FOR many, a first cup of coffee can be as routine as checking the morning messages.
From the older generation turning the pages of the newspaper to the younger generation scrolling on their phones, this habit is almost always accompanied by a cup of coffee.
However, popular health claims say drinking coffee before breakfast damages the stomach lining.
But is it true?
Verdict:
FALSE, BUT
There is no strong evidence that drinking coffee on an empty stomach damages the stomach lining in most people.
Coffee can stimulate the secretion of gastrin and stomach acid.
That may explain why some people experience heartburn, nausea, bloating or stomach discomfort after coffee, particularly when they have not eaten.
However, discomfort is not the same as damage to the stomach lining.
A scientific review on coffee and the gastrointestinal tract found that most studies did not show an association between coffee drinking and peptic ulcers.
It also found that evidence linking coffee to dyspepsia, or recurrent upper-abdominal discomfort, is mixed and does not allow for a firm conclusion that coffee causes the condition.
The better-established causes of peptic ulcers include infection with Helicobacter pylori, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as some painkillers, and tobacco smoking.
People who already have acid reflux, gastritis, an ulcer or recurrent indigestion may find that coffee makes their symptoms worse.
Caffeine is not the only possible trigger, as decaffeinated coffee can also stimulate stomach acid in some circumstances.
Someone who repeatedly develops pain, burning, nausea or reflux after coffee may benefit from avoiding it on an empty stomach, reducing the amount consumed or discussing persistent symptoms with a healthcare professional.
But for most people, having coffee before breakfast is not proven to damage the stomach lining.
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
https://health.
