We all know to switch to decaf in the evening. But why is that? New research might give us the answer.
Caffeine actually disrupts the internal body clock, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine. In the study, researchers gave participants the equivalent of a double espresso and tested their levels of melatonin (which regulates sleep) in a variety of circumstances. They found the caffeine actually pushed back their internal clocks by about 40 minutes.
In a twist, the researchers also note caffeine might be useful to fight jet lag.
“It is possible that caffeine … could help with eastward jet lag, something that needs to be tested,” study researcher Kenneth Wright of the University of Colorado was quoted as saying.
