Many people start their day with a cup of coffee. There are even special alarm clocks that brew coffee at a given time so you can wake up and immediately drink your favorite drink without getting out of bed. And of course, we remember about such a moment of care as coffee in bed. But are they worries? Doctors around the world are warning about the dangers of drinking coffee on an empty stomach. But not everyone understands the consequences of coffee on an empty stomach, and knows what effect it has on the body. Let's look at all the benefits and harms of your favorite drink.
Coffee on an empty stomach - consequences
It is believed that caffeine causes the greatest harm: it irritates the nervous and digestive systems, causes heartburn, abdominal pain, bloating, etc. But in fact, the problem is chlorogenic acids (by the way, they are even found in decaffeinated coffee), which irritate the walls of the stomach. The acidity rises, but there is nothing to digest.
After just a few weeks of regularly drinking coffee on an empty stomach, you may feel nausea and heartburn. Over time, this can develop into gastritis, then into an ulcer, and the most severe option – oncology.
When we wake up, the body's hormonal background is rearranged, the hormone cortisol is released, which is precisely responsible for vigor and the ability to react quickly. Constantly drinking coffee on an empty stomach suppresses this hormone, the body gets used to external stimulation and stops producing it . This is precisely what explains the complaints from people who simply cannot wake up normally without coffee. Some time after quitting coffee, the body returns to normal.
Coffee morning - what happens in the body
So, is it possible to drink coffee on an empty stomach or should the procedure be postponed to another time? In the morning you can pamper yourself with a cup of aromatic drink, but only after breakfast, and no less than an hour later.
Drinking coffee before meals immediately after waking up is the decision of a person who cares little about his own health. The traditional belief that you can’t wake up without a dose of coffee is actually false. Indeed, caffeine will invigorate you for a while, but its effect will end quickly, and the body will already be dealt a crushing blow to three systems:
- nervous;
- digestive;
- circulatory
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Moreover, drinking coffee on an empty stomach in the morning every day develops into a bad habit that is not so easy to get rid of. However, understanding the processes occurring in the body in the first hours after waking up will help you do this faster.
In the morning, a person’s hormonal levels change. Some time after waking up, the level of cortisol in the blood increases. This is the hormone responsible for:
- vigilance;
- attentiveness;
- stress.
It is cortisol that helps the body’s natural processes start as needed for its normal functioning. Morning coffee on an empty stomach inhibits the action of the hormone and over time the body, without “doping,” is no longer able to wake up and actively engage in work.
By giving a daily signal about the need for additional stimulation, the body will cease to cope with basic functions, the level of concentration and attentiveness, vigor and good spirits will noticeably decrease.
Regularly drinking coffee in the morning on an empty stomach increases the risk of developing problems with the gastrointestinal tract. First signs of failure:
- heartburn;
- heaviness in the stomach;
- pain and discomfort;
- cramps and bloating.
If nothing is changed, sooner or later a soil favorable for the development of gastritis, stomach ulcers and even oncology will form. This will happen due to chlorogenic acid, which is part of the drink, which aggressively affects the gastric mucosa.
The harm and benefits of coffee on an empty stomach
Much has already been said about the dangers of coffee on an empty stomach - problems with the digestive system, negative effects on the nervous system, hormonal imbalance.
But all this is possible only with regular coffee consumption, when almost every day begins with it. Occasional drinking of coffee on an empty stomach, on the other hand, may be beneficial. Coffee relieves stress, helps you concentrate, collect your thoughts, and ultimately invigorates. If you have important things planned in the morning, or because of jet lag you haven’t slept much and have important tasks to solve, you can drink a cup of coffee on an empty stomach without much harm. However, after a while it is still advisable to eat, at least a little, or drink a couple of glasses of water.
Coffee on an empty stomach is useful only if consumed rarely (no more than 2-3 times a month). If you constantly drink coffee on an empty stomach, forget about the benefits, it will only be harmful.
When is the best time to drink coffee?
So, should you drink coffee or not to be healthy? In the morning you can treat yourself to a pleasant drink, but after breakfast, no earlier than 30 minutes later. According to doctors, from 9.30 to 11.30 the level of cortisol in the blood decreases - this is the right moment. At this time, it will become a source of energy, vigor, increased performance, without causing harm.
If you break down your day into a coffee schedule, it will look like this:
- between 10 – 11 o’clock;
- from 12 to 13 hours;
- from 17.00 to 18.30.
