Brief (coffeeyo.com): In the health programme Fingertip Doctor, Dr Cai Chenwen of Huashan Hospital explains why a coffee on an empty stomach irritates the stomach lining — and the simple fixes, from a bite to eat to a splash of milk, that make your morning cup gentler on the gut.
Spreading health knowledge and introducing disease prevention.
Fingertip Doctor is a medical health-science programme co-produced by the Baoshan District Integrated Media Centre and major hospitals across Baoshan. It invites medical experts from Shanghai’s municipal and district levels to help you spot the tell-tale signs of disease and unravel the mysteries behind them.
The programme also offers appointment booking with Shanghai’s top medical authorities, safeguarding your healthy life.
About the Doctor
Huashan Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Attending Physician Cai Chenwen.
On an empty stomach, components in coffee such as caffeine and tannic acid stimulate increased gastric acid secretion, while caffeine also acts directly on the gastric mucosa and lowers its defensive capacity. With no food to neutralise it, the acid comes into direct contact with and damages the stomach lining, easily causing a burning sensation, dull pain and acid reflux. Long-term coffee drinking on an empty stomach may also trigger or worsen chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers and reflux oesophagitis. So we suggest eating something before your coffee — a slice of bread or a few biscuits will effectively buffer the acid and reduce irritation to the stomach. Milk, the golden partner of coffee, contains moderate protein and fat that also help neutralise stomach acid, so it is a good idea to pair milk with your coffee. If you already have a stomach condition, opt for decaffeinated coffee or drink it after meals.
Reporters: Miao Jingying, Wei Jue
Editor: Liu Zonglin (intern)
*Please cite Shanghai Baoshan’s official WeChat account when reprinting.
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