“Does caffeine affect your IBD?”

Where would I be without my morning cup of coffee? Probably still in bed and probably still asleep. It’s been used for decades as a popular morning beverage to get us up, awake, alert and ready for a new day. We then added it to drinks to keep us full of energy during the day, if we suffered from poor sleep, needed to concentrate or wanted to avoid crashing before bedtime. The irony is that consuming more caffeine makes you more susceptible to ‘crashing’ and creating addictive patterns.

But while consuming caffeine is the norm for most people, how does caffeine fit into health? How does it impact long term conditions, especially digestive disorders, such as IBD?

What is caffeine?

Caffeine is a natural substance that stimulates our brain and central nervous system. It helps us stay alert and reduces tiredness.

Where can you find it?

You can find caffeine in tea [both green and black], coffee, soda [such as Coke and Pepsi], coffee ice cream, some protein shakes and stimulate drinks [such as Red Bull, Monster and Relentless].

How does it impact the digestive system?

  1. Increased peristalsis – Caffeine acts as a laxative and increases peristalsis [the muscle contractions that propel food through the digestive system]. The effects can begin very soon after drinking one cup of coffee.
  2. Indigestion – Caffeine increases the production of stress hormones. Stress hormones — cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine — cause your heart to beat faster and give you a boost of energy. Blood supply to the intestines is decreased. As a result, digestion can be slowed.
  3. Gastric secretions – Caffeine is acidic. It increases the acidity and amount of gastric secretions. As a result, irritation of the intestinal lining can occur, leading to an upset stomach. Excessive amounts of caffeine can cause ulcers and gastritis. Caffeine can worsen symptoms if you have gastrointestinal problems such as IBS and Crohn’s disease.
  4. Increased Diuresis – Caffeine acts as a diuretic. Blood flow to the kidneys is increased, resulting in increased urine production. Increased urine can lead to dehydration, which in turn can contribute to constipation.

What affect does it have on IBD?

Considerations

General – Moderate caffeine intake in an otherwise healthy person is considered safe. According to the Food Standards Agency, you can safely consume single doses of caffeine up to 200mg and daily intakes of caffeine up to 400mg, which is one to two cups of coffee per day.

You can, however, be addicted if you consume as little as one cup of coffee a day. Withdrawal can be difficult. Symptoms can include headaches, fatigue, decreased alertness, drowsiness, anxiety, feelings of nervousness and difficulty concentrating.

Caffeine should be avoided if you have certain health problems including heart disease, hypertension, or disorders of the gastrointestinal system.

IBD specific – As Clemmie Oliver of NALM states “General guidelines for the management of IBD tend to recommend avoiding caffeine because it can cause diarrhoea and disrupt sleep … [t]his one is very individual and can also depend on where you are in your journey with your Crohn’s or colitis. During flare-ups when diarrhoea is more common avoiding things like caffeine which might make that worse is a good idea. When in remission, some people find it makes them go to the loo more or aggravates things, but others can tolerate caffeine-containing drinks OK so it’s about working out what works for you.”

How do you feel about caffeine consumption with IBD?

Until next time,

Do you have any questions or queries? Or just want to share your own experiences? You can leave me a reply here or leave comments via my social media accounts – on Twitter, find my blog page on Facebook and over on Instagram

If you enjoyed this post check out Fibre with IBD and The What and Why: Dehydration

References:

Caffeine & IBDNutrition & Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, Clemmie Oliver, March 3rd 2021

Caffeine & Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD – IBD Relief, 2020

How does Caffeine affect Your Digestive SystemLive Strong, Eurica Manning

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