In my videos on tea, I caution not to drink with meals,

because he can inhibit the absorption of iron from foods anywhere from 26 to 99 percent,

perhaps depending on the brewing time brand, how strong

it is.

What about the inhibition of food iron absorption by coffee?

When I was first looking this up, I ran across this study on the effects of discontinuing

coffee intake on the iron status of Guatemalan toddlers, thinking they must be talking about like breastfeeding mothers or something.

But no, coffee is one of the first liquids given to infants in Guatemalan.

I did not know that.

Anyway, the inhibition of food iron absorption by coffee.

A cup of coffee reduced iron absorption from a hamburger meal by 39 percent, as opposed

to a 64 percent decrease with tea, so not as bad as tea, but still significant blockage.

And just like with the tea, the stronger the coffee, the more iron absorption was impeded.

In terms of timing, no decrease in iron absorption occurred when coffee was consumed an hour before a meal,

but waiting an hour after a meal to drink the coffee didn't seem to help,

which can be probably explained by the fact that it may take up to nearly two hours to clear a meal from the stomach,

so starting an hour in, the coffee can catch up to the food.

Now you can reverse the effect of tea to your coffee by adding orange juice to a meal

or even better in orange or any source of vitamin C-rich food.

The vitamin C boosts iron absorption, which is good for people who are borderline anemic.

But for many, the blockage of iron absorption from coffee may actually be a good thing.

Iron is a double-edged sword.

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