For religious reasons, dietary trends, and medical recommendations, many times in our lives we are asked to completely abstain from food and drink for a period of time. And yet so many people want – no, need – to know: Can I drink coffee while fasting?
Many of us not only enjoy coffee, but may feel terrible if we go a day without it. Sprudge is here to describe to you the situations in which you may – or may not – actually have to give up your morning coffee to achieve your fasting goals.
I have an upcoming surgery or medical procedure that requires anesthesia and I have been told that I must speedy. Can I still drink coffee in the morning?
“Anesthesia relaxes the reflexes and the esophagus, and is associated with the risk of stomach contents entering the respiratory tract, which is called aspiration, and can potentially result in death or earnest illness,” explains Dr. Ross Martini, assistant professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at Oregon Health Sciences & University in Portland, Oregon.
“Before any surgery or anesthesia, we tell people they shouldn’t eat or drink anything. Anything that enters the stomach not only increases the volume of the contents in the stomach, but also causes the stomach to produce stomach acid.
OK, but really, could I just drink black coffee if it was five hours earlier?
Dr. Martini says the amount of time allowed between eating or drinking and anesthesia may vary. According to most guidelines, anything containing fat – such as toast with butter – is best prepared eight hours before anesthesia. However, according to Dr. Martini, the waiting time is shorter after drinking clear liquids. “If you drink black coffee,” he advises, “you only need to speedy for two hours.”
However – and not everyone remembers this – this sneaky mug absolutely has to be black.
“This is the most common thing that causes us to delay surgery,” Dr. Martini says. “Someone gets up at four in the morning, drinks coffee and adds milk to it.”
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What about intermittent fasting? Does coffee count and can I drink it?
Intermittent fasting – most often involving limiting food and drink intake to a set time frame each day, such as between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. – has gained enormous popularity as a tool for weight loss and overall health improvement. But does coffee count? Says registered dietitian Julia Zumpano at the Cleveland Clinic Health Basics Podcast. that coffee lovers who choose black are ready.
Zumpano says on the podcast: “Generally speaking, fasting means that you should not consume any solid foods or caloric drinks. Coffee is an exception, as is tea.” He adds that even coffee with a little cream will be fine as long as it doesn’t add significant calories.
Bad news for latte lovers and bulletproof coffee enthusiasts trying to get a quick one… good news for almost everyone else.
How about coffee during Ramadan?
Drinking coffee from dawn to dusk is prohibited during Ramadan, but that doesn’t mean coffee-loving Muslims don’t drink coffee whenever they can. Sajjad Shah, founder of a company based in the Midwest of the United States Muslims of the world (MOTW) asserts that during this period, Sprudge Coffee is still very much a part of Muslims’ daily life, but may not be consumed first thing in the morning.
“Generally, we wake up around 4:00 a.m. and have to stop eating at 4:30 a.m.,” explains Shah, who lives in Indianapolis. “Many people don’t want to drink coffee in the morning because they won’t be able to fall back asleep. Basically, you go back to napping and then go to work, says the café owner.
Those who suffer from caffeine withdrawal may have a demanding time getting through the day – although remember that people also give up cigarettes and everything else – but Shah says that giving up your morning coffee still works.
“Many Muslims will tell you,” he says, “this month is so special that we often have more energy, maybe because we don’t eat the crap we usually eat during the day. Often we just feel refreshed because it is a spiritual month.”
But the magic of Ramadan coffee really happens after shadowy, he says. For many Muslims, coffee on the weekend becomes part of the evening ritual after prayer. “After the night prayer, people ask: where is the meeting, where can we have coffee?” says Shah.
“You have seen that all Muslim cafes around the world extend their opening hours during Ramadan from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We were the first Muslim coffee shop in Indiana, and when we established these hours, all of our non-Muslim customers asked, “Who would want coffee at this time?” but I’m not kidding, we will have lines wrapped around the building until 2:00 or 3:00 Ramadan time.
And… is it all caffeine?
Shah laughs: “A lot of people ask for decaf because it’s 2 a.m.”
