How Bad Is It To Drink Coffee On An Empty Stomach? The Answer May Surprise You.

Whether you didn’t have time or you’re just not the type of person who regularly eats breakfast, it’s common to drink coffee on an empty stomach ― which you’ve probably heard is bad for your gut. But is it really?

The good news is that drinking coffee on an empty stomach is not inherently bad for you, and your stomach can usually adapt to protect itself. But it may cause some discomfort, in which case you’ll likely want to change up your routine.

“There are a lot of benefits associated with coffee consumption when it comes to the gastrointestinal tract,” said Louisville, Kentucky-based gastroenterologist Dr. Sunana Sohi. “The drink gets vilified because of the caffeine it has and because it’s sugared up a lot now but, medicinally, it has been used for centuries.”

That being said, Sohi explained that coffee plays around with stomach acid levels in multiple ways. As a result, some folks may deal with issues — namely dyspepsia, which is basically indigestion — that could be easily solved by avoiding caffeine or, perhaps, indulging in a cup alongside some food.

Specifically, coffee itself is an acidic drink. In addition to that, explained Boston-based gastroenterologist Dr. Supriya Rao, “caffeine stimulates the production of the hormone gastrin, which is responsible for our gastric acid production.” Although the latter compound helps kick off the process of digestion, it also adds acidity to the stomach.

Finally, phenols, which are compounds found in coffee, also contribute to the gut’s level of acidity.

But, what exactly happens when the stomach is hit with a flow of acid?

Acidity In The Stomach

“Coffee has a pH level of about 5 while our gastric acid boasts a pH of about 2, making the latter more acidic,” Rao