Coffee is one of nature’s true gems. Not only is coffee delicious, but it also gives us energy when we are dragging. Additionally, coffee is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of antioxidants, which are good for your health because they can help prevent diseases. Naturally, if you are a coffee drinker you may want to know how to best drink your coffee. You may be wondering—how can I get the most out of drinking it every day? Here are seven tips from the Art of Well Being on how to drink your coffee smarter.
Don’t drink coffee in the a.m.
We know what you may be thinking—“what do you mean I shouldn’t have coffee in the morning?” Although most start their day out by drinking a cup of joe, research shows that consuming coffee before 10 a.m. isn’t an efficient use of the energy that caffeine gives you. Why exactly? Your body produces a hormone called cortisol—which is the hormone that makes you feel alert and awake—and it produces it at specific times throughout the day (8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m.). To get the most of the caffeine in coffee, drink coffee after 10 a.m. when you are having lower energy levels.
Know how much you consume
You can indeed have too much of a good thing, as the saying goes, and that applies to coffee as well. The recommended cap for coffee consumption for adults per day is 400 milligrams. Any more than 400 milligrams can lead to restlessness, an upset stomach, or tremors. Although it’s difficult to get an exact measure of how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee (because it varies with strength of the bean), a shot of espresso is about 100 milligrams. So, you might want to think twice before you order that fourth latte you’ve been eyeing.
Drink coffee to learn
Research shows that coffee can indeed help you with memorization and learning. However, this effect doesn’t take hold until after you have learned the thing you’re learning. After studying really hard, order a latte or a shot of espresso to keep it in your head permanently.
Take a snooze after a cup
Though you may not think about taking a nap after a cup of coffee, it turns out that it could be a super booster to your energy levels. So the next time you have some time, drink a cup of coffee in the early afternoon and then take a 20-30 minute nap. These two activities combined together will give you energy for the rest of the day.
Being around coffee boosts productivity
Despite giving you an energy boost, there is no evidence that suggests that coffee actually increases your productivity. However, being in a busy coffee shop does. We don’t know if it’s the stimulation of the crowds or the smell of the coffee beans, but you’re more likely to get more done in a busy coffee shop than in a quiet library.
Get your energy levels up with coffee
Coffee can help you stay awake during that afternoon meeting, but it can additionally give you a boost in your workout. Drink a cup of coffee an hour before you go exercise and be amazed at the results.
Pay attention to how you take your coffee
Coffee has so many amazing benefits, but we can ruin it by adding things in there that detract from the antioxidants and energy boosters. Adding sugars in the form of whipped cream or creamer or just straight sugar from the packet can decrease coffee’s full health and energy effects. Pay attention to how you take your coffee so you can get more out of it.