Why you should never drink coffee on an empty stomach

Why you should never drink coffee on an empty stomach

More and more doctors are saying that we must change our morning ritual. And not because the drink is harmful, but because of drinking it without having eaten anything before.

The day does not start until you have had a coffee in the morning. It is your sacred routine, your ritual and without it, you are not a person for the rest of the day.

The scene is repeated frequently in Spanish homes: we wake up and all we have in mind is the aroma of roasted beans, we get up and go there, straight to the kitchen, for our coffee.

Best of all, we do not even have to feel guilty about following this daily habit: more and more scientific studies are reminiscent of their already more than obvious health benefits. Among the diseases that this drink mitigates are cardiovascular, neurological, type 2 diabetes and depression. Without going any further, a recent study led by scientists from the World Health Organization suggests that drinking three or more per day reduces premature mortality by 18% in men and 8% in women.

Coffee, including decaffeinated coffee, stimulates the production of acid, which, in the absence of food, can damage the stomach
However, more and more doctors are saying that we should change our morning ritual. And not for the coffee itself, but for the fact of drinking it on an empty stomach. Many times, in a hurry, we leave home shotguns to avoid being late for work and the only thing that gives us time to drink in those first hours of the day is one or two cups of fast coffee. For starters, it is not recommended because it can affect your digestive system. The coffee will accelerate the production of acid in the stomach and, if you have not eaten anything yet, this could damage the lining of the stomach and cause indigestion or heartburn.

And, apparently, with the decaffeinated, the same thing happens. “Coffee, even decaffeinated, stimulates the production of acid, which, in the absence of food, can damage the internal lining of the stomach due to repeated exposure,” Dr. Adam Simon told the British newspaper ‘Express’. But this is not the only risk. “It can cause nervousness, tremors and even changes in mood,” he adds. It also indicates that it can increase the symptoms of anxiety, as well as increase the heart rate, irritability and inability to concentrate. The recommendation, therefore, is that it be consumed after eating solid foods. In addition, it also helps to mix it with milk, since it will limit these negative effects as soon as the day begins.
And what time do I take it?
Your internal clock releases cortisol when you wake up, which increases your sense of alertness and energy. However, ingesting caffeine at the moment when the concentration of this hormone is at its highest point is not the best idea. The peak is precisely between 8 and 9 in the morning. If we drink coffee at that time, we probably do not feel its effects, especially if we are used to it and we have already developed a certain tolerance. It is worth it, therefore, to wait for cortisol levels to fall.