This is the common coffee drinking habit that could cause you an agonizing health problem

For millions of people around the world, coffee is the drink of choice, especially in the morning, when you need not only energy, but also something incredibly relaxing to help you get through the day. Many coffee lovers say they can’t imagine a day without it.

While many studies indicate you might be getting more from your favorite morning beverage than you thought, experts warn that the habit could leave you battling an uncomfortable health problem.

How does coffee cause health problems?

Coffee is packed with substances that can help protect against many diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. Caffeine is also loaded with antioxidants and other active substances that reduce internal inflammation and protect against disease. But if you skip breakfast in favor of coffee, it can affect the balance of stomach acid levels.

As a result, drinking coffee without food can lead to painful and distressing indigestion, heartburn and gas. According to doctors, while it cannot be avoided, the situation can be easily remedied: not by avoiding caffeine altogether, but by consuming some food along with your morning cup of coffee.

How does coffee harm your empty stomach??

Coffee is naturally acidic and therefore if we take it on an empty stomach (first thing in the morning), it can irritate the stomach lining, leading to increased acid production, which causes heartburn. Doctors claim that coffee contains many components that increase the acidity levels in the stomach.

Caffeine, a natural chemical, stimulates the production of the hormone gastrin, which is responsible for the production of gastric acid. While it helps kick-start the digestion process, gastrin also adds acidity to the stomach. The pH level of coffee is around 5, while the gastric pH is 3, which makes coffee more acidic and therefore, you may not be able to handle the acidity caused by drinking coffee on an empty stomach.

Plus, many studies indicate that coffee contributes to more than just pain, nausea, and heartburn in the upper abdominal area. Caffeine also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus), allowing stomach acid to flow backward more easily, causing a burning sensation that can be very uncomfortable.

How to relieve heartburn symptoms?

If you have been suffering from bouts of gastric upset due to drinking coffee on an empty stomach, avoid coffee and other triggers like citrus fruits, chocolate, and mint, although eating foods with coffee helps. So, you should choose lighter meals that can reduce stomach acid and lower the risk of heartburn, as heavy foods take longer to digest and produce more acid.

Eat a moderate amount of: