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Is drinking coffee on an empty stomach bad for your health?

There are different ways to drink coffee. Some like it on an empty stomach and others enjoy it with a full breakfast. According to some nutrition experts, drinking coffee on an empty stomach can have certain effects on the body of some people.

Some people more sensitive to caffeine

Many people start their day with coffee. Some accompany it with a full breakfast and others consume it on an empty stomach . Drinking a coffee and selling it empty, a bad idea? In an article published on December 14, 2020, the HuffingtonPost interviewed several experts in nutrition and dietetics. For Alissa Rumsey, the body's response to coffee consumption is different depending on the individual . However, some may be more sensitive than others to caffeine, and possibly more so when it comes to consuming it on an empty stomach.

His colleague Stefani Sassos reminds us that each person is able to know their own body . This concerns coffee tolerance, but also other drinks and foods. The key would therefore lie in a possible change in habits.

Is drinking coffee on an empty stomach bad for your health?

Symptoms no longer present

Be aware that coffee stimulates the production of acids in the stomach, source of irritation. This may concern people who are usually prone to heartburn and other reflux. This type of uncomfortable situation can also concern individuals who consume their coffee on an empty stomach. Dietician Maya Feller explains that in such cases, it is incumbent to accompany the coffee with certain foods. The objective is to reduce gastric acidity and therefore the risk of discomfort. It can be eggs, ripe bananas and other fruits or even wholemeal bread and oatmeal.

Coffee is also able to increase muscle contraction in the colon. It is therefore no coincidence that this drink makes you want to go to the toilet. Some believe that this particularity is something rather positive. On the other hand, this is not the case for individuals with gastric problems such as chronic diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome. If caffeine can be an element playing a role in this laxative effect, this could also be the case for other components. It is for this reason that decaffeinated coffee can also have adverse effects on the digestive system.

Finally, caffeine consumed in large quantities can be a stress factor, anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbances and rapid heart rate. However, experts believe that consuming coffee on an empty stomach can intensify these symptoms. They therefore advise changing the way you drink coffee if such effects appear.