Is coffee ruining your sleep? Experts reveal the latest time in the day you should be drinking caffeine
- A sleep expert has revealed the latest time you should be drinking coffee
- Dr Carmel Harrington said you shouldn’t drink coffee past midday
- This is because it can keep you awake at night and lead to insomnia
- Caffeine can cause fatigue, stress and can increase your heart rate
You shouldn’t be drinking coffee past midday in order to get a good night sleep, a sleep expert has revealed.
While thousands turn to an afternoon coffee at 3pm, Managing Director of Sleep for Health and In Essence Ambassador, Dr Carmel Harrington, said consuming coffee late in the day can be detrimental to your sleep at night.
But there are ways to reverse the impacts of coffee by changing your bedtime routine an hour before bed and drinking water throughout the day.
While thousands turn to an afternoon coffee at 3pm, Managing Director of Sleep for Health and In Essence Ambassador, Dr Carmel Harrington, said consuming coffee late in the day can be detrimental to your sleep
How late is too late for a cup of coffee?
Dr Harrington, from Sydney, said drinking a standard cup of coffee past 12pm can impact your sleep in the evening.
‘If you want to get your sleep on track, quit the caffeine after midday and if you can’t come to terms with cutting out coffee after midday, try substituting it with the decaffeinated variety instead,’ Dr Harrington told Bed Threads.
‘This is especially important if you are in the over 35 age group because as we age, our metabolic rate slows so the coffee that didn’t affect our sleep when we were younger could certainly be doing so now.’
For those who need an afternoon coffee to get through the day, it’s recommended to change your evening routine to ensure you get the best sleep possible
What to do if coffee is ruining your sleep
For those who need an afternoon coffee to get through the day, it’s recommended to alter your evening routine to ensure you get the best sleep possible.
‘One hour before bedtime, switch off technology, dim the lights in the room and reach for sleep-inducing essential oils like lavender oil or In Essence Sleep Blend,’ Dr Harrington said.
As relaxation is the key to a good night sleep, it’s ideal to take a hot shower or bath and read before bed.
This act of ‘switching off’ is vital to let your body and brain know it’s time for bed.
What are the other effects of caffeine?
According to Healthline, other side effects caused by caffeine include anxiety, stress, insomnia, digestive issues, fatigue, high blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
High doses of coffee can impact people in different ways depending on the person’s caffeine tolerance.
To compare, low-to-moderate caffeine intake can provide added health benefits.