Better to Leave Coffee After Eating: These Are the Reasons

For many people, a cup of coffee after a meal is simply part of it. It is not at all advisable to drink the popular hot drink directly after meals. In this article you will find out why you should better avoid the cup of coffee after a meal.

That is why coffee after a meal is not advisable

Enjoying a good cup of coffee after a delicious meal is indispensable for many people. However, there are some good reasons against it. We explain to you why coffee should not be drunk directly after meals.

• Coffee inhibits our body’s absorption of iron. So if we have coffee for breakfast or right after a meal, our body has a hard time utilizing the iron contained in the food.
• The reason for this is the tannins contained in coffee. These are tannins that have an anti-inflammatory effect, but also prevent iron from entering our bloodstream.
• However, this only applies to iron on plant foods such as legumes, grains and nuts. Animal foods are not affected. However, since the main component of the diet should be plant-based, the absorption of iron from these sources should not be made more difficult.

What you should consider when enjoying coffee after a meal

You don’t have to do without your beloved cup of coffee after a meal or for breakfast. We’ll tell you what you should definitely pay attention to and which drinks also make iron absorption more difficult.

• If you don’t want to do without coffee for breakfast, you should make sure that you eat a balanced diet of iron-rich foods for the rest of the day. This compensates for the reduced iron intake in the morning.
• However, it is better to wait at least half an hour after meals before you treat yourself to a cup of coffee. This gives the body enough time to utilize the iron from food.
• Caution is also advised if you are a tea drinker. Because black tea and green tea also contain tannins that make it difficult to absorb iron. Again, you should wait at least 30 minutes after meals. Fruit teas are not affected by this.

The possible consequences of iron deficiency

Iron deficiency should not be underestimated. Especially pregnant women, children and young people have an increased need. If the body does not get enough of this important trace element, it can have health consequences.

• A lack of iron reduces the number of red blood cells. However, these are important in order to ensure sufficient oxygen transport through the bloodstream.
• If the oxygen supply is disturbed, the body’s performance decreases rapidly. The result is exhaustion, tiredness and exhaustion.
• The immune system also suffers from a lack of iron. If you don’t get enough of this important trace element, you are more susceptible to infections and get sick more often.