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Thursday 01 September 2022
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Coffee is a stimulant beverage that is beneficial to human health, as long as it is consumed in moderation, as it helps alertness, increase focus and supply the body with energy, thanks to its high caffeine content.
There is a common belief that drinking coffee negatively affects the health of the digestive system, causing bloating, is this true?
In the following lines, the Conselto reviews the fact that flatulence occurs after drinking coffee, according to Livestrong and Ibsguthealthclinic.
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Does coffee cause flatulence?
A study conducted in March 2016 confirmed that coffee is a beneficial and safe drink for the digestive system, including the stomach and intestines, except in one case only.
The study, published in the “Nutrition Journal”, showed that coffee may cause flatulence and gas, if the person who takes it is allergic to the caffeine in it.
Read also: Does coffee contribute to the treatment of constipation?
In an April 2016 study, researchers found that coffee plays a large role in maintaining the bacterial balance in the gut, which improves digestion.
Coffee maintains a balance in the gut microbiome, due to its great ability to stimulate the intestines to produce hydrochloric acid, which in turn contributes to the diversification of beneficial and harmful bacteria.
Caffeine sensitivity is not the only reason for feeling flatulence after drinking coffee, but there is another reason related to the substances that are added to it when preparing, most notably:
You may be interested in: Caffeine sensitivity – causes and symptoms
Milk: It is forbidden for patients with protein sensitivity and lactose intolerance.
Artificial sweeteners: The stomach takes a long time to digest them, which leads to fermentation in the intestine, and then gases are formed.
Flatulence increases when drinking coffee when suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease, so people with both diseases must stay away from it permanently, to prevent the formation of gases, which give a feeling of discomfort.
Coffee may cause flatulence if taken on an empty stomach, because it reduces the acids the stomach needs to digest food, which leads to gas formation and cramping.
And please note that decaffeination does not make coffee safer for the digestive system, as it is still an acidic drink, so people who are contraindicated should not take risks and continue drinking it.
You may also be interested in: Learn about the benefits of decaffeinated coffee
Other problems caused by coffee for the digestive system
Other than bloating, coffee may cause acidity, as it relaxes the esophageal muscle, allowing stomach acid to reflux into the throat, leading to chest pain and difficulty swallowing.
Therefore, it is best to avoid coffee if you feel heartburn after drinking it, because continuing to drink it may increase the risk of developing GERD.
Read also: 5 tips to reduce coffee consumption.. to avoid its harm