Natural Caffeine & GERD

GERD is the acronym for a medical condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. This problem has a physical cause, but certain foods, beverages and other substances, including caffeine, are known to worsen GERD attacks, according to PubMed Health. You can often improve your GERD symptoms by cutting these triggers out of your diet.

Definition

Food normally passes down your throat, through your esophagus and into your stomach, where it stays while being digested by stomach acids. The food or liquid that was consumed gets passed back up into the esophagus in people who have GERD, according to MedLine Plus, irritating the esophageal tissues and causing a burning sensation. Other symptoms include nausea, a sensation that food is stuck behind the breastbone, coughing, a hoarse voice, problems swallowing and food regurgitation. Over time, the acid causes lasting damage.

Caffeine Sources

Caffeine is a chemical, but it comes from natural plant-based sources and is found in many common foods and drinks. Typical sources include tea leaves, cola nuts, cocoa and coffee beans. Foods that may worsen GERD because of their caffeine content include chocolate, coffee, tea and cola soft drinks. Some drug manufacturers add the substance to their pain relievers, and caffeine is also a primary ingredient in many energy drinks and shots.

Caffeine Effects

Caffeine worsens GERD symptoms, and other foods and drinks like alcohol-containing beverages, citrus fruits, tomatoes, spearmint, peppermint and fatty dishes have similar effects. Caffeine has other physical and psychological effects because it is a natural drug. It can cause an upset stomach -- even if you do not have GERD -- raise your heart rate, give you muscle tremors and make you nervous and irritable, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your risk is greatest for these effects if you consume more than the amount contained in four cups of coffee per day.

Alternatives

Ease your GERD by replacing caffeinated foods and beverages with caffeine-free alternatives. Decaffeinated coffee is widely available, and the Mayo Clinic advises that you can drink a variety of naturally caffeine-free herbal teas. Carob is a caffeine-free chocolate substitute, and white chocolate has no caffeine because it does not contain any cocoa butter. Read over-the-counter pain medication labels carefully and choose a brand with no caffeine added.

Warning

You may experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly stop ingesting the chemical to improve your GERD. Typical symptoms are tiredness, headaches, aches, anxiety and problems with mental focus, according to CNN Medical Correspondent Judy Fortin. Cut back on your caffeine consumption slowly rather than cutting it out of your diet all at once. A gradual weaning lessens or eliminates the undesirable effects.