Why You Need To Eat Before Drinking Coffee

Drink Coffee After Your Meal

Having coffee on an empty stomach might be a common habit, but it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Eating a nourishing and balanced meal before caffeine is so important for your stress response and for your blood sugar levels. Why? Because coffee is NOT food. Repeat after me. Coffee not food! 

You have to eat before your coffee. Using coffee as an appetite suppressant is not a good idea because it is harmful, and leads to more fat storage. 

Let me explain why…

Coffee Is Not Real Food

Coffee is not real energy for your body. It does not fuel your body, mind and cells. Your body’s primary energy source are carbs (then fats, and protein). 

You need fuel then, right? But, when you drink coffee on an empty stomach, it spikes cortisol and blood sugar first thing in the morning which sets you up for a rollercoaster of energy highs and lows throughout the day + causes hormonal issues. Plus high insulin from cortisol highs causes fat storage (yikes!). 

BUT if you have 1 coffee with a blood sugar balancing meal (AKA fats, protein and carbs), you mitigate the afternoon crash and reduce its negative effects. Plus, since caffeine depletes magnesium (the calming mineral), you can also add sea or himalayan salt to your water + consume plenty of leafy greens throughout the day to mitigate the angst that comes with caffeine. 

How Eating Before Caffeine Balances Energy Levels

I have seriously seen a huge difference in my energy, hunger, and anxiety from caffeine after implementing this. 

Not hungry in the morning? You can get your hunger hormones working again by:

1. eating a light dinner 3 hours before bed 

2. drinking warm lemon water upon waking (500 ml sipped slowly + ½ lime or lemon)

3. 20-30 min exercise fasted in the morning

4. regularly consuming breakfast: it will take a few weeks but the hunger will start to kick in.

I start my morning with hydrating liquids (herbal tea, lemon water, green juice or water-rich fruits like grapefruit, pomelo, grapes, berries etc.). Then, 30 minutes later or when I am hungry I have breakfast with coffee. 

Note to the reader: this is not a coffee hate post. I am a coffee lover and try to live a balanced lifestyle and want you guys to enjoy coffee while feeling good!