Does drinking coffee at night take away sleep?

For many years there has been a debate about the effects of coffee on our body. Although in excess, like any other substance or food, its effects can be negative, especially as a consequence of the effects of caffeine, also this drink that is undoubtedly the most consumed worldwide, has great benefits for our health as long as it is taken properly.

One of the most important aspects about coffee is its stimulating and invigorating effect, which helps our mind to stay more awake and focused and also favors concentration and creativity.

It really is caffeine, the main substance that is composed of coffee but also present in other foods, which stimulates nerve impulses between neurons, enhances our mental effort by passing to a kind of alertness, which counteracts the sensation of sleep or tiredness and somehow clears our mind.

Caffeine exerts action on a substance produced by our brain, called adenosine, which controls the energy sensation of the body, decreasing brain activity and producing drowsiness. Caffeine can also influence blood pressure, accelerated metabolism, has a diuretic effect, prevents the development of Alzheimer's and stroke.

These qualities are very beneficial for most people, especially when waking up and starting the day, so it is recommended to have a cup of coffee in the morning to stimulate concentration in the tasks of the day to day.

However, when the problem of insomnia appears, these characteristics are reversed to turn coffee into something that we must avoid, at least near night or rest hours.

Is coffee with milk different?

One of the most common ways in which we usually drink coffee anywhere in the world is mixed with milk. On the other hand, hot milk has been considered by our grandparents as an excellent drink to fall asleep. And it is that this raises the serotonin levels in the body, making us feel more relaxed and therefore, prepares us better to fall asleep.

However, milk also has proteins that have a stimulating effect. Added to this, the combination of this with coffee may be more difficult to digest so it is not advisable to consume coffee with milk at night.

Studies carried out by scientists have shown that adding milk to coffee does not alter does not alter the properties of this drink, nor of caffeine, so it would have practically the same result as drinking black coffee. That is, drinking a large amount of coffee with milk can lead to a state of great stimulation that will also affect the rest of any person.

Combine coffee with milk will not affect more, the difference with respect to espresso coffee will basically have a higher content of nutrients and calories.

Enemy of good rest

If you have trouble falling asleep, falling asleep or simply do not rest well at night, one of the first recommendations is to reduce your intake of coffee and any other food that contains caffeine. Although it is not necessary to eliminate it 100 percent, if it is essential to reduce consumption, especially at the end of the day.

Ideally, do not ingest it in the five or six hours before we usually go to sleep. Specialists in nutrition suggest that a good time to drink coffee is after meals, because we enter a kind of stage of numbness when it begins to digest.

The maximum time at which the last coffee of the day should be taken should be about 5 or 6 o'clock in the afternoon, at the latest. However, for those who usually enjoy a good night coffee, there is a possibility to satisfy their cravings: in case of emergency, opt for a decaffeinated coffee, which may or may not be mixed with milk, to taste and preference of whoever drinks it.

In conclusion, the idea is not to consume a stimulating substance such as caffeine, if we seek to sleep through the night and avoid insomnia. And coffee with milk is not exempt from this. This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist. ThemesCoffee Milk