Experts say this secret ingredient could prolong the effects of caffeine
Topics: Health, Food and Drink
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Stefania Pelfini/10’000 Hours/Getty Images
Topics: Health, Food and Drink
I think a lot of us are all too familiar with that morning coffee to wake us up for a long day at work.
Whether it be for the early shift or the bog-standard 9am start, a coffee fix is a saviour to many every single day.
However, those who have not had as much kip as they would like may quickly notice the caffeine starts to wear off - and the need for a nap increases.
Well, at this point, the majority of us boil the kettle for that second hit of caffeine with another cup of coffee.
Advert
However, an expert has shared why you should probably skip that second cup of coffee so early in the morning for a surprising breakfast addition instead.
And that unexpected breakfast item is grapefruit which could potentially extend the effects of the caffeine to help get you through that afternoon slump when you are just waiting for the clock to hit 5pm.
Michelle Francl, a chemistry professor at Bryn Mawr College, said during a Chemistry World webinar this week: "If you eat a lot of grapefruit you can increase the time the caffeine remains in the system."
If you are not a fan of grapefruit, the expert added that cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts could also spruce you into life.
However, who wants to have some sprouts on their work lunch break - like, come on.
You don't particularly want to be dumping the grapefruits into your morning coffee, just having it alongside your morning drink will be just fine.
While you'll still want to have that morning coffee for a caffeine boost, a sleep expert recently recommended how you shouldn't be drinking it in first hour of waking.
"When it comes to that crucial first cup of coffee in the morning, many people tend to reach for the kettle within the first 5-10 minutes of waking," Rex Isap, sleep expert and CEO at Happy Beds, said.
"However, to reap the full benefits of the caffeine, you should wait at least an hour.
“Upon waking, our cortisol levels, often associated with stress, are at their peak. Surprisingly, cortisol enhances alertness.
"Having caffeine while cortisol levels are already high may counteract this effect, possibly leading to a tolerance for caffeine.”
So the earlier you drink caffeine, the less effective it’ll end up being in the long run.
"Throughout the day, our brains produce a sleep-promoting chemical called adenosine. The longer we stay awake, the more adenosine builds up, making us feel sleepy," he added.