Ciao -
Welcome to episode 2 of Daily Rituals, where just to clarify in case you thought this post was encouraging drinking coffee on an empty stomach, is actually suggesting not to drink coffee on an empty stomach. I know, harsh. It's tough love. Before you think I’m a hater, let’s talk about the benefits of coffee, because there are a lot!
Everyone knows coffee contains caffeine; definitely its’ claim to fame. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system increasing energy, response time, memory, and general mental function as it wakes up the brain firing power of neurons. Caffeine can boost the metabolism, which can stimulate the body to remove fat cells, allowing the fatty acids to be used as fuel. It also can increase athletic performance because it raises adrenaline levels, meaning a cup of coffee can be a great pre-workout.
Coffee beans contain small levels of important nutrients such as vitamin B12, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B5, and high levels of antioxidants - which, when you down a couple cups a day, really adds up! Coffee has also been shown to lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimers, and Parkinson’s disease, along with protecting the liver, reducing chances of liver cancer.
Now that we have covered the great parts of coffee, let’s talk about why coffee on an empty stomach is not so great.
Research has shown that the high level of bitterness in coffee can be hard on your stomach acid and lining when consumed on a totally empty stomach, such as in the morning. Especially with someone who already has a sensitive stomach or digestion issues, coffee on an empty stomach is sure to perpetuate those struggles.
Another concern with coffee on an empty stomach is that coffee is a diuretic, which is a substance that causes the body to release more urine. While coffee in itself is not necessarily dehydrating, the diuretic effect and the lack of water instead is not the best option for being properly hydrated. Our bodies go through a fasting period when we sleep and when we wake up, is in a depleted state - meaning we need to hydrate with water and nourish with good food. Drinking water right away is a gentle way to wake up your digestion for food. If you missed the post about lemon water in the morning, click below:
The most important and enticing factor to switching your routine in the morning, in my opinion, is cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone in the body, and while it is a required aspect of the hormone cycles and processes, it is crucial to do everything we can to keep those levels at a normal level. Cortisol levels naturally peak around the time you wake up, and a cup of coffee on an empty stomach will shoot those levels up even higher immediately. This can lead to a mess of things such as insulin release issues, hormone imbalances, anxiety spikes, sleep problems, and possibly weight gain.
Along with raised levels of cortisol, caffeine raises adrenaline which is the bodies fight or flight response. The fight or flight, or ‘survival mode’ is a state of stress the body experiences when triggered that should not be a regular morning practice. This survival mode state is exhausting and draining on our already depleted bodies from just waking up. We don’t have to live in this state of survival because we don’t need to run away from bears or go hunting to get breakfast anymore. Shoutout ancestors.
If you’re not a morning person, (like me) then chances are you’re already feeling rushed, stressed, and maybe anxious to get ready for the day. Even if you are a morning person, the pace we all run is exhausting in itself, and chances are - your body runs on survival mode and high cortisol levels plenty as it is. Although it may seem like a cup of coffee right away in the morning is your savior, it’s not, and can actually be doing more harm than good! (On an empty stomach, anyway).
Moral of the story: coffee is wonderful. It has awesome benefits, not to mention how good and satisfying it tastes. But, coffee on an empty stomach takes away from those benefits, and can add unnecessary added stress to your life. All of the perks that come with coffee are largely amplified and more effective when you have properly hydrated and fueled your body.
The goal for this Daily Rituals section is to share ideas so you can find ones that work for you to incorporate, daily, into your routines to increase quality of life and wellness. The 21/90 rule says this: it takes 21 days to create a habit, and 90 days to create a permanent lifestyle change. Maybe a glass of warm lemon water (or chugging a lukewarm glass of water by your bed) before a cup of coffee can be a new Daily Ritual.
Food for thought,
Lai