Many Britons start their day with a cup of coffee, but continuing this into the afternoon may start to affect sleep.
A nutritionist has explained the best time to stop drinking coffee, and it is earlier than expected.
A cup of coffee contains around 70mg to 150mg of caffeine, which gives a welcome energy boost. Unsurprisingly, the morning is the best time to consume coffee if you don't want it to disrupt your sleep.
However, the window is particularly small, according to nutritionist and author Nichola Ludlam-Raine, on behalf of Coffee Friend.
Drinking coffee in the morning is best for getting a good night's sleep PEXELSShe said: “The best time to drink coffee is typically mid-to-late morning, so around 9:30am to 11:30am. This is when cortisol levels start to dip.
"Drinking coffee immediately upon waking may reduce its effectiveness, as cortisol (the alertness hormone) is naturally high in the early morning."
However, for those who look to coffee for an afternoon treat or pick-me-up, it is still possible to have this. Just be aware that caffeine will stay in your system for around six hours.
Nichola continued: "In the afternoon, coffee can still provide a boost, but it’s best to avoid it too late in the day, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
"Caffeine can have a different impact on different people, so if it makes you jittery or anxious, it’s best to avoid.
“Caffeine has a half-life of around five to six hours, meaning that even if you have a coffee at 3pm, half of the caffeine could still be in your system at 9pm.
"For those sensitive to caffeine, it’s best to avoid coffee after 2pm or 3pm, to ensure it doesn’t interfere with sleep.”
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Caffeine can stay in your system for up to six hours
GETTYIf you are worried about getting to sleep at night but still want a late cup of coffee, consider decaf coffee. But be aware this often still contains small amounts of caffeine.
The nutritionist continued: “Decaf coffee contains very small amounts of caffeine (typically 2mg to 5mg per cup compared to 70mg to 150mg in a regular coffee).
"While it is unlikely to affect sleep for most people, those who are very caffeine-sensitive might still need to be cautious about drinking decaf close to bedtime.”
