Harmful effects of drinking coffee immediately after eating

19 November 2023
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Harmful effects of drinking coffee immediately after eating



If you are a coffee lover, you have probably heard a lot about the benefits and drawbacks of drinking

Coffee at different times of the day. One of the common questions asked is:

Is it possible to drink coffee after eating?

Some people swear by it and others avoid it altogether.






Why you shouldn't drink coffee after a meal?


You need your morning coffee after you finish breakfast and a cup of hot cappuccino after lunch. And you probably need a strong espresso for a heavy lunch or to keep you going for the rest of the day. But the truth is that the time you enjoy a cup of coffee may affect your health more than you thought. It turns out that the habit of savoring a cup of coffee after a meal can affect your health and appearance.



Having a cup of coffee right after a meal will not allow your body to get all the nutrients from food and can reduce iron absorption by a whopping 80 percent. When your body doesn't get enough iron, it affects you in many ways, and it will be especially evident on your skin. It may become paler and drier than usual, making wrinkles more noticeable.


Coffee's inhibition of iron absorption may be due not only to caffeine, but there are some other compounds in coffee that bind to iron and hinder its absorption, including polyphenols and chlorogenic acid, which bind to iron during the digestion process and work to hinder its absorption. But it must be known that the effect of coffee on iron absorption is in plant foods, while its effect on iron in animal foods is very small, but the matter needs more studies.




Even if your diet is balanced and rich in all essential nutrients, the habit of drinking coffee immediately after a meal can sabotage your efforts to eat healthy. Because drinking a cup of coffee immediately after a meal reduces the absorption of many important nutrients, affects your body in many ways, and can also affect your hair. When your body lacks iron, it is difficult for your blood to carry oxygen, which repairs cells in the body that stimulate hair growth. This, in turn, affects the health of your scalp and may eventually lead to hair loss.


Various studies have also discovered that there is a link between drinking coffee immediately after eating and absorption levels of vitamins and minerals, which is not good news for your body.





The effect of caffeine on vitamins and minerals:


Caffeine has a diuretic effect, leading to increased urination. As a result, water-soluble vitamins, such as B vitamins and vitamin C, can be depleted due to fluid loss.


Research has also shown that the higher the caffeine level, the more it interferes with vitamin D absorption. The study also indicated that caffeine does this by reducing the work of vitamin D receptors and its effect on bone cells in the body, which are the cells responsible for bone production.


Caffeine can also interfere with calcium absorption. A study published in the journal "Osteoporosis International" showed that just a cup of coffee can slightly reduce the absorption of calcium in the body and increase its loss in the urine due to its diuretic effect.





What are the harms of drinking coffee immediately after eating?


There are also many potential harms to drinking coffee immediately after eating:


  • Heartburn: The acidity of coffee can cause heartburn or make it worse if you already have it. This is because a full stomach increases the problem.


  • Stomach upset: Coffee stimulates the secretion of stomach acid and can lead to nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting when consumed immediately after meals.


  • Diarrhea: The laxative effects of caffeine in coffee combined with stomach fullness can lead to loose stools or urgency.


  • Anxiety and stress: The stimulant effects of coffee are enhanced on an empty stomach but being too close to eating can also cause caffeine levels to rise sharply.


Therefore, it is best to avoid drinking coffee immediately after meals if you want to prevent these unwanted symptoms.


Time to drink coffee after eating:


It is recommended to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour after eating before drinking coffee. This is because drinking coffee immediately after a meal can interfere with the absorption of some nutrients, such as iron and calcium, which are essential for your body. So it is better to wait a little before drinking your coffee.