Health experts do not suggest drinking black coffee on an empty stomach. Coffee increases the acid production in the stomach. In addition, research says that coffee relaxes the valves of the lower sphincter of the esophagus. As a result, the valves do not close properly, allowing the acid to come back to your esophagus, causing heartburn and acid reflux.
The typical sensations of acid reflux include pains, dryness, and discomfort in your chest, especially when you lie down.
4 and 5 pH is the pH range of coffee. Anything under pH seven would be noted as acidic.
In this article, we will look at the science behind black coffee, its effects, and the healthy practices behind drinking coffee.
Is Drinking Black Coffee on an Empty Stomach Healthy?
According to the National Institute of Health, drinking before or after 2 hours of a meal is not the best idea. With an empty stomach, the acidity in coffee can knock your internal chemistry off-balance because the gut also produces gastric juice, which is acidic.
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can lead to irritation in the stomach which causes stomach acidity.
Why Does the Stomach Become Acidic if You Drink Coffee on an Empty Stomach?
The stomach gets acidic because some types of toxins and molds present in the coffee enhance acid production in the stomach. Therefore, if you are continuously drinking coffee on an empty stomach and there is no acid reflux, please keep in mind that there is still a risk of developing esophagitis.
Esophagitis is when the esophagus becomes inflamed. If this condition is left without any treatment, it can lead to the destruction of the inner wall of the esophagus. Esophagitis has the risk of developing esophageal cancer.
Coffee has caffeine in it, and when you drink it empty stomach, it will make you feel it much faster because the caffeine in coffee has slower effects when taken with or after meals. Taken without food, you will feel it faster, but it will also be harder on your body.
Another common argument on drinking an empty coffee stomach is that it raises the level of the stress hormone cortisol in your body. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands of your body which help to manage the metabolism like blood pressure, blood sugar. So increased production of cortisol can lead to terrible health problems like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heartburn.
What Happens if I Drink Black Coffee Daily?
Black coffee contains vitamins B2, B3, and B5. Besides this, potassium, magnesium, and manganese are also present in black coffee. Therefore, drinking one or two cups of black coffee daily without sugar helps reduce the risk of diabetes.
The content of caffeine present in your coffee can help to reduce weight. Research shows that you burn more calories when you drink coffee. Coffee helps your body burn more fat, especially when you do exercise.
According to the study by King’s College of London, one to two cups of black coffee daily can burn up to 150 calories a day, and this is without changing your daily diet. In addition, black coffee can also reduce the risks of heart diseases.
Black coffee is good for your skin because it contains a high level of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. It can help fight against skin cancer agents like malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Coffee can also help to improve your skin tone by using it as a scrub. The acid in coffee works as an exfoliator on your skin.
Applying coffee to your hair and over the scalp can help you to reduce hair loss. This is because the caffeine in your coffee stimulates hair growth. In addition, the laboratory study shows that caffeine helps to block the effects of DHT in the male hair follicles.
What is the Ideal Time to Have Black Coffee?
The most suitable time to have black coffee is between 10 a.m and noon. It is because the caffeine in coffee can increase the production of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is a stress hormone. The cortisol levels are high in the body during the morning, and its production is reduced over the day, rising again at night when you go to bed.
If you take coffee in the early morning when the cortisol level is very high in your body, it can lead to several health issues like heart problems and stroke. However, sometimes if you have missed your coffee in the late morning, you can also drink your favorite coffee at noon between 2 PM and 5 PM when the cortisol level is low.
If you are drinking coffee late at night when the cortisol level is high in your body, it can have a worse effect on your health.
How Much Coffee Should I Drink in a Day?
Evidence shows that three to four cups of coffee are optimal daily; providing up to 400 mg can be a part of a healthy diet. More than 5 cups of coffee in a day can affect your health badly. If a person drinks 7 to 9 cups of black coffee in a day, it can lead to cardiovascular disorders by 22%.
If a person is 60 years old and drinks 5 to 6 cups of black coffee in a day, he might reduce the amount because the aged people above 40 have weak heart tissues, so taking more caffeine in the coffee can damage the heart tissues badly.
For this age, 1 to 2 cups of black coffee a day is standard for people between 20 to 35 that are taking 4 to 5 cups a day is normal. Teenagers of age 12 to 18 should take one or two cups in a day in which 100mg of caffeine should be present.
According to modern research, 4 to 5 cups of coffee in a day without sugar has a good impact on your health because it reduces tiredness and lowers the risks of type 2 diabetes.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.
