5 foods to avoid while drinking coffee

While it’s important to eat a nutritious breakfast along with your morning cup of coffee, experts recommend avoiding a few foods to avoid digestive side effects or problems with nutrient absorption. Citrus fruits and fermented foods are foods to avoid when drinking coffee.

1. Citrus

Coffee and citrus fruits are acidic, so combining the two could lead to uncomfortable digestive symptoms. This may be especially true for people suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD), which triggers symptoms such as:

• Acid reflux
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Indigestion

When acidic foods like coffee and citrus fruits are combined, it could further exacerbate any stomach irritation.

2. Fried foods

Nutrition experts have established that fried foods are not the healthiest choice due to their high fat and sodium content. But eating these types of foods with coffee can cause even more complications, as studies have suggested that excessive coffee consumption could lead to a higher risk of developing dyslipidemia, which is higher levels of fat in the blood.

Consuming more than three cups of coffee per day can lead to higher levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and lower levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. It’s possible that adding fried foods to this mix could further increase your risk of developing heart health problems.

3. Milk

This one may surprise you, but adding milk to your coffee may not be the healthiest choice. Although milk is full of calcium, some research suggests that coffee may interfere with the body’s ability to absorb this nutrient.

Additionally, any calcium that is not absorbed by the body is excreted through urination, which is associated with a higher risk of developing problems such as kidney stones or osteoporosis (bone health problems).

4. Foods High in Sodium

Although consuming up to three cups of coffee per day probably does not negatively impact blood pressure on its own, excessive coffee consumption can trigger or exacerbate hypertension (high blood pressure) due to high levels of caffeine.

Eating high-sodium foods with coffee may not be the healthiest combination for blood pressure health, especially for people who already have or are at risk for high blood pressure. Experts suggest limiting sodium intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of the mineral per day.

5. Fermented foods

Fermented foods have undergone a preservation method that uses live bacteria and yeast to promote gut health. Examples include:

• Kimchi
• Sauerkraut
• Miso
• Tempeh

Although these foods are known to be beneficial for digestion, immune system function, etc., consuming them simultaneously with coffee could have the opposite effect.

Due to the acid in both elements, your digestive system may react with side effects such as gas, bloating, and upset stomach. This is more likely to happen if you are new to eating fermented foods with coffee.

Tips for including coffee in your diet

Although it’s best to limit certain foods with coffee, experts generally endorse regular consumption for most healthy adults.

Coffee contains antioxidant compounds that may help support overall health. Here are some tips for including coffee in your routine:

• Consider drinking hot brewed coffee instead of cold brewed coffeewhich tends to contain more caffeine due to a longer brewing period.
• Choose hot-brewed, lightly roasted coffeebecause they may contain more antioxidants and polyphenols than other types.
• Try to limit your coffee consumption to less than three cups per day to mitigate any potentially harmful impact that caffeine (a stimulant) may have on your health.
• Selecting Cold Brew Coffee if you want to reduce sweetness and acidity.
• Remember that packaged coffee usually contains additives and sweeteners.which could impact your daily sugar intake.