Coffee has long been implicated in causing digestive upset, including bloating and gas, in susceptible individuals. Unfortunately, if you are a coffee lover and also happen to have a sensitive digestive system, the skinny on decaffeinated coffee will not make your day.
Considerations
According to the Coffee Book, Americans are the number one coffee consumers, followed by Brazilians and Germans. The coffee industry in the U.S. is valued at 19 billion dollars per year because nearly half of all American adults drink coffee daily. Enjoying gourmet coffee is big business in the U.S., with many retail locations acting as community social gathering spots. Unfortunately, for individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, colitis, Crohn's disease or ulcers, drinking even decaffeinated coffee results in unpleasant digestive symptoms, including intestinal gas formation and bloating.
Bloating
Bloated is caused by excess air in your stomach and intestines. According to Crohn's & Colitis UK, your digestive system produces about five quarts of gas per day. Some is absorbed by your blood stream, but most must be passed out of your body by burping or passing gas. It is normal to break wind between 20 to 30 times per day. When you drink coffee -- even decaffeinated coffee -- the acids and enzymes found in the coffee irritate your stomach and digestive tract, which can result in increased gas production and concomitant bloating.
Enzymes and Acids
The IBS Diet suggests that caffeine is not the culprit causing your gas and bloating. That is the main reason there is little difference in digestive system irritation between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. The real culprits in coffee are enzymes and acids that affect your digestive system if you are sensitive. Two important enzymes in coffee are cafestol and kahweol, which can actually increase your cholesterol levels, according to a study published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Services. If you drink even decaffeinated coffee on an empty stomach, the acid in the coffee combined with your natural stomach acids become a caustic mix in your digestive system. The highly acidic mix contributes to exacerbating conditions such as ulcers, colitis, IBS and Crohn's disease. In IBS especially, symptoms of bloating and gas can last for months.
Options
If you are a coffee lover and suffer from bloating after drinking it, consider switching to a coffee substitute. The IBS Diet suggests rocamojo, a roasted soy beverage available mostly at health food stores or Internet retailers. Teeccino, a roasted beverage blend of nuts, fruits, herbs and grains, is prepared the same way you make your coffee. Roasted chicory "coffee" is another substitute option. Chicory mixed with coffee is available in many markets. You can also try a 100% chicory based beverage that can be found in your health food markets. Certain types of teas are especially friendly to your digestive tract and can help reduce bloating. Consider peppermint, fennel, chamomile, anise or ginger.
References
- Help for IBS: Frequently Asked Questions About the IBS Diet
- Crohn's & Colitis UK: Managing Bloating and Wind
- FamilyDoctor.org: Ulcers: What You Can Do to Heal Your Ulcer
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Peptic Ulcer
- "The Coffee Book" Press Kit: Coffee Fact Sheet
- Cafestol and Kahweol: Review of Toxicological Literature
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