What Coffee Does To Your Stomach

My love for coffee is beyond comparable to any other beverage. I can't imagine a single day passing without a sip. This love is also fueled with some health benefits that this beverage provides, including liver health, an efficient metabolism, and reduced chances of getting cancer, among other benefits.

My love for this beverage was, however, shaken recently when a doctor advised my friend against taking too much coffee as it was the cause of several stomach issues she was having. I also have a sensitive stomach, and this statement immediately got me worried about what too much coffee can do to my stomach.

Thanks to this revelation, I started my own research to see if, indeed, coffee can have detrimental effects on my stomach. So, are you interested in finding out what coffee does to your stomach as well? Here is what I found out.

Coffee is Acidic

If you learned some bit of science, then you must already understand that your stomach contains some acid that aids digestion. Well, this doesn't mean that you need to add some more acid to it because too much gastric acid is not in any way good for your stomach. Well, you already have some healthy stomach acid to aid digestion and other health benefits.

The acidity level of coffee is so high and can affect the lining of your stomach if taken in excess. It can also have detrimental effects on your intestines, where it stimulates the movements, including bowel movements. If you already have some existing stomach conditions such as reflux and gastritis, then coffee can worsen the damage. Other effects that you might experience include belching, bloating, and severe stomach discomfort.

If you're a coffee fun, these effects should not stop you from taking your favorite beverage because there are still many things you can do to divert the effects. For instance, you can reduce the acidity level in your cup of coffee is you decide to take cold brew coffee instead. There are also some coffee brands that are low in acid; hence, friendly to your stomach.

Caffeine Content can be Dangerous

cup and beans

Some people love their coffee with its caffeine content, especially in the morning, thanks to the energy boost it's able to give your body. However, other people started taking their coffee with a limited amount of caffeine because they think that too much caffeine content is what causes the stomach upset. Well, this can be true or false, depending on how different kinds of people react to caffeine.

Some studies show that caffeine doesn't have any contribution to the effects of coffee on your stomach, while others show that caffeine indeed has issues with the stomach due to bitter flavor. Your stomach might not have issues with the acidity of coffee but with the caffeine.

Other studies show that caffeine might boost the acid production in your stomach. This means your cup of coffee might not be too acidic, but the caffeine content already boosted acid production in your stomach.

Caffeine is also known to contain some substances that irritate the stomach, causing what is known as the laxative effect. This effect forces the stomach's digestive system to work faster. Your body feels like it wants to get rid of the caffeine and any other food from your stomach as soon as possible, and this is also effective in counteracting constipation. However, it is not a good feeling for those who're not constipating.

Coffee is Dangerous on an Empty Stomach

You might not experience the effects that acidity and caffeine in coffee do because people react differently to these contents. However, if you're fond of drinking coffee on an empty stomach, then this will surely spell doom. Coffee is made up of bold, rich, and complex chemicals that add to its flavor and effect.

I must admit that at some point in my life, I was used to drinking a mug of coffee the first thing when I wake up. This was a way to start up my day in a brighter and more active way. I stopped that when I realized that the acid and caffeine molecules without food would no doubt do more harm to my body than good. Coffee on an empty stomach is dangerous for your stomach lining and can cause indigestion, which then results in heartburn and other issues.

It doesn't matter whether you're taking caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee because the effects are all the same. If you've been taking coffee first thing in the morning with no effect, then I'm not saying you stop. However, you don't have to wait until you see the effects, now that you know how detrimental taking coffee first thing in the morning can be, why not start pairing it with some snacks to reverse the negative effects.

Can Jeopardize Your Gut Health

smiley on the stomach

I'm sorry if you're among the people who've confessed their undying love for coffee, but if you have leaky gut, then you better denounce that love. If you don't know this yet, then I'll tell you for free that coffee isn't good for your gut. Like we've discussed already if you've drunk coffee for an extended period, then you risk having some problems with the lining of your intestines and the stomach. Coffee is even more dangerous for you if you already have gut issues. Stay away from this drink if you're suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.

Don't get confused here. If you have come across some studies showing that coffee is good for your gut, then take a break to question whether your gut is healthy or not. If you have a healthy gut, then coffee is good for you because it helps with some gut bacteria.

A study reveals that people that take coffee have a diverse gut microbiome. This means coffee can be poisonous for one person's gut but healthy for another person. So, if you feel bad in your gut after drinking a cup of coffee, it is high time you stop it.