But despite coffee’s popularity, almost everyone carries around a bunch of misconceptions about coffee and caffeine. Telling the difference between coffee facts and coffee fiction can be a tough job!
There is a lot of misinformation about coffee out there, as well as plenty of myths, rumors, and old wives’ tales. For instance, it wasn’t that long ago that there was a huge scare around coffee causing cancer! This has since been thoroughly and robustly debunked, but plenty of myths still remain, most potently around coffee’s impact on your sleep.
It is understandable that people think that caffeine can have a negative effect on your sleep patterns. After all, we drink coffee in the morning for exactly that reason – to wake ourselves up! And while plenty of people just drink coffee because they love the taste, most of us will use a cup of joe in the afternoon to perk ourselves up for a big meeting or to beat the post-lunch slump.
But coffee’s effects are not quite as straightforward as you might think, and caffeine’s effect on our sleep is…complicated. So if you are in America’s capital of coffee and enjoying a Starbucks in Seattle’s cruise terminal, or exploring the cafetales of Veracruz in Mexico, keep reading to find out more about how coffee affects us.
Does caffeine cause insomnia?
Studies have shown that there is no long-term effect of drinking coffee on your body’s ability to sleep. Of course, caffeine does give you energy and adrenaline, and perks you up and helps you focus. But there is no evidence that shows that drinking coffee will have a long-term effect on you, let alone cause insomnia. In fact, studies have shown that nicotine, alcohol, and even excessive screen time has a more detrimental effect than coffee!
Will an afternoon cup of coffee stop me from sleeping?
Caffeine is absorbed quickly by the body, and you can often feel the effects very rapidly. However, it is also processed and got rid of quickly. Unless you are particularly sensitive to caffeine, or you drink a serious amount of coffee, the caffeine from a brew will be processed within 4-6 hours, with no lasting effects. So, if you drink your last coffee before 5pm, you shouldn’t struggle to sleep at 11pm!
Also, remember to drink good old plain water throughout the day. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, so staying hydrated can help you to feel energized even on a hectic day.
Optimize your coffee habit to gain the full health benefits of your drink without disrupting your sleep. Be mindful of your caffeine consumption so you can stay sharp during the day and have a restful slumber at night.
Getting the rest that you need at night can be a challenge, especially if you eat or drink something that can affect your sleep pattern. Planning your meals so that you eat more in the morning and less at night, consuming healthy foods, and staying well hydrated can help you fall asleep at night and stay that way until morning.
If you are suffering from any sleep disorder, including insomnia, call to speak with one of our board-certified sleep specialists today at Alaska Sleep Clinic. Also, click the link below to download our FREE e-book about insomnia.
