Despite social media influencers warning that drinking coffee first thing in the morning could disrupt your sleep cycle and lead to an afternoon slump, there is sparse scientific evidence to support these assertions. The influencers suggest that delaying morning coffee consumption might be beneficial, but the actual impact varies based on individual responses to caffeine. During the day, the body generates adenosine, a chemical that induces drowsiness by binding to specific brain receptors. Caffeine counters this by blocking these receptors, thereby enhancing alertness, a process that usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. When you wake up, adenosine levels are at their lowest, which theoretically means that consuming coffee immediately might be less effective. However, the New York Times points out that the overall benefit or detriment of early morning coffee consumption largely depends on personal physiology, making it challenging to generalize the advice given by influencers.
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