4 reasons not to drink coffee on an empty stomach

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, providing many health benefits such as increased alertness, improved sports performance and brain function. Many people can safely drink coffee on an empty stomach, but others may experience digestive upset and other symptoms.

Increased stomach acid and risk of heartburn

Coffee is an acidic drink. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can stimulate the stomach to produce more acid. This excess acid has the potential to irritate the stomach lining and cause heartburn:

Mechanism

Coffee stimulates acid production. When this acid refluxes into the esophagus, it causes a burning sensation in the chest, also known as heartburn or reflux.

Impact on the sphincter

Caffeine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter – the ring of muscle that separates the esophagus and stomach – thereby increasing reflux.

Groups need to take note

People with a history of heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should be cautious. However, there is currently no research confirming that drinking coffee on an empty stomach is a direct cause of GERD.

If you have heartburn, have a light snack before drinking. Additionally, a 2014 study found that light-roasted coffee causes more acid secretion than dark-roasted coffee. So, try switching to dark roast coffees to reduce symptoms.

Caffeine is absorbed faster

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that can cause feelings of anxiety or restlessness. On an empty stomach, the body will absorb caffeine significantly faster. Drinking coffee with food will help slow down this process and minimize side effects.

Excess caffeine can lead to restlessness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, headaches and increased blood pressure. Studies that find a link between coffee and anxiety are often based on people who drink more than six cups a day.

Most health experts recommend limiting caffeine to 400 mg per day (about 4-5 cups of coffee). The effects of caffeine can last up to 7 hours, so avoid drinking on an empty stomach close to bedtime.

Caffeine can cross the placenta and affect the fetus. Most doctors recommend that pregnant women drink a maximum of 1-2 cups of coffee per day.

Digestive problems

Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can cause symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, heartburn or diarrhea.

Some people will feel the urge to defecate faster after drinking. In particular, patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are often more sensitive to gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea after consuming coffee.

Hormonal changes

Caffeine stimulates the release of cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone. Cortisol plays a role in regulating metabolism and blood pressure.

High cortisol levels can increase your risk of anxiety, irritability, and sleep problems. Over the long term, persistently high cortisol levels can lead to heart disease and bone loss.

Luckily, the increase in cortisol caused by caffeine is not dramatic and has not been shown to cause serious health problems.

Some studies show that drinking coffee can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients. In particular, drinking coffee with iron-rich foods can reduce the amount of iron the body absorbs.

However, there is an important difference: drinking coffee on an empty stomach does not affect the absorption of nutrients (because at that time there is no food to hinder).

Coffee is a great drink, but listen to your body. If you often feel nauseous or burning after a cup of coffee at the beginning of the day, try lining your stomach with a few slices of bread or a banana to protect your stomach and keep your mind awake in the smoothest way.