Acid Reflux: How Consuming Coffee Can Make it Worse

A vast majority of the American population suffers from acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers and GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). Foods like citrus fruits, dietary fats, spicy food and chemicals like caffeine are known to aggravate such conditions since they promote hyperacidity in the stomach as well as the upper digestive tract.

While some may experience incidences of acid indigestion once every month, others may experience more frequent episodes on a daily basis. Many people often resort to medications like antacids when even a few mild dietary adjustments will do. They fail to realize that by merely reducing their intake of caffeine, they can find relief from severe and painful conditions of acid reflux.

Heartburn is a debilitating condition caused due to reflux of acid from the stomach region into the esophagus. This activity occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle between the stomach and the esophagus) weakens. Studies reveal a close association between high caffeine ingestion and incidence of acid reflux.

Caffeine is abundantly present in coffee, chocolates, cocoa, aerated drinks and caffeinated tea. Recurrent symptoms or damage to the esophageal tissue usually leads to the development of GERD. This consequently results in health complications like bleeding, chest pain, Barrett’s esophagus or stricture of the esophagus. Pain in the chest, difficulty in swallowing, choking and bleeding are some of the obvious symptoms that indicate an injured or a damaged esophagus. Factors like pregnancy, consumption of alcohol and caffeine increase the risk of GERD.

‘’Caffeine, spicy foods, overeating and diaphragm weakness all increase acid reflux in to the esophagus.’’ Source - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. By Robert G. Miller, Patricia O’Connor. Published 2005. Demos Medical Publishing, LLC.

Coffee is considered to be a major source of caffeine consumption all over the world. As soon as we wake up, we find ourselves reaching out for a cup of coffee in order to energize ourselves for a busy day ahead. Coffee has a high acidic content, which stimulates over production of gastric acids and juices in the stomach.

Contrary to the common belief, decaffeinated coffee is comparatively more acidic in nature than regular coffee or just plain caffeine. While the caffeine present in the coffee triggers secretion of gastric acids, decaffeinated coffee on the other hand raises the level of serum gastrin.

Caffeine has a tendency to accelerate the gastric emptying process thereby resulting in the contents of the stomach that are highly acidic in nature, to pass into the small intestine, at a rate faster than the usual pace. This eventually damages the tissues of the intestine.

People who are susceptible to disorders associated with upper gastrointestinal tract like acid reflux, ulcers and GERD should limit their caffeine consumption.

Making minor alterations to your daily diet like substituting caffeinated products with non-caffeinated Soyfee soy coffee or alkaline-herbal coffees are good alternatives. Kicking the caffeine habit will help you to find relief from various other ailments like chronic stress and adrenalin exhaustion as well that are the negative consequences of incessant caffeine intake