Coffee On An Empty Stomach?

A friend of mine, who is an avid coffee drinker, recently wrote me asking:

"What are the effects of having a coffee or latte on an empty stomach? How bad is it?" -L.H.

One of the major reasons that people consume coffee beverages for is the jolt of caffeine. However, caffeine is a stimulant and therefore tends to increase the motility of our G.I. tracts (this can be why people may have to make frequent bathroom trips after a cup or two!). Coffee and tea should also be avoided for those individuals suffering from G.I. ulcers as coffee and tea are acidic and can easily aggravate an already painful ulcer. Latte's would have the same effect as coffee, but perhaps less as lattes usually contain less coffee and more foam and cream. Another reason that coffee may upset someone's stomach is if the person is lactose intolerant at any level and has added milk or cream to their coffee. So while coffee isn't harmful for your stomach or intestinal tract without any food in it, for those with sensitive stomachs and bowels, you may find you get less cramped and bloated if you drink your coffee with a meal.

All that being said, enjoy your coffee, but don't forget your body still needs about 8-12 cups of water everyday and coffee has the ability to displace fluids by acting as a diuretic. Make sure if you are going to enjoy a cup or two of coffee, try to balance it out with a cup or two of water to meet your body's H₂O needs!