be affected after drinking a late-night cup of coffee. 

There is no scientific evidence that supports a “best time” to drink coffee. However, drinking a mid- to late-morning cup of coffee between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. may help you receive the most benefits from coffee. This is the range of time when cortisol levels begin to drop, and the caffeine in a cup of coffee may be most effective.  

The best time to drink coffee is ultimately determined by your metabolism and how the caffeine in coffee affects your body.  

If you would like to learn more about how caffeine may affect your body, you can schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Please call (718) 670-5486. 

 

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Will a Cup of Coffee Help Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer?

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ThinkstockPhotos-92572283A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has found that drinking coffee is associated with a slightly reduced risk for melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer and leading cause of skin cancer death in the United States.

Using health and dietary data, researchers concluded that the more caffeinated coffee consumed, the lower the risk of melanoma. Drinking four or more cups of coffee was associated with a 20 percent risk reduction compared with those who drank none.

While the results are encouraging, more research is needed. There are some health risks associated with excess caffeine intake, so please consult with your doctor before increasing your caffeine intake. The best way to reduce your risk of skin cancer is to limit sun and ultraviolet light exposure, and make sure you or your dermatologist perform a skin check. Usually, skin cancer is not painful. A change on the skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This may be a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a change in a mole or old growth.

To make an appointment with a dermatologist, please call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5486.

 

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.