Your morning coffee habit might be blocking essential nutrients

Drinking coffee at the wrong time could reduce the body's ability to absorb vital nutrients. Dietitian Margarita Koroleva warns that having it on an empty stomach or immediately after meals may block key minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. Her advice highlights how timing affects both nutrition and caffeine's impact.

Koroleva explains that coffee consumed too close to meals can interfere with mineral absorption. The same issue applies to tea, which also disrupts the uptake of these nutrients.

The solution, she suggests, is simple: wait at least half an hour before a meal or one hour after eating before drinking coffee. This gap helps ensure the body absorbs essential minerals from food without interference. While studies confirm the effect, specific data on caffeine strength or differences between coffee types remains unclear.

Adjusting coffee habits could improve nutrient absorption from daily meals. Koroleva's recommendation focuses on spacing out caffeine intake to protect mineral uptake. The advice applies equally to tea, offering a straightforward way to support better nutrition.