Choose Dark Roast Instead
Researchers discovered that dark roast coffee reduced gastric acid secretion in healthy volunteers, making it easier on the stomach. Dark roasted coffee beans are roasted for a longer period of time or at a higher temperature than medium or light roasted beans, resulting in a lower caffeine content.
Food Allergies And Lactose Intolerance
If you switch from regular to decaf and still have bloating problems, its possible that coffee isnt the problem at all. Lactose is a naturally occurring carbohydrate found in cows milk.
Lactose intolerance can cause a great deal of bloating from the consumption of a very small amount of milk or other dairy products. This problem is more common than you might think. In the US, approximately 25% of adults experience lactose intolerance. Worldwide, about 75% of adults suffer from this problem.
Some sweeteners and coffee enhancers can also cause gastric distress and bloating. Artificial sweeteners such as malitol and sorbitol contain short-chain carbohydrates that are quite difficult for the small intestine to absorb. If they are not absorbed, they ferment in the colon. This causes gas and bloating.
To counter these problems, try switching from cows milk or cream to a natural milk alternative and a natural sweetener such as stevia, honey or molasses.
Milk Or Cream May Promote Bowel Movements
Freshly brewed coffee is naturally free of additives and preservatives.
However, over two-thirds of Americans stir in milk, cream, sweeteners, sugar or other additives .
In particular, milk and cream may promote bowel movements, as they contain lactose. Close to 65% of people worldwide cannot digest lactose properly .
People who are lactose intolerant experience symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps or diarrhea soon after consuming dairy.
This means lactose can trigger the urge to poop in people with lactose intolerance .
Summary Coffee that contains milk or cream may trigger digestive issues in people with lactose intolerance. This may increase gut activity and stimulate the urge to poop.
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Does Coffee Cause Bloating
by OwnerNov 22, 2021
The effects of coffee on the body are well studied, but there is still a lot to learn about it. Recently it has been found that there are over 1,000 different chemicals in coffee beans. Its important to know what these are and how they react with your body so you can be aware of any side effects.
The next time someone tells you that coffee makes them bloated or gassy, remember that just because something makes one person feel bad doesnt mean it will have the same effect on another person.
Everyone reacts differently to various things and we should all listen to our own bodies before deciding whether something is good for us or not. There may even be some benefits from drinking coffee! Learn more by reading this article now!
Contents
The Truth Behind The Coffee Bloat
Most of us would confess that we cant start our day without coffee. Some call it dependency. For others? Its called addiction. Simply put, coffee is a must-have jolt of energy to tolerate those early mornings, as well as satisfy our need for a hot, delicious flavor.
Dont forgetour favorite cup of joe provides a pile of health benefits, too, keeps us mentally alertand can even suppress our appetites to help with decreasing those waistlines.
But the perfect amount of coffee consumption is different for everybody. Although it can be a healthy beverage to include daily, for others it can also cause some undesirable effects For example, if you experience coffee and a bloating stomach, you need to take a look at your coffee habitsit may not necessarily be the caffeine itself thats causing the damage.
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Does Coffee Cause Bloating And Constipation
Coffee is an acidic beverage, which means that it can actually improve your digestion by stimulating the production of hydrochloric acid in your gut. It can also diversify your gut bacteria, thus improving your overall health.
However, coffee can indeed lead to bloating, but only in some people. According to a study on the effects of coffee on gastrointestinal symptoms, only a small number of people who are sensitive to caffeine experience GI distress.
So, if youre certain that drinking coffee is whats causing your stomach to bloat, then you may be sensitive to caffeine.
If you take your coffee with cream or milk , that may also be the reason for your bloated stomach. You may be lactose-intolerant or lactose-sensitive, although the latter is more likely to be the potential reason for uncomfortable bloating.
The same goes for artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol or aspartame. These and other artificial sweeteners can cause bloating because the body is slow to digest them.
Now, if coffee causes your stomach to bloat, you may experience constipation as well.
This, too, doesnt happen to everyone who regularly drinks coffee, as the beverage usually stimulates bowel movements. But if youre in the minority, you certainly know how painful and frustrating the problem can be. Also, if you have IBS , caffeine can only worsen the condition.
Coffee Is Acidic In Nature
All coffee drinkers are familiar with its acidic nature. People with sensitive stomachs are more prone to the irritation caused by the coffees acidity. Like the effects you get after consuming chocolate or lemons, the irritation can lead to bloating.
Moreover, studies have found out that coffee promotes the release of gastrin. This hormone, as the name suggests, is a gastric hormone responsible for pumping the acid in our stomach for digestion.
Imagine drinking straight-up lemon juice on an empty stomach. Do you think your stomach will feel good all day? No, it wouldnt be right. So, drinking coffee on an empty stomach would be equal to this.
