Many people cannot start their days without their precious cup of Joe. It gives them the necessary push to deal with the daily tasks and responsibilities ahead of them. But unfortunately, no one can deny the downsides of drinking coffee frequently. For people who deal with problems with digestion, it can be difficult to get the caffeinated dose they want.
One of the most common gastrointestinal problems is heartburn. This is caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD for short. While many foods and drinks may lead to GERD, coffee has been a gray area for many people. Not all GERD patients relate their heartburn, respirator, or digestive diseases to drinking coffee. However, its effect should not be neglected. Here is a closer look at the relation between coffee and GERD.
Understanding GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease typically causes your stomach contents to rise into the esophagus or the food pipe. The malfunctioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a group of muscles that pass fluids and food from the esophagus into the stomach, can be a primal cause for GERD. In other words, acid reflux and heartburn are good signs of having GERD. However, other noticeable symptoms can include bad breath, tooth decay, unpleasant taste in the mouth or throat, chest pain, coughing, wheezing, sore throat, or other respiratory problems.
What Is the Relation Between Caffeine And GERD?
Caffeine, the main component in coffee, soda, and tea, is a potential candidate that can trigger heartburn in some people. By relaxing the LES, caffeine increases stomach acidity, leading to the manifestation of GERD symptoms. On the other hand, scientific research did not conclude with clear-cut evidence that coffee should completely be omitted from your diet. There are many contradicting conclusions showing little influence of coffee on GERD patients. So, perhaps if you want to keep on getting a caffeinated dose, you should think of good alternatives. Consequently, finding the best low acid coffee can help you minimize the symptoms if you have GERD. It also helps if you switch to less caffeinated beverages such as green tea or matcha.
Concerns About Coffee
Conventional coffee is richer in caffeine than tea and soda. The caffeine amount you consume relies on the type of roast you have. Contrary to popular belief, lighter coffee roasts have more caffeine. With dark roasts, you get less caffeine for each coffee bean. Choosing a latte may be more convenient than going for a black Americano, but the health risks are certainly higher. When you are suffering from GERD, perhaps you should go for darker roasts if caffeine increases your symptoms. You should also take care that darker roasts contain a stronger flavor that is most probably due to their high acidity. So, it is better to be mindful while sipping your coffee and watch out for any symptoms after you drink it.
Practical Ways to Drink Coffee
For all coffee lovers out there, a cup of Joe is a daily necessity. While a lot of people may put off drinking coffee because it leaves an acidic aftertaste, not all coffee is brewed the same. As previously explained, the difference in the caffeine and acidic amount depends on the roast. Fortunately, there are numerous ways you can reduce GERD effects and still enjoy your beverage.
Neutralize the Acidity
Since your first goal is to avoid acidity, you may find adding salt or using eggshells useful. As weird as it may sound, salt reduces bitterness and smooths out the acidity in your coffee grounds. The same can be said for eggshells. Being of alkaline nature, eggshells neutralize the coffee’s acidity. Simply, rinse one or two eggshells, crush them into a bowl, and then add them to your coffee maker. The results will astonish you.
Cold Brews
You can always play it safe with cold brews as iced coffee contains less caffeine and is less acidic compared to its hot counterpart. This can even make GERD or heartburn symptoms more tolerable.
Decaffeinated Coffee
Decaf ground coffee can also be practical as it contains low acidity and low caffeine. In addition to decreasing GERD symptoms, decaf coffee reduces the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and neurological diseases.
GERD is a common health problem among people. It is typically caused by heartburn. This requires more attention to what you eat and drink. As a coffee lover, you may find it beneficial to lessen your intake of the aromatic, caffeinated beverage. However, with the jury being out on the link between coffee and the aggravation of GERD, you can still enjoy it. The key is to drink in moderation and find healthier alternatives.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
No comments:
Post a Comment