Coffee is a daily ritual for many of us, yet for some with acid reflux it may cause heartburn and other unpleasant symptoms like indigestion and stomach discomfort. According to Marisa Silver of Vivrant Nutrition, awareness of what ingredients make up coffee’s ingredients may prevent irritation in the stomach.

Coffee’s main causes of indigestion and heartburn are caffeine and acid. Caffeine’s stimulatory effect stimulates gut motility, leading to more frequent bowel movements – including diarrhea (common in IBS). Caffeine also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter allowing stomach acid to flow back up the esophagus, potentially leading to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms like inflammation in its lining or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Avoiding coffee entirely or taking it on an empty stomach is the ideal way to prevent heartburn from caffeine consumption, although this advice doesn’t fit all. Listening to what works for your body is key – if consuming one type of coffee doesn’t cause discomfort for you, experiment with decaf or low acid varieties; otherwise add baking soda into your cup to neutralize its acidity; this easy, affordable trick could make all the difference to your digestive health!