Should I Drink Coffee Before or After Breakfast?
Consuming coffee is a widely accepted lifestyle choice in today’s society, widely associated with improved cognitive performance, increased energy and better concentration levels. But it’s not just the long list of health benefits that interests people, but also the timing of their consumption. For many the question has been whether they should drink coffee before or after consuming breakfast.
As any health professional would be able to attest, research suggests that coffee –and caffeine – is an effective stimulant in the human body. With studies showing that drinking a cup of coffee can help improve alertness and reaction times, many people make the choice to drink coffee before breakfast.
Those who drink coffee before breakfast are typically looking for a way to get an energy boost, particularly those who are the most sleep-deprived. By drinking coffee before eating breakfast, they can create a more “alert” and fresh feeling, allowing them to maximize their energy stores for the day ahead
Coffee also helps increase metabolic processes: meaning that by drinking it before breakfast, people can also feel more ‘full’ and be less likely to snack throughout the day.
However, while drinking coffee before breakfast can have its benefits, there are also drawbacks. For example, drinking a high amount of coffee before breakfast can lead to jitteriness or an upset stomach. Furthermore, caffeine can also chemically interact with food, so the effects are minimalized.
Alternatively, those who choose to drink coffee after breakfast, are making the choice to consume their caffeine right after they have been nourished. While such a choice may not provide an energy boost until later in the day, it could reduce the common ills associated with drinking coffee too quickly.
Dieticians and nutritionists often advocate for drinking coffee after breakfast as this option is likely to provide a more stable level of energy throughout the day, instead of the large jolt one receives from drinking coffee before breakfast.
Coffee Before Or After Exercise?
When considering when to drink coffee, exercise is an important factor. Studies have often explored this topic with the general consensus being that for those who are looking for an energy boost, drinking coffee before exercise is the most appropriate option.
This is because, as any health professional would agree, caffeine has been proven to increase alertness and attentiveness. So, by drinking coffee before exercise, athletes can increase the intensity of their performance and have access to more energy.
However, those who choose to drink coffee after exercise can benefit from decreased fatigue and quicker recovery times, as the replenishment of carbohydrates after a workout is important; but too much caffeine can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb these carbohydrates properly.
Of course, those doing moderate levels of physical activity may find that having a cup of coffee afterwards has beneficial effects on their energy levels and performance.
Furthermore, for those who are sensitive to caffeine, health professionals typically recommend to drink coffee after exercise as this will reduce the jitteriness often associated with having too much caffeine.
Coffee Before Or After Working?
Whether to drink coffee before or after working largely depends upon the requirements and the nature of the job.
For jobs that require a great level of initial energy and alertness, such as those in the construction sector or sales industry, drinking coffee before beginning work is an effective way of increasing productivity.
Caffeinated beverages provide an alertness based neurological stimulus, meaning that one may be in a better headspace to get work done. However, those jobs that require a longer period of productivity, such as those in the IT or hospitality industry, drinking coffee after work may be a better option.
This is because having too much caffeine at the start of the day or the job can result in an excessive level of alertness. In turn, this could lead to anxiety or jitteriness later on in the day that would be likely to impede productivity.
Coffee Before Or After Meals?
When considering when to drink coffee, it is important to also acknowledge meals. Caffeinated beverages are stimulants, meaning that in addition to increased alertness one can also experience an increased appetite. This can be especially dangerous for those who are trying to maintain a healthy diet or lifestyle.
Therefore, it is often recommended by health professionals to drink coffee either before or after meals, rather than during. Doing so will help to limit potential food cravings that could result from drinking coffee. This can also help to keep people from consuming too much food, otherwise known as binge eating.
When trying to decide whether to drink coffee before or after meals, the choice largely depends on the individual. As a rule of thumb those prone to having larger appetites may choose to drink coffee before meals, whereas those who are less likely to overeat may want to wait until after meals.
Coffee Before Or After Naps?
Given how coffees perceived link to alertness and attentiveness, people have commonly asked if drinking coffee before naps or after naps is a better choice.
Of course, those who are looking to gain the full effects of taking a nap recommend that drinking coffee before is best. This should help to improve one’s alertness and attentiveness prior to taking the nap; meaning they will be better able to focus on a task or job when they wake up feeling refreshed.
For those who are unable to sleep; drinking coffee after the nap should help to bring them out of the “foggy” feeling associated with sleeping. By drinking coffee afterward, the body can convert this metabolism-increasing substance into energy more efficiently.
Of course, for those who are looking for the most effective and efficient nap, drinking coffee before and after should not be necessary.
Timing Is Important
As evident from the variety of opinions and research discussed, it is clear that the timing of coffee consumption is of utmost importance.
On one hand, drinking coffee too soon can lead to excessive fullness and jitteriness. On the other, drinking coffee too late can result in the caffeine being less useful, as the body may not be able to absorb it efficiently.
Ultimately, when it comes to deciding whether to drink coffee before or after breakfast, there is no one size fits all solution. For some, drinking coffee before breakfast may be a more beneficial choice, while drinking coffee after breakfast may be the better option for others. Depending on lifestyle and specific needs, it is important to consider the pros and cons of both options.
