Why you should never drink coffee on an empty stomach

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Coffee is the first thing a lot of us have in the morning. After, some toast, maybe bacon and eggs.

A hot cup of java is a great thing. Enlivening, remedial and delicious, why wouldn't you start the day with the beverage?

There are issues, however, with drinking coffee on an empty stomach. It can have a negative impact on the digestive system, prompting the production of acid, sometimes excessively so, which can damage the stomach lining. It can also lead to heartburn and indigestion.

Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can have other adverse effects. It can, according Dr Adam Simon, "give you jitters, shakes, and other withdrawal effects, including mood changes".

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It can also increase symptoms of anxiety, as well as boost your heart rate, irritability, and inability to focus.

Oh, and apparently sipping on a steaming cup of coffee also sabotages your circadian rhythm. In simple terms, your internal clock releases a hormone called cortisol when you wake up; cortisol is the thing that makes you feel alert and energised. So yes, there's the beginnings of 'addiction' – or reliance.

Research suggests that coffee decreases your cortisol levels, reports. For some, the drink may even make youfeel sleepier.

All this doesn't apply to everyone. Lots of people drink coffee first thing and feel fine. But there are a lot of people who suffer, even only moderately.

Dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, recommends pairing your caffeine fix with food, even if it's just a light bite.