Starting your day with a cup of coffee is a ritual for millions around the globe. But have you ever paused to consider the effects of consuming coffee on an empty stomach? Here's what experts have to say about this habit.
What Experts Says on Drinking Coffee in an Empty Stomach
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In terms of the digestive system, Dr. Sunana Sohi, a gastroenterologist based in Louisville, Kentucky, stated that there are a great deal of advantages linked with the drinking of coffee. Although it has been used medicinally for centuries, the beverage is heavily criticized for its caffeine content and excessive sugar content. Sohi elaborated that coffee alters gastric acid levels in a variety of ways. Some individuals may experience problems, including dyspepsia, which is essentially indigestion, that might be quickly resolved by avoiding caffeine or by treating themselves to a cup of coffee alongside some meal.
Coffee is reportedly an acidic beverage in and of itself. According to Dr. Supriya Rao, a gastroenterologist based in Boston, coffee stimulates the creation of the hormone gastrin, which is responsible for forming gastric acid in our bodies. Even though the latter chemical assists in initiating the process of digestion, it also contributes to the acidity of the stomach. Thus, another factor contributing to the gut's acidity is the presence of phenols, which are molecules that can be found in coffee.
According to a gastroenterologist in Boston, Dr. Supriya Rao, coffee has a pH level of approximately 5. In contrast, human gastric acid has a pH level of around 2, rendering the latter more acidic. Because of this, our stomachs ought to be able to deal with the acid produced by drinking coffee effectively.
If you consume coffee on an empty stomach, it is not necessarily harmful to your health, and your stomach can typically adjust to shield itself from the effects of the coffee. Nevertheless, you may want to alter your routine if it creates discomfort.
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Benefits of Drinking Coffee
According to studies, coffee, when combined with a healthy diet, stimulates the colon and promotes regular bowel movements. In addition, research indicates that drinking coffee may be an efficient method for restoring colonic contractions and the digestive function of the bowel following abdominal surgery.
When it comes to making more room in your stomach, there is absolutely nothing wrong with enlisting the assistance of your morning cup of coffee. Yet Sarah Koszyk, M.A., RDN, a registered dietitian and co-founder of MIJA, recommends that you be careful about the speed at which your desire to go boosts after drinking coffee on an empty stomach. She also reveals that the craving could become more intense if there is no food in the stomach.
Furthermore, based on the studies published in reputable journals, coffee consumption has been associated with several favorable liver effects. These include a decreased risk of mortality from liver cirrhosis, a reduction in harmful liver enzyme levels, and a limitation in liver fibrosis among individuals with hepatitis C.
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