Below is the chart of some Starbucks coffee with their ph levels. Please note that a tooths enamel dissolves below 5.50 ph level. This will provide more clarity for you:
| Coffee Type |
| 4.85 |
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Coffee Affects Mineral Absorption
Drinking coffee may restrict your kidneys ability to retain magnesium, calcium, zinc and other important minerals.
Iron absorption in the stomach can also be heavily impaired if coffee is taken at the same time as an iron-rich meal. All of these minerals are required in the complex process of digestion at some point.
Reduction in the already hard to get magnesium is especially problematic as it is needed to prevent constipation and maintain bowel regularity. With constipation a common cause of smelly gas, this is yet another way coffee can make you fart.
Many people are deficient in essential magnesium but unfortunately it is very poorly absorbed in multivitamins and other supplements.
If you suspect are not getting enough magnesium , transdermal magnesium oil sprayed directly onto your skin after a shower can help replenish your bodys magnesium stores.
I have personally noticed a real reduction in muscle tension and an improvement in my energy levels since using it.
A Glass Of Wine Isn’t Always The Answer
For some people, drinking even just a glass or two of wine can lead to major bloating. Despite being low in calories, wine contains yeast, which results in that bloat. Too, the fact that wine contains so much sugar means that it feeds the yeast in your stomach, making the feelings of bloat even worse, according to Livestrong.
If you want a flat stomach, but still want a glass of wine, one helpful tip is to swap white wine for red, as it has less sugar, according to HuffPost.
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Add Dairy Into Your Coffee
If you do not have a cold brew in front of you and the coffee grounds are also not from Arabica beans then should you stop drinking it?
No, you shouldnt. You can add dairy to it like cream or milk to your coffee. The full-fat milk or half-and-half can neutralize the acidic levels of the coffee. Also, it gives a very smooth and balanced flavor to the coffee.
Milk tastes much creamier if the coffee beans are dark roasted. And dark roasted beans have less acidity because of the higher temperature they are roasted at. Although this might not work for people who are lactose intolerant.
Caffeine Exacerbates Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms
Many women experience a constellation of symptoms ranging in severity from annoying to debilitating prior to and during menstruation. Bloating is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome . Drinking coffee or partaking of other foods and beverages that contain caffeine or are very acidic can make this problem worse. Additionally, consuming caffeine can increase other PMS symptoms such as cramping, pain and irritability.
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Does Iced Coffee Cause Bloating
The acidity of coffee and the natural sweetness make it a great drink. By doing this, you will improve your wellbeing and decrease the weight of bloating and water. The bloating doesnt occur when you drink a cup of coffee. A sensitive stomach might keep those acidity levels in check, even if you have it already.
Tips To Brew Coffee That Won’t Irritate Your Stomach
Drinking coffee has health benefits, some studies show. But for some people, coffee seems to stir up digestive issues. In fact, some studies suggest that it could cause heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux.
To solve this problem, scientists have explored ways to adjust the compounds in coffee to make a gentler brew. This article discusses what’s known about coffee’s role in stomach woes, and whether drinking certain types of coffee can make the experience less gut-wrenching.
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Why Does Coffee Make You Bloated
The bloating effect from drinking coffee does not take place immediately, but after certain period of time and excessive consumption. The worse scenario is you keep drinking coffee without knowing that your body has specific health condition that reacts negatively to it. If you are not sensitive enough about your own body condition, then you might be forced to give up your favorite morning drink.
1. Lactose Intolerance
If you wonder why does coffee make you bloated, the answer may not lay on the coffee, but on the additional sweetener like milk. The other dairy product such as cream might also be the culprit. Each of these ingredients has lactose, a type of sugar compound. Many grownups have difficulties to digest this compound because their small intestine doesnt have enough lactase to break it.
It is easy to notice the sign: uneasy feeling in stomach, releasing more gas, experiencing stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Dont forget that you will also bloat, too. Surprisingly, there are more than 30 million people suffer this condition in United States only. You might also have this condition, too.
2. Digestive Problems
The other digestive problems are Crohn disease and Ulcerative Colitis. None of these diseases patient could tolerate caffeine in coffee.
3. Coffee Beans
Sweeten Your Coffee Without Sugar
Some people experience bloating and other digestive complaints after drinking their coffee with excessive amounts of sugar in it. For these individuals, sometimes refraining from adding any sugar to their java is the only option. Even natural sugars like maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar can still lead to stomach distress.
In such cases, there are two options: either drink their coffee without any sweetener or use a sugar-free coffee sweetener like Stevia.
Stevia is an all-natural alternative sweetener that contains zero calories and zero carbs. Its important to start out using the smallest amount of Stevia possible because too much can make a persons coffee taste bitter and lead to an undesirable aftertaste.
