Is it bad to drink coffee on an empty stomach? See what experts say

Can drinking coffee in the morning without eating anything harm the stomach wall?

Many people don’t give up starting their day with a fresh coffee. But the idea that having a sip of coffee without eating something together can harm the intestines – or even contribute to other ailments, such as bloating, acne, hair loss, anxiety, thyroid problems or menstrual cramps, as some people claim on social media social — has been gaining popularity among some and arousing disbelief in equal measure.

Researchers have been studying the benefits and harms of drinking coffee, especially as it pertains to the gut, since the 1970s, says Kim Barrett, who is a professor of physiology and membrane biology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, as well as to serve on the board of directors of the American Gastroenterological Association. Fortunately, the stomach is able to resist irritants of many kinds, including coffee.

“The stomach has many ways to protect itself,” Barrett said. For example, it secretes a thick layer of mucus that creates a powerful shield between your stomach lining and what you ingest. This shield also protects the stomach from its own acidic environment, which is necessary to break down food, points out the professor.

According to Barrett, it would be necessary to consume an irritating substance to an extreme “for the stomach’s defenses to be violated, because it is constantly in a very adverse and harmful environment. That’s how it does its job.”

How does coffee affect the gut?

Irritants like alcohol, cigarette smoke and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — like ibuprofen or naproxen — are known to alter the stomach’s natural defense mechanisms and damage its lining, says Byron Cryer, director of internal medicine at the Medical Center. from Baylor University in Dallas.

Its research laboratory specializes in studying how different drugs and other chemicals can harm the stomach and small intestine. While certain irritants can make the stomach more vulnerable to acid and ulcer formation, multiple large studies have found that coffee does not.

For example, a 2013 study of more than 8,000 people in Japan found no significant association between coffee consumption and the formation of stomach or intestinal ulcers, even among people who drink three or more cups of coffee a day.

“Coffee, even in concentrated form, is unlikely to cause objective damage to the stomach,” says Cryer. “And much less when it’s taken in typical doses.”

But coffee does have an effect on the gut: it can speed up colon function and induce bowel movement, in addition to acid production in the stomach.

Outside the gut, caffeine is widely known to elevate heart rate and blood pressure. And, if you drink coffee close to bedtime, it can disrupt your sleep. But these changes are temporary, says Cryer.

Can increased stomach acid cause problems?

Drinking coffee on an empty stomach is unlikely to hurt you, Barrett points out, but it could theoretically trigger heartburn.

We know that coffee triggers acid production, but if you have food in your stomach or if you drink your coffee with milk or cream, it will help create a buffer that helps neutralize the acid. Therefore, drinking coffee, especially black coffee, without a meal can lower the stomach pH more than would be the case if you had coffee with milk or with some food.

A slightly lowered pH is not a problem for the stomach lining, but it can cause complications with the lining of the esophagus, which is much more vulnerable to acid.

Some studies have indicated that coffee can relax and open the sphincter that connects the esophagus to the stomach. This, hypothetically, can facilitate the rise of stomach acid into the esophagus, causing unpleasant heartburn symptoms.

What to do?

Practically speaking, as a gastroenterologist, I often recommend that my patients take note of their symptoms. If they’ve consistently noticed a burning sensation in their chest or a sour taste in their mouth after drinking coffee, they may recommend drinking less coffee — or taking an antacid.

Adding a little milk or cream to your coffee or having it with food can also help. But if you don’t notice any symptoms, you’re probably someone who doesn’t experience significant reflux after consumption and can continue taking it without worry.

Cryer says he usually has latte or cappuccino; hot milk reduces the bitterness of the coffee. And he adds that, in general, consumption of the drink has many health benefits, including links with longevity, lower risk of cardiovascular disease and protection against many types of cancer, including liver, prostate, breast and colorectal.

“There’s a lot more evidence for coffee’s benefits than its ills,” says Cryer. For him, it is worth remembering this when you read reports on social networks talking about the harmful effects of drinking.

Translated by Clara Allain