Medically reviewed by Onikepe Adegbola, MD, PhD
Taking probiotics and coffee has always remained a hot topic among scientists. The vital purpose of consuming probiotics is for a healthy gut and digestive system. Its popularity has spiked the global sales of probiotics up to 40 billion dollars, according to the study titled “Probiotics: Reiterating what they are and what they are not,” which was published in Frontiers in Microbiology.
Despite the many health benefits of taking probiotics, have you ever wondered if taking coffee and probiotics impact your body positively or not? If not, what is the actual duration of taking coffee after consuming probiotics?
How Do Probiotics Work?
Before we move on, how long after taking a probiotic can you drink coffee; let us know how the probiotics work. The probiotics release good bacteria that colonize the gut lining to kill the harmful bacteria. It helps:
- Lessen cholesterol
- Regulate pH value
- Improve indigestion
- Protect intestine
- Enhance vitamins & minerals absorption
- Lower the growth of yeast in the body
- Reduce the risk of colon cancer, etc.
Is Coffee A Probiotic?
People often confuse coffee with a probiotic and consume it to maintain gut health. Well, it is not a probiotic. However, there evolved a company producing probiotic coffee containing a probiotic strain named Bacillus Coagulans Ganeden BC30. The strain is unique for its survival in a hot drink. Despite such an impressive feature, experts don’t recommend slurping coffee with probiotic doses.
Is It Ideal Taking Probiotics Before Morning Coffee?
What to take first, a coffee or a probiotic dose? It is a common question that pops into our minds. During the morning hours, the stomach acids are at their least acidic level. Hence, having it with breakfast is a better option. However, one should not consume the probiotic supplement with the coffee as its heat might kill the bacteria in it, which is essential for gut health.
Taking the capsules with water or milk (warm or cold) is a better option. Moreover, it works best when taken on an empty stomach. Taking them on an empty stomach or before going to bed helps them approach the gut more easily without getting interrupted by acidic drinks like coffee or food.
What type of probiotic you consume is also a vital factor for taking them. Hence, it is advisable to check the instructions in the packaging or seek an expert’s advice for optimum benefits. However, taking it during breakfast enhances the possibility of bacteria surviving the acidic conditions in the empty stomach and the upper part of the gut. It is perfectly fine to take it before you brew the morning coffee. One must wait for at least 60 minutes after taking the supplements as a caution.
Can I Take Probiotics With Hot Drinks?
Although one can take probiotics with hot drinks, it is not ideal. Taking any supplement with hot drinks is not good for your health. Hence, one can wait for the coffee to cool down to room temperature before consuming it. In this way, you can enjoy coffee without killing the gut bacteria.
But what happens to your body when you take probiotics with hot drinks like coffee? The combination of coffee and probiotics affect bowel movement, irritating gut health and increasing the chances of acidity. Some chemicals in the coffee irritate the stomach, increasing the risk of causing diarrhea.
Certain Foods Interfering With Probiotics
Some foods, other than coffee, hamper the functioning of the probiotic bacteria. Merely consuming probiotics will not keep one’s digestive tract healthy. The combination of foods and a healthy lifestyle and their proper balance help induce the benefits of taking probiotic supplements.
Some foods interfering with the probiotics functioning are:
- Carbonated drinks: Regular consumption of carbonated drinks (more than twice a week) harms the digestive system and gut health. Even switching to diet drinks is not a better alternative to carbonated drinks. They contain sugar substitutes, like sucralose and aspartame, that have harmful effects. It increases the bad bacteria and kills the good gut bacteria.
- Processed food: Packaged foods like cakes, cookies, crackers, and chips contain a high amount of artificial preservatives and chemical additives. These additives hamper the balancing of harmful and good bacteria. Replace these packaged foods with natural foods like fruits, vegetables, and cereals for a better nutrient supply to the body.
- GMO products: Genetically Modified food products or GMOs harm the probiotics. Cultivators use herbicides for growing GMO products that interfere with the digestive system. These are genetically-altered products that impair the functioning of good gut bacteria.
Here is the list of when it is good or bad to take probiotics:
- Taking probiotics with a hot drink like tea or coffee: Fine (However, experts do not recommend it)
- Taking probiotics with water or cold coffee: Fine (However, one should take the hot beverage after 30-60 minutes of consuming probiotics)
- Mixing the probiotic capsules or powder into a hot cup of coffee or tea: Bad
- Waiting for one hour to have a cup of coffee after taking probiotics: Perfectly fine
- Taking probiotics with water while sipping your cup of coffee at a room temperature: Fine
Conclusion
Coffee isn’t bad for your gut health, but how you consume it while having any supplement matters the most. Coffee contains probiotics, and taking it with probiotic supplements to enhance its functioning is a bad idea. It alters the result of probiotics and affects your gut health. One should wait for half an hour to one hour after taking probiotics to sip freshly brewed coffee.
Consuming coffee with probiotics slowly affects gut functioning and also irritates bowel movements. Check the instructions and doses well before consuming the probiotics. It is crucial to reap maximum benefits rather than upsetting the bowel and increasing the risk of acid reflux.
References
Marshall, M. (2021, September 29). Does Coffee Kill Probiotics? (Know The Truth). Coffee Witness. https://coffeewitness.com/does-coffee-kill-probiotics/
Probiotic Coffee Gets Your Gut Going. What Do Dietitians Think? (2021, October 28). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/probiotic-coffee-dietitians-5207398#:%7E:text=Typically%2C%20the%20heat%20and%20acidity,just%20negate%20the%20health%20benefits
