Pain in your abdomen with heartburn and a bad taste in your mouth can come from an upset stomach. Certain foods can trigger this, including coffee. Coffee has a stimulating effect on the digestive system, which can cause discomfort in your stomach and intestines. Eliminating coffee from your diet or cutting back can usually help reduce these symptoms.
Acidity
Coffee, even decaffeinated coffee is acidic. This increases the acidity of the gastric juices inside your stomach. This along with the stimulant effect of caffeine on the digestive system can combine to cause abdominal discomfort. As caffeine stimulates the digestive system, it increases the rate at which fluid leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine. This means highly acidic content is moving into the small intestine, which can cause an upset stomach.
Heartburn
Your digestive system is usually a one-way route from the mouth to the end of the large intestine. To ensure that there is no backtracking, there are sphincters throughout the digestive system. Sphincters are valves that open to let food or beverage pass through then close to prevent any additional movement. Coffee can relax the sphincter leading from the esophagus to the stomach, which means the sphincter may flap open. When this occurs, stomach acid can creep up, leading to heartburn.
The Intestines
Pain in the intestine can also affect the abdominal area. Coffee stimulates intestinal functioning leading to an increase in smooth muscle movement. This can force food bulk out faster than your body means it to be. This laxative effect can be uncomfortable for some and lead to pain in the abdomen. In large amounts, caffeine may damage the inside of the intestinal lining, which can also be painful.
Recommendations
To reduce upset stomach caused by caffeine, cut down or eliminate your intake. According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, most people can consume about 300 mg of caffeine per day safely. This is the same amount in three cups of coffee. If you are unsure what to do, consult with your doctor. If you cut back on caffeine but stomach pain persists, contact your doctor. Coffee may not be the cause of your discomfort.
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