Hint: They’re coming for your coffee. Photo: Rimma Bondarenko/Getty Images When you’ve got an empty stomach and a big appetite, it can be tempting to grab the first thing you see in the kitchen. This is especially likely if you’ve just woken up or had a busy day, and you simply haven’t found time to eat. We’ve been there too!
However, some foods (and drinks) can mess with an empty belly, particularly if you have a sensitive GI tract. To play it safe, read on to learn which foods you should avoid on an empty stomach, plus how to reduce digestive issues when eating them. Dr. Robynne Chutkan , MD, FASGE, gastroenterologist, author of Gutbliss and The Microbiome Solution , and host of the The Gutbliss podcast.
Johanna Salazar , MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and the founder of Healing Nutrition.
Dr. Michael Schopis , MD, is a gastroenterologist at Manhattan Gastroenterology.
Coffee
Sorry, coffee lovers —but you might want to avoid chugging java right after waking up. Coffee, especially strong black coffee, can be tough on an empty stomach . That’s because the caffeine in coffee (and coffee in general) promotes the release of gastrin —the hormone that secretes stomach acid. This effect can lead to reflux symptoms, such as bloating, nausea, and regurgitation.
“Caffeine also opens up the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), or the muscular valve between the esophagus and stomach,” says Dr. Robynne Chutkan, MD, FASGE. This can cause the contents of the stomach (including stomach acid) to travel back up into the esophagus, further contributing to reflux.
It’s worth noting that caffeine can have these effects whether or not your stomach is empty, according to Dr. Chutkan. But if you haven’t had anything to eat, the side effects might be more irritating. To avoid stomach issues, Johanna Salazar, MS, RDN, recommends having a small high-protein or high-fat snack before drinking coffee . Examples include hard-boiled eggs , a few tablespoons of nut butter, or even a dollop of full-fat coconut milk in your coffee. This will “make it easier for the stomach to tolerate coffee […]
8 Foods You Should Never Eat on an Empty Stomach, According to Dietitians