You could also try cutting back your sugar intake. If youre used to drinking multiple cups of coffee per day with four teaspoonfuls of sugar in each cup, that adds up fast. Slowly decreasing the amount of sugar youre using can cause the uncomfortable bloating to subside.
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Your Stomach Is Sensitive To Coffees Caffeine
I dont mean to confuse you, but the caffeine in your daily mug encourages your stomach to produce more acid than usual.
So, even though the coffee itself may not be too acidic for you, the caffeine may boost your acid production over the comfort line.
But the caffeine molecule on its own is already considered a stomach irritant. Due to the laxative effect, it forces your digestive system to work faster. Its like your system wants to get the caffeine out as quickly as possible .
Yeah, okay, were getting into some weird territory here, so Ill stick with this:
- Caffeine can be the catalyst for some of those acid-related issues
- And it brings along its own discomforts
For most people, caffeine is the real issue.
Here are a few ways you can counteract the discomfort of caffeine.
- Try specialty-grade decaf. No, Im not a death before decaf kind of guy anymore. Once I discovered that theres excellent, specialty-grade decaf coffee, I quickly gave up that slogan.
- Drink less coffee. If you tend to down three to five cups per day, I think its safe to say that cutting that down to one or two will bring about some major improvements. You may not think you can handle it, but its worth at least trying to see if it makes your daily coffee experience more pleasant.
- Eat a banana. Bananas are alkaline and cancel out the harshness of the extra acids created by caffeine. They also contain a variety of substances that sooth the stomach on their own.
You Use Artificial Sweeteners
If you add a couple of light pink, blue, or yellow packets to your coffee, you may experience even more bloating and gas. In addition, a laxative effect is also possible.
Your body doesnt easily recognize most artificial sweeteners. In fact, many artificial sweeteners arent digested in your body and can cause irritation, such as bloating.
Plus, have you ever wondered why coffee makes you gassy? Bacteria in your intestines feed on these artificial sweeteners, ferment them, and can also lead to excessive gas production. Moreover, prolonged and heavy use of artificial sweeteners can disrupt your gut microbiome, leading to unpleasant digestive symptoms.
You may wish to audit your artificial sweetener intake by keeping a food diary. Note that artificial sweeteners can sneak into other beverages you consume throughout the day, too.
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Can Coffee Cause Other Stomach Problems
Unfortunately, bloating isnt the only stomach problem that coffee can cause.
For a lot of people, it can also cause acid reflux, better known as heartburn. If youve ever experienced it, you know that its one of the most frustrating feelings in the world.
Why does it happen when drinking this delectable beverage? Because it relaxes the lower oesophagal sphincter, which is a muscular ring that opens and closes to let food into your stomach. When coffee relaxes that muscle, your stomach acid starts making its way to the oesophagus. Apart from being quite irritating, frequent heartburn can also lead to ulcers.
Coffee can also worsen the symptoms of IBS and other bowel disorders, such as Crohns disease. Thats because it may activate the immune response and increase inflammation in the body.
Many coffee creamers and beverages also contain an additive called carrageenan. Its an extract from a red seaweed that people have been using in cooking for centuries.
However, according to a research paper on carrageenan, it can cause intestinal inflammation and complications with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis. The International Agency for Research in Cancer has even classified it as a possible human carcinogen. So, just to stay on the safe side, it might be best to avoid coffee products that contain it.
Drinking Coffee During Diarrhea
Bacteria, allergy, virus, infection, and illness may cause diarrhea. There are many signs of diarrhea and one of the main symptoms is bloating. In this condition, you cannot drink coffee. Drinking coffee when you have diarrhea can worsen your diarrhea. It means the risk of bloating will be improved. In addition, drinking coffee too much can cause severe bloating and acute or persistent diarrhea.
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Does Instant Coffee Cause Gas
Yes, instant coffee causes gas. Instant coffee contains caffeine which can lead to gas. Further, when you drink coffee without eating anything, it will decrease your hydrochloric acid.
As a result, your digestive system will have trouble breaking down the protein. Thus, all the unprocessed protein will eat the gut bacteria that creates hydrogen sulfide.
In short, you should make sure you only drink small amounts of instant coffee. Further, avoid drinking such on an empty stomach to avoid problems.
How Is Caffeine Metabolized In The Body
Caffeine metabolizes in the liver into 3 different metabolites: paraxanthine, theobromine, and theophylline. The half-life of caffeine is approximately 5 hours, but it will vary from person to person depending on their stomach acidity as well as body fat percentage.
Caffeine is also a stimulant and causes the release of adrenaline and dopamine into your system. The caffeine then hits receptors in your brain when it comes in contact with them, prompting nerve cells to send messages to other parts of your body.
These messages could cause an increased heart rate, headaches, or mood swings.
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