Plengdut.com - The morning will never be complete without a warm drink to start the day. Some people choose tea or a delicious cup of coffee. But we all know that too much coffee can be bad for you.
Caffeine can be an amazing thing: in the right dosage, it can improve mental and physical performance, and it can even help reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, it can also have detrimental effects such as nausea, especially if you already have a sensitive stomach.
Causes of Nausea when drinking coffee
One common reason for feeling nauseous after drinking coffee is its acidity, which according to Trista Best, a registered dietitian and professor of nutrition, can range from 4.5 to 5.5 in pH terms. "This can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and reflux," Best said.
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Coffee Caffeine is a stimulant, so it encourages the digestive system to work faster, including creating more stomach acid than is necessary. "Stimulating the stomach, especially when it is empty and can quickly absorb caffeine, can cause nausea," explains Diana Gariglio-Clelland, a registered dietitian with Balance One. "It also relaxes the gastroesophageal sphincter, the opening at the bottom of the esophagus where food empties into the stomach." When this sphincter relaxes, some stomach acid can leak into the esophagus, which can cause acid reflux, heartburn, and nausea. While acid reflux and nausea are bad enough, for some people also experience the added element of caffeine's laxative effect. Caffeine's diuretic properties means it promotes the excretion of water from your body, one way or another. "Diuretics cause water to be drawn from the blood and into the digestive system," says nutritionist Lisa Richards and author of The Candida Diet, "which can cause nausea or diarrhea." |
If you feel that these two factors don't explain why you feel nauseous after drinking coffee, it may also depend on how you drink it. Adding milk and sweeteners? Both can irritate your stomach and, in turn, cause you to feel nauseous (nausea).
Artificial sweeteners can disrupt your gut's natural microbiome, causing further irritation of a badly acid-filled stomach, and if you feel very nauseous after drinking milk coffee, you may be lactose intolerant. It's best to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about symptoms.
How to deal with nausea when drinking coffee?
The good news is that you can still enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning without feeling sick all the time. According to Gariglio-Clelland, eating before drinking coffee will help. "The best way to avoid coffee caffeine-induced nausea is to eat something before drinking coffee, or at least with your coffee," he says. "Even a slice of toast will do the trick, but protein foods like yogurt, eggs, and cheese can help slow digestion a bit, which can relieve nausea."
Another option is to ditch cow's milk altogether or choose a plant-based option, said Dr Sunni Patel, a doctor and gastrointestinal health specialist. He also advises avoiding all artificial sweeteners.
Lastly, you need to stay hydrated. While a study from the NHS reports that "a little coffee won't make you dehydrated," drinking lots of water reduces coffee's harsh effect on the stomach and keeps your electrolytes high, says Dr. Patel, "especially if coffee is making you go to the toilet more frequently.
If none of these options work, reducing your coffee intake may be the only way to do it. “Find another alternative to the morning drink you need. Try going for a walk, exercise, or cold drinks, shakes, or other smoothies, "said Dr. Patel. "And, if you really need coffee, try it in the morning or evening."