Does Coffee Cause Bloating?

Coffee is a beverage people commonly drink to wake up in the mornings. However, it may cause gastrointestinal upset and bloating if you have a condition that makes your stomach more sensitive or if you simply consume too much coffee at once. Knowing your limits, or if coffee should be off-limits for you, can help you avoid uncomfortable bloating.

Underlying Conditions

If you have a gastrointestinal condition already, drinking coffee could make it worse and cause painful bloating and gas. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, coffee can irritate ulcers or cause them to form, which may produce bloating as a symptom. Likewise, irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, and gastritis can be irritated or aggravated by the consumption of acidic drinks like coffee. In fact, the caffeine in coffee is primarily to blame and causes a whole host of IBS symptoms to flare up, including gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

PMS

Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, can cause unpleasant symptoms prior to and during menstruation. Bloating is one such symptom, which can be exacerbated by drinking coffee, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. To reduce bloating, eliminate coffee and caffeine consumption around your period.

Coffee Additives

For some, the coffee itself isn't what's causing the bloating at all. In fact, it might be what you add to the coffee that's resulting in this unpleasant symptom. According to the Dairy Council Digest, 25 percent of people in the U.S. are lactose intolerant, or incapable of digesting milk properly. If you add milk or cream to your coffee, that may be the culprit.

Intestinal Upset

If you have a virus, an infection or an allergy, you may get diarrhea as a result. Diarrhea can cause bloating, gas and abdominal pain. Consuming coffee can make diarrhea worse, thus creating additional abdominal bloating and gas. If you are sick with the flu or have an infection, avoid potentially irritating substances like coffee until you're on the mend.