To start with the bad news, upper GI surgeon Mr Myutan Kulendran at King Edward VII’s Hospital says that “coffee itself is acidic, and the increase in acid in the stomach can also cause reflux.”
Some studies have shown that coffee can relax the sphincter connecting the stomach to the oesophagus, meaning stomach acid could be more likely to easily reach the oesophagus and cause heartburn. It’s thought that this is due to the caffeine content or something in the coffee itself, as the same effect has been observed when drinking decaf coffee.
Add milk to ease negative effects
“There really is no evidence that I’m aware of in the literature that says [coffee first thing] is in any way, shape or form, bad for you,” Kim Elaine Barrett, Vice Dean for Research and Distinguished Professor of Physiology and Membrane Biology at the UC Davis School of Medicine says decisively.
While the acidity of coffee can be a worry (particularly because of how it seems to increase the stomach’s acidity), fears that coffee can damage the stomach lining or cause major digestive issues, Kim adds, have not been reflected in evidence.
The only impact coffee does seem to have on digestion is that it can speed up the colon, helping to induce bowel movements. However, this is less a result of coffee than it is of timing.
In any case, whether that is a negative or positive is a matter of perspective. “I’ve seen anecdotal evidence in the literature that people say that’s why they have a cup of coffee in the morning, because it helps them go to the bathroom,” Kim adds.
Keep an eye if you are sensitive to caffeine
“As a heart rhythm specialist, I see a lot of patients with palpitations and dizziness, things like that. And one of the things that I’ll talk to them about is caffeine and the effect of caffeine on those palpitations. Sometimes reducing caffeine has a positive impact and reduces the incidences. But that’s the only element where we get involved.”
But studies have found that if you drink coffee regularly, the production of cortisol rises much less than it does in occasional drinkers – and in some cases doesn’t rise at all. Whether you have a full or empty stomach doesn’t appear to change this conclusion. And just as our stomachs are built to handle acid, our bodies are built to handle elevated levels of cortisol over short periods of time, as is the case when caused by caffeine.
Ultimately, the negative impacts of coffee are not shaped by when you drink it necessarily – but simply by the fact of drinking it at all.
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