Is It Bad to Drink Coffee on an Empty Stomach? Dietitians Weigh In

For years, coffee drinkers have been warned that a cup before breakfast could wreak havoc on their gut. Now, a clinical researcher and a registered dietitian are setting the record straight.

Coffee is a morning staple in many households, and it's often the first thing people reach for, sometimes even before they've had a bite to eat. However, persistent rumors claim that starting your day with coffee on an empty stomach could be bad for your health.

So, what does the research say? Coffee's stimulant effect is known to speed up digestion, which has fueled the belief that drinking it without food can be harmful.

Over the years, more claims have circulated that coffee on an empty stomach can lead to ulcers and stomach irritation. However, Benjamin Lebwohl, director of clinical research at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, says those worries no longer hold up.

"It is not hazardous to drink coffee on an empty stomach," Lebwohl explains. "Decades ago there was concern that coffee could be irritating to the lining of the stomach and intestine, but it was subsequently shown that this is not the case, and coffee consumption has not been linked to the development of ulcers."

Registered dietitian Anthony DiMarino, RD, LD, agrees. "Your digestive system is incredibly complex and efficient," he says. "Most people don't have any problem drinking coffee on an empty stomach."

Still, according to Lebwohl, coffee lovers aren't entirely off the hook.

"One thing to keep in mind is that drinking coffee on an empty stomach can result in more rapid absorption, and thus a greater biological effect of your cup of coffee, such as alertness (which is desirable) and jitteriness (which may not be)," he adds.

As for coffee's effect on digestion, there is some truth to the claims. "Some people also get the urge to have a bowel movement after drinking coffee (which could be desirable or undesirable depending on the circumstances), though it is not clear that an empty stomach affects this," Lebwohl says.

While some people can enjoy coffee on an empty stomach without any trouble, others may not be so lucky. For those in the second group, DiMarino recommends making sure breakfast includes at least one of the following:

• Fiber: Think whole-grain toast, cereal or steel-cut oatmeal. These soak up the coffee in your stomach and help balance out stomach acids.
• Healthy fats: Avocados, nuts and nut butters are all good options, as they can ease inflammation in the digestive tract caused by a rise in stomach acid.
• Protein: Foods like eggs, yogurt and cottage cheese can slow down digestion, which means your body absorbs the caffeine more gradually.

Ultimately, the experts agree that the long-held fear of a pre-breakfast cup of coffee damaging the stomach doesn't hold up. Whether you sip it first thing in the morning or wait until after a meal, the key is paying attention to how your body responds and adjusting your routine accordingly.