For many people, mornings start with one thing: coffee. Whether it’s due to lack of time, low energy, or simply habit, skipping breakfast and heading straight for caffeine has become the norm. But according to experts, this routine could be quietly working against your weight loss goals—especially when it comes to cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.
Functional nutritionist Kylie Adele explains that while coffee itself isn’t the problem, how and when you drink it matters more than you might think.
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Drinking Coffee First Thing Can Spike Cortisol
Your body naturally produces cortisol in the morning to help you wake up and feel alert. However, drinking coffee on an empty stomach can disrupt this process.
“When you drink coffee without a protein in your system, your cortisol levels will spike fast,” Adele explains. Instead of a gradual, natural rise, cortisol “just shoots straight up,” triggering a stress response in the body.
This matters for weight loss because chronically elevated cortisol levels are linked to increased belly fat, cravings, and inflammation—all of which can make it harder to slim down.
It May Shut Down Digestion
Another downside? That morning coffee habit can interfere with your digestive system. Adele notes that this sudden cortisol spike can “turn digestion off” and even lower stomach acid levels.
While coffee is acidic, it doesn’t function like stomach acid and doesn’t help break down food—especially protein. As a result, many people experience symptoms like bloating, reflux, nausea, or a tight feeling in the upper stomach.
In some cases, it can even trigger an urgent trip to the bathroom due to what she describes as a “bile dump.”
It Can Lead to Energy Crashes and Cravings
Even if coffee gives you a quick boost, the long-term effects throughout the day can be less helpful. Caffeine increases your body’s demand for glucose, which can leave you feeling shaky, tired, or inflamed by late morning.
This often leads to stronger cravings later in the day—especially for sugary or carb-heavy foods. In other words, that coffee-first habit may be setting you up for overeating and energy crashes, making weight loss more difficult.
What To Do Instead
The good news? You don’t have to give up coffee.
Adele recommends eating something—especially protein—within the first hour of waking up. This doesn’t have to be a large meal, but including protein and some complex carbs can help stabilize your system.
From there, wait about 10 to 15 minutes before having your coffee. This small shift can help regulate cortisol, support digestion, and reduce cravings later in the day.
Coffee isn’t the enemy—but drinking it on an empty stomach could be. By pairing your morning cup with a balanced breakfast, you can support your metabolism, keep cortisol in check, and make your weight loss efforts more effective.
