Drinking Coffee On An Empty Stomach In The Morning? | Medicover Hospitals (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you drink coffee on an empty stomach every morning? ›

Beyond the gastrointestinal effects, some people may find that drinking coffee on an empty stomach leads to jitteriness, Jortberg said. Though coffee could lead to some minor gastrointestinal pains or annoyances for certain people, in general, drinking your cup of joe isn't dangerous.

Drinking coffee shortly after waking up is extremely dehydrating because caffeine has a diuretic effect on your body, which means it can draw fluids out. After a night's sleep, you need to rehydrate yourself, so it's better to opt for a glass of water instead of coffee first thing in the morning.

3) Lovneet says that our blood sugar control is impaired if we consume coffee first thing in the morning. 4) Everyone may not have experienced this but there's a possibility that drinking coffee on an empty stomach can give you jitters, shakes, and other withdrawal effects, including mood changes.

Your body absorbs coffee (and, therefore, caffeine) faster when there's nothing else in your belly. This rapid absorption can intensify caffeine's effects, making you feel anxious, jittery or irritable.

“Coffee can stimulate the production of stomach acid, which might cause stomach upset or acid reflux [i.e. heartburn] symptoms,” says Christina Manian, RDN. “Coffee can also stimulate cortisol production, a stress hormone in the body.

Drinking water upon waking is a proven way to kickstart your metabolism and replenish your hydration levels. The water activates your body's natural morning cortisol response, thereby providing a gentle "wake up" signal before caffeine even enters the equation. Water is crucial for your brain's optimal functioning.

Waiting 90 minutes after waking up allows adenosine levels to rise slightly, making caffeine more effective at blocking receptors and keeping us alert throughout the day. Accordingly, to Huberman, that's the key to its method: you need to let some adenosine fix itself on receptors before you consume coffee.

You won't get a caffeine hit any earlier because your body's cortisol (a hormone that controls blood sugar) levels peak between 8am and 9am. And not only do you not need it, you will likely require more later on to feel a similar boost.

“That explains why you may peak in the morning and get more tired at night,” she noted. Taking this rhythm into consideration, Lee suggested that the best time to have caffeine would be at least 45 minutes after waking up, when “your cortisol rhythm starts to dip.”

Often, many people have a habit of consuming citrus juices like orange, tangerine, and grapefruit juices first thing in the morning, which can irritate your stomach as it increases the acid content.

What is the best thing to drink first thing in the morning? ›

Water. You just can't beat a fresh glass of pure water first thing in the morning to quench your thirst and immediately rehydrate you. It really is one of the best morning drinks you could have. Our bodies are mostly made up of water so when we lose some, it's common sense that we should replace like for like.

On the positive side, coffee is rich in antioxidants that may offer benefits like enhancing brain function and reducing the risk of several diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. However, coffee also has some downsides, like being linked to an increased risk of insomnia and anxiety among some people.

The F.D.A. defines an empty stomach as “one hour before eating, or two hours after eating.” The F.D.A.'s two-hour rule is just a rule of thumb; the stomach will probably not be completely empty. The specific definition of an empty stomach varies from drug to drug.

So, while it's generally assumed safe to drink coffee and not risk dehydration, that doesn't mean it's safe to completely eliminate water from your daily fluid intake. If you drink only coffee and no water, you could become dehydrated.

Drinking coffee each morning does have several health benefits, but too much can raise your risk of cardiovascular disease. A cup of coffee may be just what you need to get going in the morning. A second cup is to get out the door, and a third (OK, even a fourth) is likely if you're especially tired.

Coffee containing caffeine can cause insomnia, nervousness and restlessness, stomach upset, nausea and vomiting, increased heart and breathing rate, and other side effects. Consuming large amounts of coffee might also cause headache, anxiety, agitation, ringing in the ears, and irregular heartbeats.