Coffee serves as the foundation for numerous individuals' daily rituals—the UK consumes approximately 98 million cups of coffee each day, with 87 percent of coffee drinkers savoring their cup during mornings. However, speculations circulate about whether this habit—particularly when taken on an empty stomach — may lead to adverse effects on our well-being.
Let's begin with the negative information: Upper gastrointestinal surgeon Myutan Kulendran from King Edward VII’s Hospital states that "Coffee is inherently acidic, and this rise in acidity within the stomach may lead to reflux."
Steer clear of this if you experience heartburn or acid reflux.
Tom Sanders, who is a retired professor from the field of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London (KCL), explains further: "Coffee, especially black coffee, is recognized as a stimulant for the digestive system. It boosts the production of gastrin, leading to increased acid levels. Individuals experiencing issues like acid reflux are usually recommended to steer clear of consuming it without food."
Several research findings indicate that coffee may loosen the muscle linking the stomach to the esophagus. This could make it easier for stomach acids to move into the esophagus, leading to heartburn. The relaxation of this muscle might be attributed to caffeine or another component within coffee because similar effects were noted with decaffeinated coffee consumption.
Introduce milk to mitigate adverse impacts.
If you're prone to heartburn or acid reflux, adding a bit of milk could be beneficial—milk proteins may attach themselves to the elements in coffee that trigger these issues. However, for the majority, there’s positive news.
"There truly isn’t any evidence, as far as I know from the available studies, suggesting that starting your day with coffee is harmful in any aspect," asserts Kim Elaine Barrett, who serves as the vice dean for research and distinguished professor of physiology and membrane biology at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
I believe it's safe to state that for those who are caffeine-sensitive, starting your day with coffee isn’t advisable. However, many individuals consume their morning coffee before eating, and it doesn't cause any negative effects for them. What they commonly report is experiencing some heartburn or gastrointestinal discomfort. Even this issue can be resolved.
Coffee may stimulate bowel movements.
Although the acidity of coffee might be concerning (especially as it appears to boost the stomach’s acid levels), concerns that it could harm the stomach lining or lead to significant digestion problems haven’t been supported by evidence, Kim notes.
Read Next: The four methods through which coffee can enhance your well-being – and one downside
Whenever you consume something, it triggers an automatic response to produce additional acid in the stomach. If there isn't any other food present to neutralize this extra acid, you could be vulnerable to experiencing heartburn. However, this process won’t cause significant harm to your stomach since it generates a substantial amount of protective mucus as a safeguard against acidity. The stomach comes equipped with these defenses, unlike the esophagus.
It appears that the sole effect coffee has on digestion is that it may hasten colonic activity, potentially leading to laxation. bowel movements However, this is more about timing than it is about the coffee.
"Introducing anything into your stomach may cause a laxative effect," Kim clarifies. This occurs due to a natural bodily response where changing positions from lying down to standing triggers a reflex that wakes up the colon. Additionally, there’s what’s known as the gastrocolic reflex; this mechanism activates when food enters the stomach and prompts the colon to prepare for more incoming material by increasing activity.
In either scenario, whether this is viewed as negative or positive depends on one's viewpoint. Kim also mentions, "I've come across some anecdotal reports suggesting that individuals drink a cup of coffee in the morning for this very reason—it supposedly aids their bowel movements."
Watch out if you're sensitive to caffeine.
Other proposed effects of starting your day with coffee include potential impacts on your heart and increased stress levels. However, Dr Jonathan Behar, a consulting cardiologist at King Edward VII’s Hospital, mentions that he recommends monitoring caffeine consumption only under certain conditions for his patients.
As a cardiologist focusing on heart rhythms, I often encounter patients experiencing palpitations and dizziness. During consultations, I discuss how caffeine can influence these symptoms. Reducing caffeine intake sometimes proves beneficial and decreases occurrences. However, this is typically the sole aspect we address.
The stimulating nature of coffee is viewed as a potential risk. When we awaken, our cortisol levels are already elevated to help rouse us and kickstart our day. Drinking coffee further boosts cortisol production, which some consider concerning.
However, research has shown that for those who consume coffee regularly, the increase in cortisol production is significantly lower compared to people who only drink it occasionally—sometimes it doesn't even increase. The state of your stomach being either full or empty seems not to alter this finding. Similar to how our stomachs can manage acids effectively, our body systems are designed to cope with temporary spikes in cortisol levels triggered by caffeine consumption.
Ultimately, the negative impacts of coffee are not shaped by when you drink it necessarily – but simply by the fact of drinking it at all.