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Coffee with Sugar or Without? The Surprising Impact of Caffeine with Sweeteners on Some People
Which is the healthier choice in the morning or afternoon? Here’s the answer.
A recent study has revealed a surprising effect of consuming caffeine with sweeteners. For some coffee lovers, this combination might be a way to enhance the benefits of the beverage. However, for others, it may be better to avoid sugar, especially in the evening, according to a report by New Atlas citing the journal npj Science of Food.
The Stimulating Effects of Caffeine
Many people, including students, shift workers, and parents, know that coffee can be a powerful tool to combat fatigue and stay active even when feeling exhausted. This stimulating effect is due to caffeine, a chemical that blocks the effects of adenosine, the sleep-inducing neurotransmitter in the brain.
An Unexpected Discovery
Japanese researchers accidentally discovered a way to enhance caffeine's impact on the body's biological clock. Professor Yu Tahara from Hiroshima University said, "While studying the behavior of male mice in the lab when given water sweetened with caffeine, we observed interesting and unexpected behavioral changes," prompting the team to focus on the effects of added sugar.
Resetting the Biological Clock
The team fed mice water containing 0.1% caffeine along with 1% sucrose or saccharin. They found that mice that consumed caffeine with sugar experienced an extension in their "free-running time" from 26 to 30 hours, the period during which their biological clock resets. In some mice, the effects were so strong that their activity shifted entirely from night to day.
Dr. Tahara explained, "Adding sweetness did not change the amount of caffeine the mice consumed, indicating that the effects are due to the combination of caffeine and sweeteners, not caffeine alone."
The Impact of Added Sugar
These effects were observed even in constant darkness, suggesting that added sugar works independently of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain, which regulates sleep-wake cycles.
Practical Advice
Dr. Tahara suggests that adding a small amount of sugar to coffee might be beneficial, especially if you need an extra boost of energy in the morning. However, if you struggle with sleep, it’s better to avoid sugar in your evening coffee.
Experts also recommend adding a bit of milk to your coffee, as studies have shown it can enhance the beverage’s anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, drinking coffee about half an hour before exercise may help boost fat burning.