If you have the coffee on auto brew to greet you in the morning, consider this: Drinking coffee first thing (before water or just letting your body wake up) could be zapping your energy later, and create the opposite effect of putting a pep in your step. More evidence has shown that coffee or tea (caffeine in general) will dehydrate your cells just when you need hydration most, right after waking up.
What rejuvenates cells best is drinking water in the morning, which helps to flush out toxins and help lower acid levels in the stomach and flush out any bacteria that may be lingering in your gut, your mouth or your throat. To best start your body’s metabolism and energy systems, nutritionists suggest that we drink two tall glasses of room temperature water before having your first cup of coffee or tea in the morning.
You Wake Up Dehydrated and Coffee Makes It Worse
“After 6-8 hours while you’re sleeping, what your body truly needs at least 500 ml of water before starting your day,” explains nutritionist Mansi Gupta, which will rehydrate your body and even give your skin a plump healthy glow. Since coffee is already acidic the water will help balance out your pH levels.
Coffee or tea may offer a brief energy boost, but drinking caffeine on an empty stomach can lead to heartburn, and put you on a rollercoaster of quick energy followed by a drop in focus or energy, since when you are dehydrated it can zap your strength and focus. Water better rehydrates your cells and boosts your mood, energy levels and ability to think sharp, Gupta told the The Times of India.
The active ingredient in caffeine is Theobromine, which both has health benefits and detriments. Theobromine takes effect within 25 minutes of drinking caffeine, sending energy levels up, but when you have too much it, you can also feel the effects of a caffeine crash, unless you drink more coffee all day long.
The Health Benefits of Theobromine
Theobromine is a compound that is found naturally in cocoa, chocolate, coffee and tea. Theobromine is known to have a number of health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and mood. It has been shown to lower inflammation, high blood sugar, and even reduce the risk of cancer, stroke and other cardiovascular disease.
But too much theobromine can be dangerous, since large doses may cause nausea, increased heart rate, and even seizures. If you feel anxious, it could actually be the side effects of too much coffee in your system. Theobromine interacts with certain medications, so check with your doctor before taking a supplement. Theobromine can be addictive if taken in large doses, and when you stop taking it, your energy levels drop.
Our Take: Coffee lovers should wait at least half an hour to 45 minutes after your feet hit the floor in the morning, and instead drink two tall glasses of water (not too cold) to get your body up and running smoothly. Then enjoy your cup of joe and take stock of how this helps keep your energy levels up and steady all morning.
Bottom Line: What you drink in the morning matter for all-day energy, focus and long-term health. In the morning, first drink two tall (8 ounce) glasses of room temperature water to help rehydrate and clean out toxins before you have your morning coffee or tea about half an hour later.
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