Drinking coffee on empty stomach ?
Are you drinking Coffee on an empty stomach?
Drinking Coffee on an empty stomach damages your stomach lining.
Do you have your yummy-licious Coffee with you as you are reading this?
Hmmm!
In this article, you will discover about why people drink coffee in the morning, the positive affects of drinking coffee and its negative effects. Together we will explore the best times to drink coffee and what food to pair it with. Lastly, I will also mention the alternatives to coffee for your drinking pleasure.
Look, I am not against Coffee. I am only suggesting its better for you not to drink it on an empty stomach.
For now, take a Sip and read on!
A few points discussed in this article:
Damaging effects of Drinking Coffee on empty stomach
Every time I ask the question in my class:-
“Students, do you like drinking coffee?”
I hear 8 out 10 students say:
“Yes, we Love Coffee.”
So, what makes coffee a cultural obsession in most part of the world?
With thousands of branches of Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, Barista and other coffee shops, we are spoilt for choices. The gaining popularity of coffee among the millennials has dominated the street life in most countries. Staying up late, waking up with a heavy head every morning and rushing to work – That’s pretty much every millennial’s morning is like in the modern world. Coffee drive-ins seem to come to the rescue when you have a morning like that!
If we consider US, coffee is synonymous to the American culture, probably as much as rock-n-roll is. It won’t be wrong to say that the United States is the most caffeinated country in the world.
For some coffee is just something to keep your eyes from shutting at your desk. For others, it’s just a way to connect with someone at a coffee shop.
But for most, it’s a habit or rather an addiction that helps them going through the day.
For most, drinking coffee is a habit or rather an addiction that helps them going through the day…
Gagori Mitra
What happens when you drink coffee every morning, have you ever thought about it?
I earnestly request you to have a thorough look at the infographic below. Maybe you will get an idea about the consequences:-
As you can see above, there’s nothing wrong in taking a whiff of coffee early morning but there’s everything wrong in drinking it every morning.
“Wake up and smell the coffee” – A popular saying but quite misleading.
The fastest way to stimulate the central nervous system when you wake up is to consume caffeine by drinking coffee; therefore, this will increase your level of alertness. Caffeine also causes the release of another hormone called cortisol, which is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. If you have consumed no food before drinking your first cup of coffee, the effect of caffeine will naturally cause the cortisol hormone to be released into the bloodstream at a much higher rate than if you had eaten something to buffer the response of the caffeine. The cortisol response is felt as an increase in heart rate, tension in the body, and/or anxiety. If you’re highly sensitive to the effects of caffeine, you may have a greater reaction than someone else who has developed a higher tolerance level to caffeine.
Damaging effects of Drinking Coffee on an empty stomach
Coffee can provide you with an immediate increased mental boost, but without nourishing foods in your stomach, this energy boost will probably not last long. Many individuals notice a decrease in their morning energy levels, irritability, and inability to focus later in the morning. This drop in energy may occur because caffeine suppresses the body’s ability to regulate appetite and blood sugar levels.
Eating a light meal or snack with your coffee is beneficial because it will allow for more stable and consistent energy levels in the morning.
1. Excessive Production of Acid
Drinking coffee increases stomach acid production, and when there is no food present in the stomach, the additional acid can cause irritation (for example, ulcers) of the stomach lining, and can also result in discomfort to those who have acid sensitivity or who have already been diagnosed with some type of digestive issue. Some people experience mild nausea, bloating, or discomfort shortly after drinking coffee, while others do not experience any of these symptoms, even after drinking it on an empty stomach. Therefore, it is important to listen to your body and not stick strictly to this recommendation.
2. Burn out of adrenal glands
Coffee stimulates the adrenal glands that create stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol is the hormone that keeps you alert which is at a high point in the morning and by drinking coffee early morning it can cause more damage than good. Increased heart rate and blood pressure can be the result of this. With overconsumption of coffee, your adrenal glands can even burn out.
3. Poor Sleep and Insomnia
Consuming too much coffee on a regular basis may also lead to poor sleep and insomnia resulting in a lack of energy and fatigue. It may also intensify the feelings of anxiety and jitteriness.
4. Can cause Heart Diseases
Drinking coffee reduces the absorption of calcium and iron from your meals. This hinders the growth of your body. Coffee also raises serum total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in our body which can lead to severe heart diseases.
Reducing Discomfort if Caffeine Doesn’t Work Well for You
If you find that drinking coffee on an empty stomach is not right for you, try these simple changes to avoid discomfort:
- Consider drinking warm water first before drinking coffee.
- Eat a small snack before your first cup of coffee.
- Use low-acid or cold-brew coffees.
- Wait 30 to 60 minutes after waking up before drinking coffee. By making these changes, you may be able to support better digestion and balance your energy levels without having to give up your love of coffee.
FAQs
What should I do next?
Now that coffee has become a part of your life, it will be difficult to quit it completely. So, you should just start with reducing your intake, one cup at a time.
Whenever you feel an urge to reach out for that cup of coffee, just remind yourself how much harm it is causing your body and therefore your mind.
Really, a question we need to ask ourselves at this moment is:
Do I really need this?
Is it healthy to drink coffee with food?
Chewing before brewing is a healthier option. However, I would suggest that you avoid if you already are suffering from the above-mentioned health problems.
What can I drink instead of coffee?
Here are some alternative options to Coffee:-
1. Herbal Teas
- Ginger Tea: Ginger tea helps in digestion. However, ginger is a bit heating in nature, according to Ayurveda. So, it’s ideal to have ginger tea not more than twice a week.
- Peppermint Tea: Peppermint tea is known for having a calming effect on your digestive system.
- Chamomile Tea: Chamomile when used in tea is soothing and can help reduce anxiety. A cup of chamomile when consumed before going to bed works well as an anxiety reliever.
Apart from this, turmeric latte or golden milk is also a good alternative to coffee as it has many health benefits. You can also drink matcha tea (green tea), have coconut water and probiotics and you are good to go!
But remember, these still cannot be consumed on an empty stomach. The best option to have on an empty stomach is a glass of water. Very simple!
Nothing is more refreshing than a fresh glass of water early in the morning.
We discuss the ill-effects of drinking coffee at length in:
4-weeks Ayurveda Massage Course
Suggested Reading:-
Ayurvedic Diet, Nutrition & Cooking
Five days in the kitchen — the six tastes, what suits which constitution, and food you can actually cook when you get home.
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