Or at least, some form of caffeinated beverage to get your day started.

或至少是想喝含咖啡因的飲料來當作你一天的開始。

But what if I told you you've been drinking your coffee incorrectly this entire time?

但如果我告訴你，你一直以來都在不對的時間喝咖啡呢？

We all have an internal biological clock called the circadian rhythm that regulates many processes throughout our body, including how sleepy we are through the day.

我們都有內在的生理時鐘，稱為生理節奏，它管理我們身體中許多活動，包括我們一整天下來有多疲累。

And it's this clock that controls the release of a hormone called cortisol.

而就是這個時鐘在控制名為皮質醇的賀爾蒙分泌。

Often referred to as the stress hormone because it's secreted in high levels during your body's fight or flight response.

它通常也被稱為壓力賀爾蒙，因為當你的身體出現戰鬥或逃跑反應時，皮質醇會大量分泌。

Cortisol also happens to be related to your level of alertness through the day.

皮質醇也與你一整天清醒的程度有關。

And it just so happens that between 8 and 9 AM cortisol levels peak.

皮質醇的濃度在早上八點到九點之間最高。

This means that your body has a natural mechanism to wake you up.

這也就是身體叫你起床的天然機制。

And while you may think that caffeine can complement this mechanism, scientists have actually found that consuming coffee or energy drinks during peak cortisol production greatly diminishes the caffeine's effect.

你可能以為喝些含咖啡因的飲料可以幫助這項機制，但科學家其實已經發現在皮質醇高度分泌時，喝咖啡或能量飲料會大幅降低咖啡因的效用。

And builds up a greater tolerance to the drug in the long run.

且長期下來會導致醒腦效果降低。

Overall, that means you get less of a buzz, and need even more to stay awake in the future.

總而言之，這代表雖然你現在不睏了，但未來會需要更多咖啡來保持清醒。

We break down caffeine addiction and tolerance in a previous video "Your Brain on Coffee", which you can check out here!

我們在上部影片「咖啡對你頭腦的影響」解釋過關於咖啡因成癮與耐受性了，你可以點這裡去看看！

For this reason, drinking coffee after your cortisol surge at 9AM is probably best.

因此，早上九點皮質醇大量分泌後再喝咖啡，可能是最好的。

Scientists have found a few other times where cortisol peaks as well: between noon and 1pm, and 5:30 and 6:30pm.

科學家還發現皮質醇大量分泌的其他時間：中午到下午一點、下午五點半到六點半。

Which means your best drinking your coffee outside of these times.

也就是說，你最好避免在這些時段喝咖啡。

These cortisol spikes - and your circadian rhythm in general - are most strongly regulated by sunlight, meaning your sleep schedule doesn't come into play as strongly.

皮質醇的作用和你的生理時鐘與陽光關係密切，也就是說，睡眠時間的安排其實沒有想像中重要。

So what if you wake up extremely early, or really late, should you drink coffee right away then?

那如果你非常早起床或非常晚起床呢的，你該立刻喝咖啡嗎？

Well, scientists have actually found that cortisol levels do indeed increase about 50% right after you wake up, regardless of the time.

科學家發現皮質醇的濃度的確會在人起床以後，不論是幾點起床，上升約百分之 50。

Science says, wait at least an hour to get your cup of Joe, and your body will be optimally ready to go!

科學證明，至少等一小時再喝咖啡，這樣身體就準備好開心過一天了！

Got a burning question you want answer?

你有什麼想快點知道答案的問題嗎？

Ask it in the comment, or on Facebook and Twitter.

在底下留言，或上臉書和推特留言問我們吧。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos.

也別忘了訂閱我們，以收看更多每週科學影片喔！