Stomach ache after drinking decaffeinated coffee | Stomach ache from drinking coffee

Stomach ache after drinking decaffeinated coffee

Decaffeinated coffee lacks the component that is responsible for many people’s stomach aches after drinking coffee, namely caffeine. However, discomfort is still possible after drinking decaffeinated coffee. The acid production in the stomach is stimulated even without caffeine.

Depending on how the coffee is prepared, it may also contain more or less acid. This is why people with a sensitive stomach tend to suffer from stomach ache after drinking coffee despite decaffeination. Alternative hot drinks, such as green tea, are a good solution. However, you can also try out different types of coffee and ways of preparing it. A shot of milk can also help to make the coffee more digestible.

Diagnosis

If abdominal pain with or without heartburn as a result of coffee consumption occurs frequently, a gastroscopy of the esophagus and stomach should be performed in the long term. The oesophagus in particular can be severely affected by heartburn, which can only be reliably assessed with this examination method. A small camera is moved through the mouth and oesophagus into the stomach and the mucous membrane of the individual sections is assessed on the computer.

The affected person is put under a light anaesthetic and therefore does not notice the procedure. This examination is also recommended in cases of repeated inflammation of the gastric mucosa and a lack of improvement of the symptoms despite a restriction in coffee consumption. If complaints such as sudden cramping abdominal pain and diarrhoea occur as a result of taking milk coffee, it is possible to test for an intolerance to lactose (milk sugar). This is a breath test which can be used to assess the metabolism of a previously taken lactose solution.

Therapy – What to do?

The first step, if complaints such as stomach ache or heartburn have occurred as a result of coffee consumption, especially when coffee consumption is high, is to reduce it to a minimum. If the abdominal pain is mainly accompanied or caused by heartburn, various over-the-counter and prescription drugs are available that either bind stomach acid (so-called antacids) or reduce its formation (so-called proton pump inhibitors). This is also the therapy of choice in the case of gastritis accompanied by left-sided pain in the upper abdomen.

In order for the stomach to settle down, light food should be eaten in addition to reduced coffee consumption. Fatty foods or those that are literally heavy in the stomach should be avoided, at least until the stomach has settled down and the abdominal pain has disappeared. Well-known household remedies such as fennel or chamomile tea and warmth on the stomach (e.g. hot water bottle) also help to relieve acute stomach pain and calm the stomach.

If the stomach aches occur exclusively after drinking coffee with milk and more often when eating other dairy products, you should avoid them if possible and use lactose-free or plant-based alternatives such as coconut, almond, oat or rice milk (see: Nutrition for lactose intolerance). – Stomach ache – what to do? – Stomach ache – what to do?