Friday, September 30, 2011

Does Coffee Cause Heartburn?

Coffee is a famous beverage loved by people all around the world. Not only does it give a warm feeling to drinkers, there are also a lot of good stuff and health benefits we can get from it. Some people don't know this but coffee does better things to your body than just keeping you awake. However, other people also experience the negative effects of coffee such as heartburn. This sometimes happen and this is due to a trigger that we will be dealing with later on in the article. But before you decide to stop the guilty pleasure of drinking coffee, here are some facts about it as it relates to your health.

Major Benefits of Coffee

There is still so much that most people don't know about coffee. Studies confirmed that drinking coffee reduces the risk of certain diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Researchers also found out that coffee drinkers are less likely to have gall stone and Parkinson's disease. The caffeine content of coffee makes it incredibly effective in relieving pain such as common headaches and even migraines. It is also proven to be a great antioxidant with anti-cancer compounds which are not found sufficiently in almost any other foods.

These are just few of the many health benefits that coffee provides, but there is always a negative side to everything. Coffee is said to be one of the major causes of heartburn. The high content of caffeine often causes irregularities in the stomach which leads to acid reflux and heartburn symptoms. It also causes the esophagus to relax which make the flow back of acid more likely.

Heartburn Defined

Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux which happens whenever the acid in the stomach flows back right into the esophagus. This is associated with a burning sensation from the stomach throughout the chest area. Heartburn is common and may not be life threatening but, it can lead to GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disease when it happens very often or is becoming chronic.

Causes of heartburn can be traced to many things which include bad sleeping habits, a stressful lifestyle and accumulations of toxins. It can also be caused by pregnancy and obesity. One of the major contributors to the cause is too much intake of the things that most people enjoy most. Excessive drinking, eating too much chocolate, smoking, and large amounts of caffeine will definitely increase the chances of having acid reflux and thus lead to heartburn.

Coffee and Heartburn

Patients who suffer from acid reflux are often advised to lessen or totally avoid intake of caffeine as this is one cause of stomach irritation and heartburn. Studies showed that the muscles at the top of the stomach relax and are stimulated to produce excess acid when triggered by drinking coffee. It is not ideal to drink coffee when you already have existing stomach problems, as its high acid and caffeine contents may aggravate the condition.

If you are a coffee drinker or someone who can't live without coffee but are experiencing pain and heartburn lately, switching to decaf might not be a bad idea. Decaf is coffee without caffeine. It may not taste as good as strong and rich coffee; still it is the kind which can relieve you of heartburn and other painful symptoms. There are also a lot of coffee products which offer less substantial amounts of caffeine. These are what they call smooth coffee. To allow your body to adjust first with the change and experience a relief from the unwanted symptoms, these products might be a good option.

Tom is skilled in acid reflux disorder and runs the incredibly outstanding as well as popular blog concerning acid reflux symptoms. He helps lots of people alleviate acid reflux conditions. Stop by his website right away for more information on acid reflux and help on one symptom of acid reflux.


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