Coffee In The Morning

Coffee is such a popular drink that its consumption levels are second only to water in some countries.

In addition to helping you feel less tired and more alert, the caffeine in coffee can improve your mood, brain function, and physical performance. It can also increase weight loss and protect against conditions such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease.

Many people like to drink coffee first thing in the morning. However, some people claim that taking it on an empty stomach can harm their health.

This article explains whether you should drink coffee on an empty stomach.

Digestive Problems

Research shows that the bitterness of coffee can stimulate acid production in the stomach.

Therefore, many people believe that coffee irritates the stomach, worsens the symptoms of intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and causes heartburn, ulcers, nausea, acid reflux, and indigestion.

Some suggest that drinking a cup of coffee on an empty stomach is particularly harmful because there are no other foods present to prevent the acid from damaging the stomach lining.

However, research fails to find a strong link between coffee and digestive upset, whether you drink it on an empty stomach or not.

Others that a small percentage of people are extremely sensitive to coffee and regularly suffer from stomach pain, vomiting or indigestion, the frequency and severity of their symptoms remain constant, which makes them improve in their youth or after meals.

However, it is important to pay attention to how your body reacts. If you experience digestive problems after drinking coffee on an empty stomach but don't drink it with meals, consider adjusting your intake accordingly.

Stress Hormone

Another common argument is that drinking coffee on an empty stomach can raise levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and helps regulate metabolism, blood pressure and blood sugar. However, chronic excessive levels can trigger health problems, including bone loss, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Cortisol levels naturally peak the moment you wake up, drop during the day, and peak during the early stages of sleep.

Interestingly, coffee stimulates the production of cortisol. For this reason, some people claim that drinking it first thing in the morning, when cortisol levels are already high, can be dangerous.

However, cortisol production in response to coffee appears to be much lower in people who drink it regularly, and some studies show no increase in cortisol. Furthermore, there is little evidence to suggest that drinking coffee on a full stomach reduces this response.

Also, even if you don't drink it frequently, any rise in cortisol levels appears to be temporary.

There is little reason to believe that such a short spike could lead to long-term health complications.

In short, the negative effects of chronically elevated levels of this hormone are more likely to be the result of a health condition like Cushing's syndrome than coffee consumption.

Side Effects

Coffee can also have negative side effects, whether you drink it on an empty stomach or not.

For example, caffeine can be addictive, and some people's genetics can make them particularly sensitive.

This is because regular coffee consumption can alter brain chemistry, requiring ever-increasing amounts of caffeine to produce the same effects.

Drinking excessive amounts can cause anxiety, restlessness, heart palpitations, and worsening of panic attacks. It can also cause headaches, migraines, and high blood pressure in some people.

For this reason, most experts agree that you should limit your caffeine intake to around 400 mg per day, which is equivalent to 4-5 cups (0.95 to 1.12 liters) of coffee.

Since its effects can last up to 7 hours in adults, coffee can also disturb sleep, especially if you drink it at the end of the day.

Finally, caffeine can cross the placenta easily and its effects can last up to 16 hours longer than usual in pregnant women and their babies. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to limit their coffee consumption to 1 or 2 cups (240 to 480 ml) per day.

Note that drinking coffee on an empty stomach does not appear to affect the strength or frequency of these effects.

Summary

Many people enjoy coffee first thing in the morning before eating.

Despite lingering myths, little scientific evidence suggests that drinking on an empty stomach is harmful. On the contrary, it probably has the same effects on your body no matter how you consume it.

However, if you experience digestive problems when drinking coffee on an empty stomach, try taking it with food. If you notice improvement, it may be best to adjust your routine accordingly.