Published By: Ishani Karmakar

Why The First Thing You Drink In The Morning Absolutely Shouldn't Be Coffee

It’s surely the one thing you look forward to first thing in the morning – but is it harming your health?

It's early Monday morning, and you need more time to begin your workweek. The only thing that can get you out of bed on a Monday morning feeling refreshed after a lazy weekend is the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. After only one drink, you'll feel refreshed and revitalized. Recognizable phrase? The same thing happens every week (and, to be quite honest, almost every day).

Why Coffee Can Be An Issue If Consumed First Thing In The Morning

It's better to have a glass of water waiting for you when you get up than a cup of coffee. This is true because sleep is a dehydrating process. So, first thing in the morning, we should drink more water because it is the only drink that will help us feel refreshed.

We lose about a liter of water each night, leaving us dehydrated when awake. Unfortunately, many people's first choice of rehydration in the morning is coffee.

Cortisol levels are linked to wakefulness and alertness but they can lead to tension and anxiety.

Not An Ideal Wake-Me-Up

To wake up, you definitely don't need a coffee boost. If you drink coffee later in the day, you'll be more awake than if you drank it first thing in the morning. The reason is the cortisol awakening response causes your cortisol levels to spike to a maximum of between 38% and 75% within the first 30 minutes after waking up. The period between when you wake up and when you start your morning ritual is when you're getting over the grogginess.

Given this, it's safe to say that you can still keep your morning java in your routine. Instead, the sequence in which things are done is crucial. Before consuming any other liquid, it is recommended to consume a litre of room-temperature water.

Acidity And Coffee

There is some evidence that coffee might increase gastric acid production. The digestive system is significantly disrupted by the body's increased production of toxic stoma acid, which manifests as indigestion, bloating, nausea, and other similar symptoms.

Other harmful Effects

If you drink coffee on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, including jitters, shaking, and mood swings.

It affects the conversion of T4 to T3 hormones, which affects the absorption of levothyroxine (the synthetic thyroid hormone).

It is a significant source of oxidative damage and inflammation in the body. Symptoms of inflammation include fatigue, skin issues, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.