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Caffeine is known to bring a great deal of health benefits day in and day out. From helping you get clear, misty-looking skin, carry a sprightly vibe throughout the day, or win the gold in your favorite sport, caffeine just keeps winning the java-lover in you over.
But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes, having one too many cups of joe leads to unwanted side effects, turning a regular caffeine hit into a love-hate relationship.
Upset tummy is perhaps one of the *supposedly* negative effects of being too caffeine-happy. Hear a growling tummy or feel a nagging pain in the stomach? Must be your fourth cup of coffee, right?
But is caffeine really to blame?
According to Livestrong, caffeine shouldn’t cause you tummy agony. [1] If you observe getting one right after consuming your favourite caffeine (read: coffee, tea, chocolate, and yes - even frozen yogurt), there may be an underlying medical condition going on here, such as a “serious digestive condition.”
Ulcers
Caffeine worsens things for people suffering from ulcers. Imagine a sore opening in the lining of the digestive system, then caffeine - which could be highly acidic - passing through it. Ouch!
According to Livestrong, “an ulcer is the result of an infection in your digestive system.” [2] Acidic fluids and foods can irritate the lining and cause so much pain for the person with ulcer. [3]
Allergic Reaction
If you feel an upset tummy after your caffeine fix, chances are you have an allergic reaction to it. According to Livestrong:
“During an allergic reaction, chemicals are released that can cause inflammation to develop in your digestive system, leading to stomach pain, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and bloating. Most allergic reactions cause varied symptoms throughout the body, not just in the gastrointestinal system.”
Acidity
When we said coffee could be highly acidic, that’s because it contains a significant amount of chlorogenic acid. [4] According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre, chlorogenic acid can lead to gastritis, which causes stomach and abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. Aside from this, caffeine as a stimulant fires up the central nervous system that prompts the stomach to produce more acid than usual. The side effects of having excess stomach acid manifest in feeling bloated, burping and sheer discomfort.
Empty stomach
Caffeine contains extra acids and molecules that trigger "gastrin release and gastric acid secretion." [5] Imagine that happening without any lining in the stomach!
To enjoy your first morning cup in full steam, try having some breakky with it.
Other considerations
It’s also possible that you get stomach pains post-caffeine because of the following:
If you're already suffering from an upset tummy, fret not. There are a few natural remedies you can do to ease the pain.
Steer clear (for now)
You may want to stay away from anything that will worsen your stomach upset. If you keep getting tummy aches post-caffeine, try to gradually lessen your caffeine intake and keep to an acceptable amount. (Here's how much caffeine you should have in a day.) Or better yet, drop caffeine altogether until you think you can ease into it again.
Hydrate
If you can't really get rid of your favorite cup of joe, then help your case by drinking lots of water! Caffeine may lead to dehydration, which in turn aggravates stomach aches. So keep refilling your water bottle; you'll find the pain goners in no time.
Go herbal
You can substitute your usual caffeine fix with something natural, like herbal tea. Brew some ginger tea, which has long been proven to be an effective remedy for stomach ache. If the flavor is too strong for you, go for mint-flavored ones, i.e. peppermint or spearmint. Not only are they commonly used to clear a clogged nose, they're also effective for indigestion.
Medicate
If all else fails, take that much-needed painkiller. Keep in mind though - caffeine tends to interact with some forms of medicine and may amplify their effects (and side effects).
[1] https://www.livestrong.com/article/539471-can-excess-caffeine-cause-rashes/
[2] https://www.livestrong.com/article/471900-does-caffeine-cause-stomach-pain/
[3] https://www.livestrong.com/article/439793-why-does-coffee-hurt-my-stomach/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25014672
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10499460
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072452/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4622286/
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072600/
Erectile dysfunction. In combination, those are two of the ugliest words known to man. But can caffeine help you get it up?
Science hasn't found the definitive answer to this question, but one study concluded that fewer men who consume caffeine have problems performing. The study said:
Caffeine intake reduced the odds of prevalent ED, especially an intake equivalent to approximately 2-3 daily cups of coffee (170-375 mg/day). This reduction was also observed among overweight/obese and hypertensive, but not among diabetic men. Yet, these associations are warranted to be investigated in prospective studies
Many breastfeeding mothers wonder if it's OK to take caffeine. In fact, many nursing mothers just avoid caffeine in case it would keep their babies fussy, jittery and awake.
The answer is yes, you can take caffeine while breastfeeding, as long as you don't go over about 300 mg a day.
It's an important question because caffeine is in so many products, and taking coffee, tea, or soda is such a common ritual.
And breastfeeding mothers may be tempted to take caffeinated products because they are deprived of sleep by their newborns' odd sleep schedule.
You might think gum chewing is an activity with little or no benefits besides the pleasure and flavor, but think again. Chewing gum has several benefits.
In addition to freshening your breath, sugar-free gum can help prevent cavities and contribute to overall oral health. But that's just the beginning.
