Chocolate can cause indigestion, along with many other foods and drinks. Some people are more sensitive to chocolate and indigestion than others. Chocolate does contain caffeine, although it's a very small amount, which could contribute to heartburn and indigestion. If you experience frequent or chronic indigestion, talk to your health care provider as it could be a sign of a more serious condition.
Chocolate
While chocolate has only a small amount of caffeine, some people are just very sensitive to the substance. Both a 1 oz. chocolate bar and 8 oz. glass of chocolate milk contain about 5 mg of caffeine, according to the American Dietetic Association. Sometimes even the smallest amount of caffeine in your system can trigger indigestion, especially if you have an unknown health condition.
Symptoms of Indigestion
If you are suffering from indigestion, you may experience an early fullness during or after your meal. Indigestion often causes abdominal pain, bloating, belching and nausea. The severity of symptoms may vary, depending upon the type or quantity of foods you have eaten. Indigestion may also worsen after lying down, especially right after a meal. Large meals and spicy, fatty or greasy foods can also cause indigestion.
Causes
You can experience indigestion for a number of reasons, especially when it comes to eating chocolate, including eating too fast. Chocolate can also worsen or aggravate some conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, peptic ulcers, gallstones, stomach cancer and pancreatitis. Other lifestyle habits, such as smoking or drinking carbonated beverages, can also cause indigestion.
Treatment
If you experience indigestion after eating chocolate, eliminate chocolate from your diet. If indigestion still persists, speak to your doctor to rule out other possible causes. If simple diet changes do not help, it may be necessary to take medications. Antacids, proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics and H-2-receptor antagonists or H2RAs may be used to treat indigestion.
References
- American Dietetic Association: Question of the Day: Does Chocolate Have a Lot of Caffeine?
- MayoClinic: Indigestion: Causes
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD); May 2007
- MayoClinic: Indigestion: Treatments and Drugs
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