Starting your day with a cup of coffee is a common habit for many, but a new study suggests that it may not be the best choice for your blood sugar levels. Research from the University of Bath found that drinking coffee immediately upon waking could impair glucose control.
Drinking Coffee Before Breakfast
The study conducted by the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism involved participants undergoing different overnight experiments. Results showed that having a strong black coffee before breakfast increased blood glucose response by fifty percent.
What does this mean?
While coffee may help you feel more awake after a night of poor sleep, it could impact your body’s ability to handle sugar. This finding has implications for diseases like type II diabetes and heart disease by affecting blood sugar control.
The Takeaway
It’s not necessary to give up your morning coffee entirely, but it may be beneficial to eat breakfast first before drinking it. Lead researcher Harry Smith suggests balancing the stimulating effects of caffeine with potential blood glucose level increases by consuming coffee after breakfast.
Sources
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/glucose-control-upon-waking-is-unaffected-by-hourly-sleep-fragmentation-during-the-night-but-is-impaired-by-morning-caffeinated-coffee/398A3EDA8C30EC89ADBB4C74C8E244B0
- https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-coffee-breakfast-metabolic.html
