Exact Answer: 1 hour After Eating
World’s most popular beverage. This name is not wrong for coffee. Roasted coffee beans or seeds of some specific berries and coffee species are used for the preparation of this drink. Coffee is a part of the daily routine for many out there.
The day begins with coffee and ends with coffee, to be precise. The main reason being- it is full of beneficial nutrients and has high antioxidants level that keeps you active throughout the day. But many times, one come across claims that consumption of coffee right after eating is not good. How long after eating can one drink coffee is a concern for many.
How Long After Eating Can I Drink Coffee?
A hot drink after a meal is a personal favorite for many people. And coffee tops this list. But for your information, drinking coffee after meals is just not a good idea. You can consume it anywhere after an hour (1 hour) or so.
Drinking beverages such as coffee or tea is not at all bad for your health, given you take it in moderation. A time gap of 1 hour should be maintained between your meals and coffee and you get the most out of it.
Now that you know the time duration of taking coffee, you should also be aware of the various health benefits that coffee possesses.
If you always feel tired and lazy, coffee is your go-to beverage. This beverage contains a stimulant called caffeine which is known to improve various aspects of brain function and make you feel more active. It is also supposed to increase the metabolic rate which in turn helps in weight loss.
It is a storehouse of various nutrients such as riboflavin, magnesium, manganese and vitamin B (B3, B2, B5), and much more. Besides, it also lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and saves you from the cringes of Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Your daily cup of coffee can do a lot for you, given you take it in a fixed amount and not over consume it. Also, taking it at the right specified time will do the work for you.
| Meals | Time (to take coffee) |
| Lunch/Dinner | 1 hour after the meal |
| Breakfast | At least 45 minutes after breakfast |
Why Does It Take So Long to Drink Coffee After Eating?
The most probable time to take coffee after meals is- 1 hour after having taken the meals. The reason for it is the low absorption of the iron content when taken along with the meal. There have been various studies and evidence that suggest that drinking this beverage right after the meal slows down the body’s ability to absorb any mineral (and iron).
No doubt coffee has an abundance of antioxidants (and other important minerals), it slows down the absorption level of iron drastically once consumed after any meal. It also cuts down the absorption of minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, etc.
If you want to take this beverage after meals, waiting for an hour before doing so would be a great idea. Within an hour, the all-important nutrition and iron content of the meal would have been absorbed in the body.
If not after a meal, can one take it before a meal, i.e, empty stomach? If you are thinking such, stop. You can not take coffee even on empty stomach. Doing this would only increase cortisol and hydrochloric acid production in the body. This would create a problem for you to digest large meals and would lead to weight gain.
Talking about the bad effects of coffee, high amounts of consumption may lead to increased anxiety levels. It may also lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease. Also, it is not a good idea to consume coffee during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Either with your breakfast or after the meals, a cup of coffee never fails to impress anyone at all and seems like the best extensions for mealtimes. Coffee has many health benefits no doubt. But this applies only when taken in moderation.
The time as to when to consume this beverage is also a major factor to get the best out of it. You can drink coffee after meals. But only when it has been 1 hour or more after you have taken the meal.
Do not try to take on an empty stomach. Also do not take it along with meals. Follow the above-given instruction and get the most benefits of coffee.