According to experts, the organ has many ways to protect itself, but it is good to be aware of some signs
Drinking coffee not eating something together in the morning can affect the coating of stomach? For many people, enjoying a fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning is a non-negotiable way to start the day. But the idea that taking a sip without other food can hurt you intestine — or contributing to other ailments like bloating, acne, hair loss, anxiety, thyroid problems, or pain, as some have claimed on social media — has gained as much popularity as it has gained disbelief.
Researchers have been studying the benefits and harms of coffee consumption, especially with regards to the gut, since the 1970s, said Kim Barrett, a professor of physiology and membrane biology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine. and member of the board of directors of the American Gastroenterological Association. Fortunately, the stomach can withstand all kinds of irritants, including coffee.
“The stomach has so many ways to protect itself,” Barrett said. For example, it expels a thick layer of mucus that creates a powerful shield between your stomach lining and anything you ingest. This shield also protects the stomach from its natural acidic environment needed to break down food, he explained to her.
You would have to consume a very hard substance “to break down the stomach’s defences, as they are constantly in a very adverse and harmful environment,” he said. “That’s exactly how the stomach does its job.”
How does coffee affect the intestines?
Irritants such as alcohol, cigarette smoke, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), are well known for disrupting our stomach’s natural defense mechanisms and damaging its lining said Byron Cryer, chief of internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Their research lab specializes in understanding how different drugs and other chemicals can harm the stomach and small intestine. While some substances can make the stomach more vulnerable to acid build-up and ulcers, several large studies have found that this is not the case with coffee.
A 2013 survey of more than 8,000 people living in Japan, for example, found no significant association between coffee consumption and the formation of stomach or intestinal ulcers, even among those who drank three or more cups a day.
“Coffee, even in concentrated form, is unlikely to cause any objective harm to the stomach,” Cryer said. “And much less with the typical shot glasses in the usual drinks.” However, coffee does have an effect on the gut — it can speed up the colon and induce a bowel movement — and it also increases acid production in the stomach. Outside of the gut, caffeine is well known for increasing heart rate and blood pressure. And if you drink it too much before bedtime, it can disturb your sleep. But these changes are temporary, Cryer said.
Will increased stomach acid cause problems?
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach is unlikely to cause damage to your digestive tract, but it could in theory trigger heartburn, Barrett said.
We know that coffee triggers the production of stomach acid, but if you have food in your stomach or if you drink your coffee with milk or cream, it will help create a buffer that helps neutralize that acid. So drinking coffee, especially if it’s black, without a meal may lower stomach pH more than drinking it with milk or other foods, Barrett said.
While a slightly lower pH won’t affect your stomach lining, it could be a problem for the lining of your esophagus, which is much more vulnerable to damage from acids.
Additionally, some studies have shown that coffee can relax and open the sphincter that connects the esophagus to the stomach, which could hypothetically allow stomach acid to splash more easily into the esophagus and cause unpleasant heartburn symptoms.
But even there the data is mixed. A 2014 analysis of 15 studies in Europe, Asia and the United States found no link between coffee consumption and heartburn symptoms, while, on the other hand, a 2020 study using data from over 48,000 nurses identified a higher risk of heartburn symptoms among coffee drinkers.
To understand how coffee might affect the esophagus, scientists are also studying a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which occurs when the organ is damaged by chronic exposure to stomach acid, such as in people with acid reflux. longtime.
With this condition, the cells lining the esophagus change into tougher, stomach-like cells to protect themselves from the acid. These changes can increase your risk of cancer esophagus, especially if you have a family history of the condition or if you smoke. But reassuringly, a 2016 study of veterans in the United States found no similar relationship with coffee consumption. The authors concluded that, for Barrett’s esophagus, avoiding coffee is unlikely to be helpful.
So what should I do?
In practice, as a gastroenterologist, I often tell my patients to take note of their symptoms. If they consistently notice a burning pain in their chest or a sour taste in their mouth after drinking coffee, they may want to cut it out of their diet or consider an antacid. Adding a little milk or cream or a small piece of food with your morning cup can also help. But if you don’t notice any symptoms, you’re probably someone who doesn’t experience significant reflux after coffee and can continue drinking in peace.
Cryer regularly enjoys his coffee as a latte or cappuccino—the steamed milk reduces the bitterness, he said. And overall, he added, drinking coffee has many health benefits, including links to longevitylower risk of cardiovascular disease and protection against many cancers, including liver, prostate, breast and colorectal.
“There’s a lot more evidence of coffee’s benefits than harms,” Cryer said — something worth keeping in mind, he added, as you scroll through social media stories professing the drink’s harms./ TRANSLATION STÉPHANIE ARAÚJO
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