There will be no harm to the body during this period, especially if the grains are of high quality. It’s beneficial if you drink a cup of the drink slowly and eat it with a cookie.
What kind of coffee can you drink on an empty stomach?
Sometimes coffee is drunk on an empty stomach in order to lose weight - it is well known for its fat-burning properties. But for this, coffee beans should not be roasted; it is green coffee that is beneficial. It is advised to drink it on an empty stomach, 10 minutes before meals, so that it starts the process of burning fat, but on the condition that food will soon enter the stomach.
You can reduce the harm if you at least add milk or cream to natural coffee, or better yet, dilute it with a large dose of dairy products. You can brew a latte or coffee with milk, or add steamed or heated milk to espresso.
It is highly recommended not to drink instant coffee on an empty stomach . There is almost nothing useful in it anyway: studies show that the share of coffee in instant mixtures is sometimes about 15%, everything else is additives, and the chemical components additionally irritate the stomach. Instant coffee, even expensive products, contains emulsifiers, stabilizers, preservatives, taste and smell enhancers. They enhance the negative effect of coffee on the stomach, and in this case even milk does not help.
Coffee on an empty stomach: is it possible or not?
The answer to the question whether it is possible or not is unequivocal - it is not prohibited, but only subject to certain rules. If this does not happen often and a high-quality drink is consumed, not a sublimate. It doesn't hurt to add some fresh cream to your cup.
After waking up, the human body releases the hormone cortisol, which is responsible for vigor and increased tone. Coffee entering the stomach every morning becomes addictive; the hormone ceases to be produced on its own. The result is that it is impossible to wake up without a cup of aromatic drink.
Even the highest quality drink contains no more than 25% of coffee itself; everything else is preservatives, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers, and chemical components that negatively affect human health.
How does caffeine affect the stomach?
The main enemy of the stomach walls is chlorogenic acids, which irritate them. The body accepts coffee as food, acidity increases, but there is no product for digestion. After a month of regular use, gastritis, ulcers, and in more rare cases, cancer may develop.
Excess caffeine increases nervousness, irritation, and anxiety. It invigorates for a while, but the effect wears off quickly. After this, the body receives a blow to the nervous, circulatory and digestive systems. In addition, it calls:
- Heartburn. This occurs due to relaxation of the lower cardinal sphincter. To prevent contents from escaping back into the esophagus, the muscle must be closed. If it is not food that first enters the stomach, but coffee, the hydrochloric acid contained in it enters the esophagus and irritates the mucous membrane.
- Ulcer. This disease is caused by the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori. The effect of coffee weakens the mucous membrane and allows them to multiply. The additives contained in the product irritate the mucous membrane of the small intestine. It is harmful for people with gastritis, Crohn's disease.
- Stimulation of peristalsis. Coffee consumed before breakfast promotes rapid emptying of the stomach, from where the product passes into the small intestine without being digested properly, which leads to gastrointestinal diseases.
The digestive system and emotional state are closely interconnected; drinking a lot of coffee on an empty stomach will negatively affect your mood and digestion of food.
Is all coffee bad for you on an empty stomach?
It is allowed to drink a brewed drink from green grains on an empty stomach; only after 15 minutes you need to have a good breakfast. Its constant use leads to weight loss, because excess calories are quickly burned, because coffee affects metabolism. But it is not recommended to make this a habit in order to lose weight, as it can have a negative impact on the body.
Effect of instant coffee
The disadvantage of drinking coffee in the morning on an empty stomach is the lack of absorption of a number of vitamins and microelements, such as magnesium, sodium and calcium. This leads to osteoporosis, especially in women. To prevent the development of the disease, replenishing the loss of microelements, you should drink a complex of vitamin-containing preparations.
Dependence is another negative factor that leads to an increase in the amount of drink consumed. But, getting rid of the habit, it is necessary to reduce its strength and volume gradually. The following groups of people are not advised to drink instant coffee:
- patients with hypertension, glaucoma;
- ischemic disease;
- people suffering from insomnia and prone to excitability.
Why can't you have a lot of coffee? Excessive consumption provokes exacerbation of gastritis, increases acidity, and affects male potency. The freeze-dried drink contains a higher percentage of caffeine than the natural product and is predominantly synthetic.
