Drinking a strong black coffee first thing in the morning is a common habit for many people. However, research from the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism at the University of Bath (UK) suggests that consuming coffee before breakfast may negatively affect blood glucose control. This finding has significant implications for metabolic health, particularly in relation to diabetes and heart disease risk.
Study Findings: How Coffee Affects Metabolism
A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition examined the effects of disrupted sleep and morning coffee consumption on various metabolic markers. Researchers conducted three different overnight experiments with 29 healthy men and women, each in a randomized order:
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Normal sleep + Sugary breakfast drink: Participants had an uninterrupted night’s sleep and consumed a sugary drink in the morning.
Disrupted sleep + Sugary breakfast drink: Participants were woken every hour for five minutes throughout the night before consuming the same sugary drink.
Disrupted sleep + Black coffee + Sugary breakfast drink: Participants experienced the same sleep disruption, but this time drank a strong black coffee 30 minutes before consuming the sugary drink.
Key Results: Coffee Before Breakfast Increases Blood Sugar Levels
Blood samples were collected after participants consumed the glucose drink, which mimicked the calorie content of a typical breakfast. The findings indicated that:
- One night of disrupted sleep did not significantly affect blood sugar or insulin response at breakfast.
- Drinking coffee before breakfast increased blood sugar response by 50%.
- Caffeine is known to cause insulin resistance, potentially making it harder for the body to manage glucose levels after coffee consumption.
These results suggest that while coffee helps alleviate fatigue after a poor night’s sleep, it may impair glucose metabolism, increasing the risk of metabolic disorders over time.
Why Blood Sugar Control Matters
Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is essential for long-term metabolic health. Poor glucose control has been linked to increased risk of:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Inflammation-related conditions
“Put simply, our blood sugar control is impaired when the first thing our bodies come into contact with is coffee—especially after a night of disrupted sleep,” explains Professor James Betts, co-director of the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism at the University of Bath.
The Best Time to Drink Coffee: After Breakfast
Lead researcher Harry Smith from the Department for Health at Bath emphasizes the need to balance the stimulating effects of caffeine with its potential impact on glucose levels. He suggests that drinking coffee after breakfast rather than before may be a healthier choice:
“These results show that one night of disrupted sleep alone did not worsen participants' blood glucose/insulin response to the sugary drink compared to a normal night of sleep. However, starting a day after a poor night's sleep with a strong coffee did have a negative effect on glucose metabolism by around 50%.”
For individuals who rely on coffee to start their day, a simple dietary adjustment—eating breakfast first—may help improve metabolic control without sacrificing caffeine’s benefits.
Global Coffee Consumption and Its Implications
Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide:
- Over 2 billion cups of coffee are consumed daily worldwide.
- 50% of adults in the U.S. drink coffee every day.
- In the UK, 80% of households purchase instant coffee for at-home consumption (British Coffee Association).
With such widespread consumption, understanding how and when to drink coffee can have far-reaching health implications.
Future Research and Practical Considerations
More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of morning coffee consumption on metabolic health and how factors such as exercise might mitigate caffeine’s impact on glucose control. However, these findings provide a simple, actionable strategy: drink coffee after breakfast to support better blood sugar regulation.
By making this small adjustment, individuals may improve metabolic health and reduce their risk of insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
This content includes text that has been generated with the assistance of AI. Lab Manager’s AI policy can be found here.
