Caffeine & Bloating

Caffeine is a type of natural stimulant that typically affects the central nervous system and may be found in many food and beverage items, such as coffee and chocolate. Side effects of excessive consumption of caffeine include insomnia, irritability and nervousness. Although gas is not often associated with caffeine ingestion, caffeine is often coupled with additional ingredients, such as dairy products, which may cause bloating.

Carbonation

Caffeine may be found in carbonated beverages, such as soda. Carbonated soft drinks have air bubbles that travel to the stomach and release carbon dioxide within the digestive tract, which explains the main cause for the bloating sensation. If the beverage is not carbonated, but you still feel a bloating sensation, the culprit may be in the way you are drinking the beverage. With each swallow, small pockets of air pass through the mouth and downward into the digestive tract. Those air pockets either come back up in the form of a belch or hiccup, or remain trapped in the digestive tract.

Medical Conditions

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, coffee drinkers with pre-existing medical conditions, such as peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome or gastritis, are at risk for worsening the symptoms of those conditions, which include excessive bloating. Peptic ulcers are open sores that line the digestive walls of the stomach, esophagus or intestine. Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining, and irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder that affects the abdomen and causes a swelling or bloating sensation. If any of these medical conditions are present, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House says to abstain from consuming caffeinated beverages.

Lactose Intolerance

According to a 2008 report published in the Dairy Council Digest, it is estimated that 25 percent of American adults and 75 percent of the world's population have a limited ability to digest lactose. Lactose is a type of carbohydrate found in cow milk and may be the cause of abdominal bloating if you are lactose intolerant. Cow milk or dairy cream are often used in caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, and may be responsible for the side effects of lactose intolerance, such as bloating, gastrointestinal discomfort, flatulence and diarrhea. If you are lactose intolerant, switching to soy, rice or almond milk may eliminate the bloat.

Remedies

Although caffeine is not the main culprit responsible for bloating, if you continue to experience abdominal discomfort, discuss your symptoms with your medical adviser to rule out any medical conditions. If the bloating persists, you may want to evaluate how you consume the beverage. If you drink in a hurry, it may help to slow down to prevent additional air pockets from flowing through the digestive tract. Other causes of bloating include temperature and premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Both may result in the body retaining water. Refraining from caffeine during PMS may reduce the symptoms of abdominal cramping and bloating, and staying hydrated during hot weather may also alleviate bloating.