You could be getting a whole lot
more than you bargained for with that afternoon pick-me-up.
For many people, starting the day with a cup of coffee feels as
natural as brushing your teeth or washing your face. And while that morning cup
of joe may give you the boost of energy you need to get going, if you're
turning to coffee throughout the afternoon—or evening—for a pick-me-up, you
could be sabotaging not only your energy level but your health. Read on to
discover the side effects of coffee you could experience if you drink it in an
afternoon.
1. It may take you longer to fall asleep.
If you want to get a good night's sleep, avoid the afternoon
coffee. According to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Biological
Rhythms, individuals given a dose of caffeine equivalent to two espressos five
hours before bedtime extended the amount of time it took for them to fall
asleep.
2. You may have a less restful sleep.
If you drink coffee close to bedtime, you'll have to deal with
more than just hours of tossing and turning. According to the Journal of Biological Rhythms study, individuals who ingested caffeine five hours before
sleep woke up more often, had long periods of less restful stage 1 sleep and
had shorter periods of slow-wave, or "deep," sleep.
3. Your whole circadian rhythm may get thrown off.
Do you want to get up bright and early every morning? A 2015 study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine found that a dose of
caffeine taken three hours before bedtime delayed an individual's circadian
rhythm by approximately 40 minutes, potentially making it harder to get up. You
might want to rethink that afternoon coffee.
4. Your night sweats may worsen.
If you're experiencing night sweats due to Menopause, your
caffeine consumption in the afternoon may be exacerbating the issue. According
to a 2015 study published in Menopause, caffeine consumption may worsen those
symptoms.
"Limiting caffeine intake may be helpful for postmenopausal
women who have bothersome hot flashes and night sweats," says Stephanie
Faubion, M.D., the study's lead author and director of Mayo Clinic's Women's
Health Clinic.
5. You may have to wake up to use the bathroom.
Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it can make you want to
urinate more frequently, regardless of when you eat it. Coffee, on the other
hand, is more likely to keep you up at night rushing to the bathroom—at night
if you drink it in the afternoon or evening.
A 2013 study published in the International Urogynecology Journal found that women who drank large amounts of caffeine were more likely to develop urinary incontinence than those who abstained or had more moderate caffeine consumption, while a 2011 study in Urology Annals found that among those with overactive bladder symptoms, caffeine can increase both "urgency and frequency of urination," potentially keeping you up.