Science Says You've Probably Been Drinking Coffee Wrong Your Whole Life (Video)

Are you drinking your coffee correctly?

That's the question AsapSCIENCE answered in its latest video.

According to the science channel, if you drink coffee between 8 am and 9 am, the answer to that question is a big, fat "NO." In fact, you should avoid caffeine between those early morning hours.

In the video, the team explains how the body releases cortisol throughout the day based on the circadian rhythm (or 24-hour internal clock).

Cortisol contributes to our levels of alertness during the day and the hormone's level within one's body peaks between those morning hours.

Because of this, our bodies and brains are already sufficiently stimulated at that time of day. Caffeine, in turn, won't have as powerful of an effect if consumed during that hour.

Even worse, sucking up coffee between 8 am and 9 am can actually lead to developing a higher tolerance to the drink, meaning you'll need more coffee to feel awake (and Starbucks runs can add up).

Cortisol levels are high again between noon and 1 pm and from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, so it's best to avoid caffeine during those times, too. Alternately, cortisol levels are lowest between the hours of 3 am and 4 am. If you happen to be an early morning person, you can drink your coffee then.

Citations: Alert Youre Actually Drinking Your Coffee All Wrong (Cosmopolitan)