Can drinking too much coffee lead to an upset stomach?

Right from starting the day with a dose of this aromatic blend to ending the hectic day by unwinding with a cup of coffee defines the love of a coffee lover. But have you ever thought, why you often feel discomfort in your stomach or feel bloated throughout the day, especially after that dose of caffeine, which might soothe your senses for sometime, but can actually affect your digestion. Well,despite all the good ways coffee can benefit your health, too much consumption can also affect your health.Well, the question here is that can too much coffee upset your stomach and impact your digestion, read more to know about it!

Reasons we love this dose of health
Right from improving alertness to giving your body the right boost of energy, coffee has some wonderful benefits. The presence of antioxidants can help in improving your health as well as mental health by lifting up the mood instantly to improve exercise performance and lowering the risk of heart and Alzheimer’s disease. However, as they say everything is good for health only when it is taken in moderation.




Here’s how coffee can upset your stomach
Most people find that drinking coffee leads to a sudden discomfort in their digestive system, this might sound strange, but the compounds present in coffee can affect your digestion and make you feel bloated.

Caffeine:
The presence of caffeine in coffee can work as a natural stimulant, which helps you stay alert, but this can also be the reason why you feel bloated. Caffeine can lead to contractions in the digestive tract and lead to discomfort. According to a study conducted in 1998, it was observed that caffeine stimulated the colon 23% more than decaf coffee, and 60% more than water. This further indicates that caffeine stimulates the lower gut. Hence, going for a decaf coffee variant can reduce the discomfort in the stomach as compared to instant coffee.


Coffee Acids
Another reason why your favourite cup of coffee can actually mess up with your digestive system is because of coffee acids. As per studies, coffee contains many acids, such as chlorogenic acid and N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide, which leads to a significant increase in acid production in the stomach. The presence of stomach acids help in breaking down the food so it can move through your intestines. Coffee can also aggravate the symptoms of heartburn.

Additives
No wonder, the presence of caffeine and coffee acids aren’t the only reason that can upset your stomach, additives in your coffee like milk, sweeteners and sugar can also be the reason for your disbalanced digestion. Many people add ice cream, fresh cream and too much milk, which can lead to issues like stomach ache, bloating and diarrhea for people who are lactose intolerant.To conclude, if you are a coffee fan, it won’t be easy for you to ditch the aromatic blend completely. However, an easier way to still enjoy your cup of Joe is by either going for a decaf variant or else you can avoid adding too many additives to your coffee. Another way of avoiding bloating caused due to coffee is by not having it on an empty stomach as it can wreak havoc on your system. In case you face a lot of discomfort after having coffee, you must visit your doctor.