India, March 26 -- For many, the day doesn't truly begin without that first cup of coffee - a familiar caffeine kick that jumpstarts energy and focus. But alongside its popularity, coffee has also been caught up in growing speculation, with claims that it raises stress levels and spikes cortisol, prompting some to question whether it should be avoided altogether. But how much of this is actually backed by science, and how much is simply misunderstood?

Alok Chopra, founder-director and consultant cardiologist at Aashlok Hospital with over 40 years of experience, is breaking down the connection between coffee and cortisol spikes. In an Instagram video shared on March 25, he debunks the common myth that drinking coffee first thing in the mo...