It’s something that every coffee drinker has probably done, and may be the habitual routine of many, but a nutritional therapist says drinking coffee on an empty stomach first thing in the morning is a big “no-no.” Here’s why…
Never drink coffee on an empty stomach first thing, expert says
For many people, a cup of coffee or another caffeinated drink in the morning is part of their daily routine.
But a nutritional expert is advising against this habit, especially if it’s the first thing you put on your empty stomach in the morning.
Nutritional therapist Olivia Hedlund posted a video to TikTok explaining why this habit is bad for your body, The Sun reported. And when she explained the reason why, it seems that this logically would apply to consuming other caffeinated beverages first thing in the morning on an empty stomach as well.
Why coffee and other caffeinated beverages are bad for your body first thing in the morning if your stomach is empty
The main problem is the effect of the beverage on your hormones, but the acidic quality also is rough for your stomach to handle.
“You are messing with your hormones,” Hedlund explained. “Coffee is not only acidic, so it’s hard on our stomach in the morning.”
“It literally causes our body to go into a stress response to shoot out cortisol and to put us in a sort of fight or flight state,” Hedlund continued. “That’s why some people get jittery when they drink coffee on an empty stomach in the morning.”
“I used to drink multiple cups of coffee on an empty stomach, feel like I was on top of the world, and then I would have a bunch of hormonal acne and wonder why,” Hedlund added. “It’s because your body is stressed out. Have something small before you have a coffee, make it your goal. I promise you will notice a difference.”
Ways to balance your hormones
Hedlund suggested the following ways to balance your hormones, the New York Post reported.
> Eat low-glycemic foods like fruit within one hour of waking up.
> Switch from coffee to an alternative, such as decaf tea.
> Make adrenal cocktails — blend 4 ounces of orange juice, 4 ounces of aloe juice or coconut water, water, coconut cream and sea salt.
> Take walks after each meal.
> Switch to lower-intensity workouts such as walking, hot yoga, and weight lifting.
How cortisol and other hormones affect the body
Hormones are chemicals in the body that signal what to do and when to do it by carrying messages through the blood to organs, skin, muscles, and other tissues.
Cortisol is released by adrenal glands, which are the endocrine glands on top of the kidneys. This steroid (glucocorticoid) hormone affects several aspects of the body and helps to regulate how the body responds to stress, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Essentially, glucocorticoids help with suppressing inflammation, control metabolism, and affect sleep-wake cycles.
Cortisol regulates the body’s stress response. It also has an impact on metabolism, or how the body uses fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, as well as suppresses inflammation, regulates blood pressure and blood sugar, and helps to control the sleep-wake cycle.
