For these reasons, don’t drink coffee on an empty stomach

As we all know, coffee is a naturally acidic beverage that can irritate the stomach lining, especially drinking coffee on an empty stomach can affect the balance of stomach acid levels, so drinking coffee before breakfast can cause indigestion and heartburn.

“Without food to buffer the acid, the stomach may produce more acid, leading to heartburn,” said Rob Hobson, a registered dietitian at Healthspan.

Many ingredients in coffee can increase the acidity level in our stomach.

According to Russia Today, gastroenterologist Supriya Rao said that caffeine stimulates the production of the hormone “gastrin”, which is responsible for the production of gastric acid. While this helps to start the digestion process, it increases the acidity in the stomach.

Coffee is also rich in phenolic plant compounds, which can also affect stomach acid levels.

Hobson explains that the caffeine in coffee relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve that separates the stomach and esophagus.

“When this valve relaxes, stomach acid can more easily flow into the esophagus, causing the burning sensation commonly associated with heartburn,” he says.

This theory has also been proven correct by a small number of studies, including one published in the Library of Medicine in 2022, which said coffee may help relax the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing food to escape into the esophagus and cause heartburn, according to the Daily Mail.

If you suffer from heartburn, avoid coffee and other triggers, such as citrus fruits, chocolate, and mint, Hobson advises. While eating food with coffee can help, it depends on the type of food.