Koffein-Unverträglichkeit – wie gehe ich damit um?
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Caffeine Intolerance – How Do I Deal with It?

Do you need coffee in the morning to wake up? How do you feel after drinking coffee? 

Many people suffer from coffee intolerance. They do not tolerate the drink without problems. Although you like the smell of coffee, you feel unwell after drinking it. Usually, the first sip of the warm drink is pleasant because the coffee flows through your body like a stimulant.

Does your stomach rumble after drinking coffee? Or do you perhaps suffer from headaches after consumption? These can also be signs of intolerance. 

What is coffee intolerance?

Intolerance to coffee is more common than you think. Especially if you drink too much coffee, you probably know that your hands start to tremble or you get stomach pain. 

Are you familiar with the symptoms? Due to the high caffeine content in coffee many people react with symptoms after consuming a larger amount of the hot beverage. However, if these symptoms occur after just one cup, something is wrong. If you suffer from a classic coffee intolerance, usually even a small sip is enough to trigger the symptoms. 

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However, it is important to clearly distinguish between intolerance and allergy when it comes to symptoms. People who suffer from a coffee allergy, more precisely a caffeine allergy, cannot process caffeine and react with severe symptoms even after the smallest amounts. 

An intolerance is therefore not an allergy. If you suffer from an allergy, your immune system reacts immediately as soon as you consume even the smallest amount of coffee. 

Intolerance, on the other hand, usually appears when your body cannot properly break down a certain substance in the food. 

Symptoms of caffeine intolerance

The main component of coffee is caffeine. Coffee is also very acidic. Especially if your body generally reacts sensitively, coffee could cause you problems. 

People who do not suffer from intolerance often still react with similar symptoms to the hot beverage. However, if you experience symptoms like heart palpitations, diarrhea, heartburn, or nausea after just one cup of coffee, you are very likely intolerant to coffee.

Many people also feel shaky. The trembling is often even visible to the naked eye, especially in the hands. 

Causes and risk factors of coffee intolerance

The symptoms and causes of coffee intolerance are often closely related.

One of the main causes of coffee intolerance is too much acid in the stomach. Drinking coffee stimulates your stomach to be more active. As a result, it produces excessive amounts of acid.

Oils are a major component of the bean. In addition, coffee contains various acids and bitter substances. These lead to increased stomach activity. The cause of your symptoms in coffee intolerance is therefore due to the acid in coffee.

Do you generally have a more sensitive stomach? Drinking coffee can further negatively affect this. Symptoms like heartburn, nausea, or diarrhea can then be the consequence.  

Another cause of coffee intolerance can simply be that you lack the enzyme needed to break down coffee in the body. This enzyme is known as diamine oxidase (DAO). 

It is responsible for breaking down histamine in the body. The ingredients in coffee work against the enzyme and can even block it in some cases. As a result, the enzyme can no longer function properly, and symptoms of intolerance are triggered in your body. 

In this case, the autonomic nervous system is usually affected. You may then suffer from symptoms like heart palpitations, headaches, and even trouble falling asleep. Many people also often experience trembling. 

Sometimes it's simply the caffeine in coffee that's to blame. It doesn't necessarily mean that you can't tolerate coffee. Maybe your body just doesn't like the caffeine. In that case, you can easily find out by drinking other caffeinated beverages like cola or an energy drink. If you then experience the same symptoms as after drinking a cup of coffee, you can very likely assume that your body doesn't tolerate caffeine. 

How is coffee best tolerated?

You can’t give up your morning coffee despite your intolerance? Depending on the cause of your intolerance, there are some alternatives. Try decaffeinated coffee. If you are intolerant to caffeine, you can still drink coffee without caffeine without any problems. 

If this is not the cause, you can drink other hot beverages in the morning. Are you only really awake from coffee? That’s a misconception. You just haven’t tried the many alternatives yet. You’ll be surprised how awake a hot lemon in the morning can make you. The vitamin C it contains is not only great for your immune system, it also energizes your body and wakes you up. 

Ginger tea is also a great alternative to coffee. A warm cocoa in the morning tastes good but doesn’t necessarily wake you up. 

You absolutely cannot give up coffee? An intolerance doesn’t have to mean the end of your love for coffee. Not every coffee variety causes the same symptoms. Sometimes it’s enough to prepare the coffee differently. 

The Arabica coffee variety contains significantly less acid than other coffee varieties. It also contains much less caffeine. This variety is therefore better for your stomach and much easier to tolerate.

Did you know that espresso is very low in acid? The beans are roasted differently and are therefore usually easier to tolerate than other types. Espresso could therefore be digestible for you despite an intolerance. 

Do you always drink your coffee with milk? Have you ever considered that your symptoms might not come from the coffee but from cow's milk? That would rather indicate an intolerance to lactose, the milk protein found in cow's milk. Try drinking your coffee with a milk alternative and see how you feel afterward. Oat milk tastes very good in coffee. 

Treatment of a coffee intolerance

Do you suffer from a coffee intolerance? Unfortunately, there is no treatment for it. The cause cannot be eliminated. You can only make sure that the symptoms decrease or no longer occur. The only way to completely eliminate the symptoms is to give up coffee.

If you still can’t give up coffee, you need to try different alternatives. Sometimes switching to organic coffee helps. Experiment and pay attention to yourself and your body. 

The preparation method also plays a big role in how well you tolerate coffee. There are ways to prepare coffee so that it contains less acid afterward.

Diet also plays an important role in coffee intolerance.

Some people can only tolerate certain types. Visit a coffee shop and get advice on the varieties available. You should prefer low-acid varieties. 

Prepare the coffee as gently as possible. Try brewing coffee by hand. This is a particularly gentle method that releases very little bitterness and acids. 

Alternatively, it can help to reduce the amount. Instead of drinking 5 cups a day, try just two. Pay attention to your body and see if the symptoms improve. 

Did you know that the acidity level also increases the higher the temperature is when preparing coffee? Heat the water to lower temperatures and compare the symptoms. Maybe then you won’t have any symptoms and can enjoy your hot drink again without worry. 

Make sure to maintain proper hygiene when preparing coffee. Sometimes the coffee itself isn’t to blame for the symptoms, but possibly the storage. If mold has developed in the coffee, it can cause symptoms just like a coffee intolerance. Store coffee in a dry, cool place and preferably airtight. This helps prevent possible mold growth. 

When should you see a doctor if you suspect a coffee intolerance?

If your symptoms occur every time after drinking coffee, you should definitely see a doctor. The same applies if the symptoms get worse or appear immediately. You might even be suffering from a coffee allergy.

An allergy can trigger significantly more severe symptoms than a coffee intolerance. 

This is not something to take lightly and should definitely be checked by a doctor. 

Sources

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