For many of us, that morning cup of coffee is essential to stay alert and energized throughout a long workday.
Whether it’s an early-morning brew or a coffee break with friends, caffeine helps kick-start the day.
According to the New York Post, a specialist has revealed a surprising ingredient that can extend the effects of your cup of coffee—grapefruit.
Grapefruit contains a natural compound that can prolong the impact of caffeine, helping you stay awake and beat the afternoon slump.
Dr. Michelle Francl, a chemistry professor at Bryn Mawr College in the U.S., explains that eating grapefruit close to the time you drink coffee can lengthen the time caffeine stays in your body.
This may enhance caffeine’s stimulating effect and help you avoid that mid-afternoon energy dip.
Scientists attribute this to naringin, the bitter compound in grapefruit. Naringin slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body, thereby extending its effect, though it does not alter caffeine’s metabolism, according to the New York Post.
Previous studies have shown that coffee may help reduce the risk of cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dementia, though some research also links it to a higher risk of high blood pressure.
The UK’s National Health Service warns that drinking more than four cups of coffee a day may increase blood pressure.
Meanwhile, a 2022 meta-analysis of nearly 30 studies involving about 1.2 million people found that drinking three to four cups of coffee daily could lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 27%, according to the Daily Mail.
For the greatest health benefits, experts recommend black coffee without sugar or added fats.