Morning coffee unlikely to disrupt cortisol, doctor says; steroids are the real culprit

Many people avoid drinking coffee first thing in the morning, fearing it will further stimulate cortisol, a hormone that naturally rises in the early hours. However, endocrinologist Dr. Hsu Che-lun suggests this concern may be misplaced. Dr. Hsu explains that the caffeine in coffee causes a temporary physiological response that increases cortisol. This reaction is natural and similar to how caffeine helps people feel more alert. He argues that this daily occurrence does not impact long-term cortisol secretion. Instead of coffee, Dr. Hsu identifies steroid-containing medications and topical creams as the primary culprits that disrupt cortisol secretion. These substances can interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, tricking the body into thinking it has enough cortisol. This can lead to adrenal insufficiency when the medication is stopped or reduced. For those who enjoy their morning coffee, Dr. Hsu advises drinking it earlier in the day. He notes that caffeine has a long metabolism time, and drinking it too late can affect sleep. Insufficient sleep, in turn, has a greater impact on cortisol levels than morning coffee consumption. Therefore, he suggests that if one must have coffee, it's better to consume it earlier to allow for sufficient metabolism before bedtime.