your daily cup of coffee, but are you harming your health with bad habits? here are 5 things to avoid when drinking coffee and how to drink it right. check it out now.
coffee is a modern-day staple, but are you doing it right?
a cup to wake you up in the morning on your way to work, a cup to soothe your post-lunch slump. it's become an integral part of our daily routine, but your mindless coffee habit could be taking a toll on your health. today, we're going to take a closer look at five behaviors to avoid when drinking coffee, so you can enjoy it in a healthier way.
repeated hot coffee consumption and esophageal cancer risk
many people drink hot, freshly brewed coffee straight from the pot, but this habit is dangerous for your esophageal health. the World Health Organization has classified hot beverages above 65 degrees as carcinogenic. A study published in the international journal Clinical Nutrition found that frequent hot coffee drinkers had a 2.7 times higher risk of esophageal cancer than those who didn't drink it. If you enjoy very hot coffee, your risk jumps more than five times.
unlike the stomach or intestines, the esophagus has no protective lining and is easily damaged by external stimuli. repeated heat irritation can damage mucosal cells, and this can lead to cancer. make it a habit to open the lid when you receive your coffee and let it cool for three to five minutes before drinking.
iced coffee ice chewing and tooth damage
do you crunch on the remaining ice cubes after you finish your iced coffee? This behavior causes serious problems for your dental health. when cold ice hits your teeth, they temporarily contract, and biting down on hard ice while they're in this state causes a great deal of impact.
it can cause tiny cracks that you can't see, and these cracks get bigger and bigger over time. at first, it's just a chipped tooth, but if left untreated, it can become painful and eventually lead to tooth breakage. coffee This is one of those bad habits that you need to be especially careful about.
how coffee on an empty stomach affects your stomach
some people drink coffee first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. this is a direct harm to your digestive system. the caffeine and fatty acids in coffee irritate the stomach lining, which can lead to gastritis or stomach ulcers.
on an empty stomach, stomach acid secretion is more active than usual, and caffeine accelerates it. the same goes for the calcium in the milk in your latte. on top of that, caffeine can loosen the lower esophageal sphincter, putting you at risk for acid reflux. if this happens repeatedly, it can lead to reflux esophagitis. if you have stomach problems, always drink coffee after a meal.
the problem with drinking coffee right after eating meat
it's common to drink coffee after eating a pork belly or steak to wash down the feeling, but this habit greatly interferes with iron absorption. the tannins and caffeine in coffee bind with iron and reduce its absorption by up to half.
tannins bind with iron to form a bond called tannin-iron, and caffeine is a diuretic, which causes iron to be lost in the urine. it's best to wait at least 30 minutes after eating meat before drinking coffee. if you are anemic or taking iron medication, you need to be extra careful.
why you shouldn't drink coffee as a hangover cure
many people reach for coffee the morning after a night of drinking to wake up. while the stimulant effect of caffeine may make you feel sober for a moment, coffee doesn't actually help with a hangover.
you need plenty of water to break down alcohol, and coffee's diuretic properties cause your body to lose even more water. water, ionized water, or honey water are much more effective hangover cures. of all the behaviors to avoid when drinking coffee, this is one that directly affects your health.
frequently asked questions
how many cups of coffee can I drink in a day?
the recommended amount of caffeine per day for adults is 400 milligrams or less. for a typical Americano, three to four cups is about right. however, this should be adjusted based on your individual caffeine sensitivity.
is decaf coffee okay on an empty stomach?
decaffeinated coffee also contains acid, which can irritate the stomach. just because it's low in caffeine doesn't mean it's safe to drink on an empty stomach, so it's best to drink it after a meal whenever possible.
what happens if I take iron with coffee?
the tannins and caffeine in coffee interfere with iron absorption. we recommend avoiding coffee for at least 1 to 2 hours before and after taking iron pills.
is it okay to drink coffee right after a meal?
it's better to wait about 30 minutes before drinking it rather than immediately after a meal, especially if you've eaten something rich in iron.
what are good hangover drinks instead of coffee?
water, ionic drinks, and honey water work well. coconut water or tomato juice can also help replenish electrolytes.
wrapping up
coffee is a great way to energize your day if you drink it correctly. however, drinking it straight from the cup, chewing on ice, drinking it on an empty stomach, drinking it immediately after a meal, and drinking it as a hangover cure are all bad habits that can put your health at risk. start today by remembering what not to do when drinking coffee and start living a healthy coffee life.
if you found this article helpful, please share your coffee habits in the comments. for more great health tips, subscribe and set up notifications to get new articles delivered right to your inbox.