Coffee lovers know there’s something magical about a cup of joe: the rich aroma, the comforting warmth, and the complex flavors that make it a cherished part of the day. As a dietitian and a devoted coffee enthusiast myself, I also appreciate the potential health benefits coffee can offer, like its antioxidant properties, its ability to perk us up, and its link to a reduced risk of developing dementia.
Rest assured, I’m not here to tell you to give up your beloved coffee habit. However, we do need to talk about what you might be pairing with that morning brew that you really, really shouldn’t.
Many people enjoy the convenience of taking their daily vitamins or supplements alongside their coffee; it feels like a productive way to combine two healthy habits. But here’s the catch: Certain compounds in coffee may interfere with the absorption or effectiveness of some nutrients and compounds. This means that if you’re washing down some supplements with your dark roast, you might not be getting the full benefits you’re expecting.
Here, we’ll explore how coffee impacts nutrient absorption and highlight which supplements you may want to keep separate from your morning mug—and when to take them instead.
Why coffee and supplements don’t always mix
To understand why coffee and certain supplements clash, we need to look at the chemistry of your drink. Coffee is complex, containing hundreds of different compounds. Two of these compounds are primarily responsible for impacting nutrient absorption: tannins and caffeine.
Tannins are a type of polyphenol found in coffee, true tea, and wine. While they act as antioxidants, they also function as “anti-nutrients.” Tannins bind to certain minerals in your digestive tract. When they do this, they form complexes that are much harder for your body to absorb. This can reduce the amount of the nutrient that enters your bloodstream, with the unabsorbed portion passing through your digestive system.
Caffeine brings its own set of challenges to your morning vitamin routine. It stimulates your digestive system, mildly increasing how quickly food and supplements move through your gastrointestinal tract. While this effect is usually too mild to significantly impact nutrient absorption, excessive caffeine intake or preexisting digestive issues could reduce the time your intestines have to absorb certain nutrients.
4 supplements to keep away from your coffee cup
If you are investing in supplements and want to get the full nutritional punch you paid for, you may need to separate your coffee from your medicine cabinet. Here are the four supplements I tell people to try and avoid mixing with your morning brew.
