How long after taking iron can you drink coffee:
Even though not everyone thinks about it, it’s a good idea to find out if you can take iron and caffeine at the same time.
Some supplements don’t work well together in a number of ways. Some supplements work better or less well when taken with other supplements or even with certain foods and drinks.
So, can you take iron and coffee at the same time? And how soon can you drink coffee after taking iron? At least an hour should pass after taking iron before you drink coffee.
Coffee and Iron
If you’re like any of us here at Caffeine Affection, you drink at least one cup of coffee every day, if not more. Most of us drink caffeine every day, and we do it so often that we might not think about what else it does to us besides give us a boost of energy in the morning and give us a pleasant taste and smell.
But caffeine does affect our bodies in a lot of different ways. In the same way, caffeine can affect supplements and nutrients in different ways. Iron, which is a very important nutrient, interacts in a very important way with caffeine.
How does coffee affect the way your body absorbs iron?
Depending on the type of iron you eat, caffeine and iron have different effects on your body. Heme iron and non-heme iron are the two kinds of iron. Non-heme iron comes from plants, while heme iron comes from animals.
Both coffee and tea have caffeine in them, and caffeine has chemicals in it called polyphenols. Polyphenols are praised for being good for your health because they are full of antioxidants. Polyphenols, on the other hand, are also like iron.
Not all types of iron are drawn to polyphenols, though. They only pull in non-heme iron, which comes from plants and not from animals. When you eat caffeine and non-heme iron at the same time, the polyphenols in the caffeine attract the non-heme iron.
Then, the non-heme iron sticks to the molecules of caffeine and are taken in by the caffeine instead of your body. This means that the polyphenols in coffee make it harder for your body to take in iron.
If you don’t get enough iron, this can be a problem because the polyphenols in coffee and tea will make iron supplements and iron-rich foods less effective.
If you don’t have too little iron, you won’t have any problems and can eat and drink what you want, within reason. When it comes to your diet, you should always talk to a doctor or other health professional.
Questions People Usually Ask
When you are trying to figure out what to eat and how to take supplements, you are likely to have a lot of questions. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back with some Qs and As!
Can I drink coffee if I’m taking iron pills?
In a sense, yes! You won’t have anything bad happen to you, but you won’t get the results you want. If you don’t have enough iron and are taking iron supplements, don’t eat or drink anything with caffeine for at least an hour after taking your iron supplement.
If you take your iron supplement at the same time as your coffee or something else with caffeine, you could lose the benefits of your iron supplement. Instead of your body taking in the iron, polyphenols in the coffee will do so.
How soon can I drink coffee after taking iron?
After taking your iron supplement, don’t drink coffee for at least an hour. This will let the polyphenols in coffee pass through your body while making sure that the polyphenols and iron don’t react with each other.
Conclusion
Overall, iron and coffee aren’t the worst of enemies by any means. You just need to be aware of how coffee might affect your ability to absorb iron. If you don’t have enough iron, watch out for this, but if you do, it’s all good!
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