Coffee on an Empty Stomach Stimulates- 1. Cortisol (stress hormone) - Coffee directly increases cortisol - On an empty stomach, the spike is larger High cortisol- This is the biggest issue for women with night waking, lack of belly fat loss or constipation. 2. Adrenaline (Epinephrine) - Triggers “fight or flight” - Increases alertness and heart rate Can feel like it's helpful short term, however it may be stressful long term (for specific people & conditions).This stalls fat loss. 3. Noradrenaline (Norepinephrine) - Sharpens focus - Suppresses appetite - Tightens blood vessels and gut muscles This can temporarily reduce hunger but slow digestion. 4. Dopamine - Increases motivation and pleasure - Reinforces the habit (“I need coffee to feel normal”) This is why coffee can feel emotionally regulating. 5. Glucagon - Signals the liver to release stored glucose (sugar) - Raises blood sugar when no food is present This is why coffee can feel energizing even without eating, but it increases stress signaling. This stalls fat loss. 6. Reduced Insulin Signaling (indirect effect) - Coffee before food can blunt insulin sensitivity short term. This stalls fat loss. When coffee is taken without food, the body interprets it as “We need energy, but none is coming in therefore...... release the stress hormones.” This raises blood sugar. For someone already dealing with- - Constipation - Bloating - Night waking - Fat loss resistance This can reinforce the stress loop. Why is coffee is different with food? When coffee is taken after eating then - - Cortisol response is smaller - Blood sugar is more stable - Digestion is less disrupted - Less rebound bloating later Same coffee , VERY different hormonal response. FitnHealthy Forever Tip - Coffee on an empty stomach pushes stress hormones up, coffee after food is much gentler on your system. Does all of this mean that Coffee is bad? Heck no! Coffee can be a powerful tool, however like any Power Tool, it's best when used properly.

Stress, Hormones & Gut Movement (The Missing Link?) Up to now, we’ve talked about - - movement - fermentation - food timing - fiber and fasting But none of it fully makes sense until you understand how stress and hormones control digestion. This lesson starts connecting everything. Here's a FitnHealthy Forever Truth Your gut does not work independently. It follows instructions from your nervous system and hormones. Digestion is not just about food. It's about whether your body feels safe. How much food would your body digest if it was being chased by a Tiger? None! How Digestion Is Meant to Work When your body feels calm and supported, then - - blood flows to the gut - digestive juices are released - food moves forward smoothly - bacteria are cleared properly - bowel movements feel complete This is called rest and digest mode. What Happens Under Stress? When stress is high, physical or emotional, the body shifts into protect and survive mode. (read that twice) In this state- - blood is redirected away from digestion - digestion slows or becomes irregular - gut movement weakens - gas gets trapped - symptoms increase This happens even if you’re eating “perfectly.” Why This Is So Common in Women 40+? During perimenopause and menopause- - estrogen and progesterone fluctuate - cortisol becomes easier to spike - sleep is often disrupted - thyroid signaling may slow All of these directly affect gut movement. This is why many women say- “My digestion just changed out of nowhere.” It didn’t come out of nowhere.The system shifted. We're going to "spilt up" this BIG topic on Stress and Gut effects into a few different posts. Next up - Night Waking, Cortisol & the Gut Any non-sleepers? Who is interested in this one?

Please introduce yourself here. 1. What's your Name? 2. What city or Country are You living in? 3. What's your goal in the Community? HINT - More Points coming your way!🥰