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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/
Is there a big difference between synthetic and natural caffeine? Which gives a stronger jolt? Does it even matter?
Natural caffeine in coffee, tea, and chocolate is much less common than the synthetic caffeine found in so many other products.
Caffeine is found in plant species such as the more popular ones like Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta, as well as tea leaves, kola nuts, cacao beans, Yerba mate and guarana berries.
Not only does naturally-occurring caffeine from said plants keep your cognitive functions at their peak, but it also contains antioxidants that help you fight illnesses like cancer and Alzheimer’s.
