A recent study conducted by the University of Bath highlights the potential negative impact of drinking coffee before breakfast on blood sugar control. Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the study investigated the effects of disrupted sleep and morning coffee consumption on various metabolic markers.
The study involved 29 healthy adults who participated in three different overnight experiments. In one experiment, participants had a normal night’s sleep and consumed a sugary drink upon waking. In another, participants experienced disrupted sleep, being woken every hour for five minutes, and then consumed the same sugary drink upon waking. In the third experiment, participants also experienced disrupted sleep but drank a strong black coffee 30 minutes before consuming the sugary drink.
The findings revealed that a single night of disrupted sleep did not significantly impair blood sugar control compared to a normal night’s sleep. However, consuming strong black coffee before breakfast led to a 50% increase in blood glucose response compared to when coffee was not consumed. This suggests that while coffee might help alleviate morning grogginess after a poor night’s sleep, it could impair the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels effectively.
Lead researcher Harry Smith emphasized the importance of consuming coffee after breakfast rather than before to avoid negative metabolic effects. Professor James Betts, co-director of the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism at the University of Bath, noted that this finding has significant health implications, given the global popularity of coffee.
The researchers highlighted that these results could have far-reaching health implications, especially considering the widespread consumption of coffee worldwide. They suggested that individuals might benefit from adjusting their morning routines by eating breakfast first and then drinking coffee to maintain better blood sugar control and reduce the risk of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease (University of Bath) (ScienceDaily) (Neuroscience News) (nutritioninsight.com) (New Atlas).