Why you should never have coffee first thing in the morning: The nutritionist’s caffeine warning — and what to have instead
- Science suggests that drinking coffee first can have devastating effects on your hormones
- The popular drink puts your body in an extremely high stress mode
- Due to the acidity of the popular drink, it is very hard even on an empty stomach
- One gut expert recommended eating something small before coffee each day
A gut expert has warned that drinking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach can be harmful to your health.
Olivia Hedlund, the functional nutrition therapist behind Livingwell, said the caffeine rush can cause major problems for your gut and hormones.
The woman from the US said that coffee is acidic, so it’s hard on an empty stomach. It also causes the body to go into a high stress mode, messing with your hormones.
Instead, she recommends eating breakfast, gummies, eggs, raw dairy, berries, or some stewed fruits like apples, pears, or berries before picking up your morning brew.
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A gut expert has revealed why you should never drink coffee on an empty stomach — it can cause gut health and hormone issues
The young woman explained that while coffee is acidic and can be hard on an empty stomach, it also puts your body into a stressful “fight-or-flight” mode
“The first thing you do when you have coffee on an empty stomach, stop what you’re doing and listen. You’re playing with your hormones,” the expert said.
“Coffee is not only acidic, so it’s heavy on the stomach in the morning, but it literally causes our bodies to go into a stress response, dumping cortisol and putting us in a kind of fight or flight state.”
She explained that this stress response causes the post-coffee tremors and tremors, but also that “really good feeling where we feel like we can take on the world.”
However, feeling good takes its toll on your body, especially in women and people with intestinal problems or hormonal imbalances.
The habit can cause hormonal issues like acne.
“I used to drink several cups of coffee on an empty stomach, feel like I was on top of the world, and then I would have a lot of hormonal acne and wonder why,” Ms. Hedlund said.
Ms. Hedlund struggled with acne and a leaky gut for years, but through lifestyle changes she was able to successfully heal it. She is now working to help others heal their bodies
“It’s because your body is stressed. Eat something small before you have a coffee, make it your goal. I promise you’ll notice a difference,” she advised those struggling with hormonal imbalances or gut issues.
Ms. Hedlund used to struggle with gut health and acne and has made lifestyle changes over the past five years to heal her skin and leaky gut.
Her followers were shocked by the revelation.
“I drink coffee on an empty stomach almost every morning and that explains so much,” said one woman.
Top gut upsets to avoid
* Refined sugar and processed foods
* Glyphosate and pesticides
* Chronic stress
* Oral contraception
* Environmental toxins
* Household chemicals
The young woman recommends adrenal cocktails, coffee alternatives, and low-intensity workouts to support hormone health
What are Ms. Hedlund’s top tips for healthy hormones?
* Make adrenaline-fuelled cocktails – mix four ounces of orange juice, four ounces of aloe juice or coconut water, water, coconut cream, and sea salt
* Swap out coffee for alternatives like dandelion root
* Go for a walk after every meal
* Increase your Matcha intake
* Switch to lower-intensity workouts like walking, hot yoga, and weight lifting
* Eat low GI foods like fruit within an hour of waking up
“Maybe that’s why I’ve been breaking out more often lately! Thanks for the tip,” wrote another fan.
“That explains so much. Many Thanks. I do this and then crash and have such bad hormonal acne,” commented another.
However, some fans didn’t take the proposal well.
“Stop judging me,” a woman said.