Ground natural coffee
Caffeine is considered an important constituent of coffee beans. In addition to it, it contains many other substances. The combination with lipids, soluble carbohydrates, and organic acids is beneficial. Benefits of natural ground coffee:
- increases endurance to physical activity, improves mood;
- fatty acids block the feeling of hunger, allowing you to lose weight;
- unroasted grains contain sufficient amounts of potassium and magnesium;
- the presence of microelements allows you to produce insulin, regulating blood sugar;
- a moderate amount of drink reduces mental fatigue, the risk of developing cancer, stroke; Parkinson's disease.
- slows down the aging process, because antioxidants fight free radicals.
But, abuse leads to such consequences as headaches, insomnia, and overexcitability. Increases blood pressure and general stomach acidity. Coffee bean lovers have problems with bearing a child; it causes smooth muscle contraction during pregnancy. Some people are positively affected by the properties of the product, while others are negatively affected.
Important! Even if there are no contraindications, it is recommended to limit yourself to drinking two cups of natural ground coffee per day.
Does milk mitigate the effect of coffee on the gastrointestinal tract?
Is it possible to have coffee with milk on an empty stomach? Thanks to the interaction of the product's components, the loss of calcium that occurs when drinking large amounts of coffee is compensated. Milk reduces the effects of caffeine on the nervous system, while maintaining its beneficial properties. The additive reduces the aggressiveness of the drink on the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. The alkaline reaction of milk reduces acidity, preventing heartburn.
Coffee with milk on an empty stomach is not too harmful for patients with gastritis. But, it still increases the secretion of digestive enzymes, so the product is not completely safe. Often this combination of products is prescribed by nutritionists during a diet, as it causes a diuretic effect. It can reduce the negative effects of dyes, which has a positive effect on the whiteness of tooth enamel.
When can you drink coffee without harm to your health?
Doctors unanimously recommend drinking coffee after eating, and at least half an hour later. During this time, the food will begin to be digested, and chlorogenic acid, which increases the acidity in the stomach, will be useful as it will help digestion.
If you eat breakfast around 8 a.m., the best time to drink a cup of coffee is between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., at which time your cortisol hormone levels drop and caffeine will help boost your alertness. And by the way, it will be completely safe for health.
The best time for coffee pleasure
In fact, you don’t need to drink coffee in the morning on an empty stomach to wake up and perk up. You can achieve the same effect if you wait just a few hours. Moreover, in this case, the drink will not only not harm, but will also benefit the body.
So, when is drinking coffee in the morning really beneficial? From half past nine to half past eleven in the morning, the level of cortisol in the blood decreases. This means it's the right time for coffee. It is at this moment that he can become a real source of vigor and energy.
During this period, the drink will not harm the body and will actually increase performance.
In order for the consequences of drinking a cup of coffee to be only positive, you need to take some pause after eating. An hour or an hour and a half will be enough for the intestines to start working, digesting what was eaten for breakfast and to be sufficiently prepared for drinking coffee.
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There are certain rules for consuming coffee in the evening. It is believed that drinking an aromatic drink at night will lead to insomnia and a bad mood in the morning. In fact, you can allow yourself to relax with a cup of coffee after lunch. Moreover, if you do this at the right time - from 14-00 to 16-00, then the drink will help you cheer up and tone up, motivating you for further work.
Drinking coffee at a later time is undesirable, since indeed, given the digestion time of the drink (up to 4 hours), the body may not have time to return to normal before bedtime, which can cause a sleepless or restless night.
However, here a lot depends on the personal characteristics of the person. People who are used to going to bed late and getting up late can allow themselves to deviate from the rules by shifting the permissible time for afternoon coffee by several hours.
Is it possible to drink coffee on an empty stomach?
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach is not strictly prohibited. The main thing is not to get carried away and resort to such actions only periodically. It is allowed to use only natural products. It's best if it comes with milk. Due to this, no harm will be done to the body.
If a person drinks an invigorating drink before breakfast systematically, then one should think about the consequences this will lead to. It is strongly not recommended to do this. You need to choose a different way to get a charge of energy.
Is it possible to drink natural black coffee on an empty stomach?
There are different points of view on which coffee is more harmful - natural ground or instant.
There are several points that will help determine this: the amount of caffeine in the product and its brand. Most often, more caffeine is found in expensive brands.
Based on this, both instant and natural drinks on an empty stomach can bring their share of harm. You can still drink and enjoy coffee in the morning, but you should observe some nuances.
