'Time is important!' Coffee hack could slash heart attack and stroke risk by third

The research also showed that people who enjoyed their coffee before midday had a 16 per cent lower risk of death from any cause.

The findings suggest the timing of coffee consumption may be more crucial for health benefits than the amount consumed.

The research examined data spanning a decade from US adults participating in health, nutrition and lifestyle studies.Clear patterns emerged in how people consumed their coffee, with just over a third drinking it exclusively before midday.

Only 16 per cent of participants were found to drink coffee throughout the day.

Half of those studied did not drink coffee at all.

The findings, published in the European Heart Journal, mark the first time researchers have specifically examined the timing of coffee consumption and its health impacts.

The study found health benefits for both moderate and heavy coffee drinkers who consumed their beverages before midday.

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Those drinking two to three cups in the morning showed significant health improvements.

Even those having more than three coffees before noon experienced similar benefits.

People who had just one cup or less in the morning still saw positive effects, though the decrease in risk was smaller.

However, researchers found no reduction in health risks for those who drank coffee throughout the day compared to non-coffee drinkers.

These findings held true across both cardiovascular disease risk and overall mortality rates.

Lead researcher Dr Lu Qi, from Tulane University in Louisiana, emphasised the significance of timing in coffee consumption.

"Our findings indicate that it's not just whether you drink coffee or how much you drink, but the time of day when you drink coffee that's important," he said.

Dr Qi suggested timing could become a key consideration in future dietary guidance.

Professor Thomas Luscher, a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in London, offered clear advice.

"Overall, we must accept the now substantial evidence that coffee drinking, particularly in the morning hours, is likely to be healthy. Thus, drink your coffee, but do so in the morning," he said.

The researchers explained why morning coffee consumption might be more beneficial than drinking it throughout the day.

Coffee consumed after midday can disrupt the body's circadian rhythms - the internal clock that controls daily physical and mental changes.

All-day coffee drinkers may experience sleep problems due to coffee's suppression of melatonin, a crucial brain chemical for sleep.

These sleep disturbances can trigger changes in cardiovascular risk factors.

The disrupted sleep patterns may lead to increased inflammation and changes in blood pressure.

This suggests the timing of coffee consumption could play a vital role in how the beverage affects heart health.