Why does coffee cause stomach upsets

Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. 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.

Coffee contains several types of acids, but there isn't much research to suggest that those acids are what's causing your stomach upset. To understand how the acids in coffee affect your body, it's helpful to know how acid is measured. In scientific terms, acids are measured on the pH scale. The lower the pH, the more acidic a drink is.

Cranberry juice, for example, has a pH of around 2. Different kinds of coffee have different levels of acidity. Researchers have pegged the acidity of coffee somewhere between 4. According to some studies, hot-brewed coffee has higher amounts of acid than cold-brewed coffee. Certain varieties of coffee are also naturally less acidic. The difference could be because they were grown at a lower elevation or were dried differently. Here's the key: It isn't the acid in the coffee that's the culprit.

It's the acid in your stomach. Drinking coffee can increase stomach acid. But that doesn't automatically mean you'll have indigestion. A study found that while drinking coffee did increase stomach acid, it didn't cause intestinal problems for the people in the study. Some people might enjoy the taste of coffee with a lower acid content. Low-acid coffee tends to be smoother and milder than coffee with a higher acid level. Whether you prefer a more or less acidic flavor profile, you should know that the acid in coffee isn't likely to be the cause of digestive problems.

A study showed that a dark roast coffee contained a balance of chemicals that produced less stomach acids than a medium roast. The dark roast had higher amounts of a chemical compound called NMP. That means there were fewer gastric juices to bring on heartburn.

NMP alone didn't have the same effect. It was the balance of chemicals that made the difference. That result makes it clear that NMP works with other compounds in coffee to lower stomach acid. That may because it is not as easily absorbed by your body. In a study, researchers found that adding milk to coffee did not trigger acid reflux. Of course, milk is not a good option for everyone. If your body doesn't digest milk easily , adding dairy milk could make things worse, not better.

New coffee varieties come on the market all the time. There isn't much research on how these varieties could affect digestive symptoms, but they may be worth a try. Coffee is typically fermented once. After the coffee cherries are picked, they're placed in water. In the water, bacteria break down the fruit and separate it from the coffee bean.

We're not just about delivering freshly roasted, organic, additive-free beans to your door every month. We also want to make sure that our customers are getting the most out of their java experience. You'll never have to worry about buying another one again!

With our Coffee Club, you can enjoy fresh beans and delicious cups of joe all year long without breaking the bank or sacrificing quality. All you have to do is sign up and we'll take care of everything else for you! It doesn't get any easier than this! Coffee Tastes Bad? An upset stomach. Coffees grown at low altitudes typically have lower acid levels. Cold brew. Try specialty-grade decaf. Drink less coffee. Eat a banana. Tea can sometimes have caffeine, but herbal tea never does.

Many kinds of herbal tea can help your stomach after acids from caffeine have irritated it. Try a flavor with ginger, such as lemon ginger or turmeric ginger , to reduce inflammation and relieve heartburn.

Chamomile and licorice teas can also have the same soothing effects. Stay away from anything with peppermint or spearmint, because these can make stomach acid issues worse. Water can also help flush out anything irritating in your system, reducing the discomfort in your stomach. Make sure you drink several glasses of water or keep a water bottle nearby for easy access. A way to prevent caffeine from giving you a stomachache is to eat something before or with your cup of coffee.

The same principle applies to coffee as it does to alcohol: consuming food with the beverage helps to slow down the effects of the caffeine. It also helps break down the oils in the coffee. Some foods have vitamins or other properties that counteract the unwanted effects of caffeine. Healthy snacks that can help stomach acid issues include bananas, oatmeal, yogurt, melons, and green vegetables.

Try one of these snacks next time caffeine is giving you a hard time. Aloe vera is calming because it has anti-inflammatory properties and is loaded with other vitamins and minerals. The juice can have a detoxifying effect on your body when consumed, making your stomach feel much better. Instead, try a product like coffee tamer an anti-acid powder that you mix into your coffee.

Here are our best suggestions for enjoying your coffee — minus the unpleasant side effects. The best way to avoid a caffeine-related stomach ache is to drink less coffee. Not very fun, we know, but you may want to keep an eye on your caffeine intake. Limiting your caffeine to milligrams a day can help curb many of the symptoms that usually appear after consuming more than that.

An average cup of coffee is between milligrams of caffeine, depending on the size and the roast. Some are more sensitive to the effects, but typically when someone consumes more than milligrams of caffeine, stomach problems start. If you want to keep drinking lots of coffee, keep reading to find our other tips.

Low-acid coffee is just what it sounds like: coffee with a low level of acidity. The more balanced pH of these beans makes them less likely to upset your stomach. Consider upgrading to a gourmet option like Lifeboost , or choose from our list of the 10 best low-acid coffee brands. Another option is to stick to dark roasts. Though they contain the same amount of caffeine and acid as their lighter counterparts, dark roast coffees may limit the production of stomach acids.

Another way to decrease caffeine intake is to switch to decaf after you have had a regular cup of coffee. Many coffee fans turn up their noses at decaf, but it can be a great way to lower your caffeine intake without giving up coffee altogether.