Our eating habits have a profound effect on the functioning of our digestive system and how our stomach or intestinal tract reacts to certain foods and drinks. It is also important to note that these effects can vary from person to person, as everyone has a different tolerance level and digestive system
Those who drink coffee occasionally or even regularly, especially on an empty stomach, have probably experienced that it can make your stomach ache, give you a burning sensation and trigger excessive acid production.
What might be behind coffee consumption and stomach upset?
Coffee itself, and coffee consumption in general, has been identified by many as a factor that can cause stomach upset. However, not all products should be lumped together, as the type of coffee used in a given product is not the same, as it has a profound effect on the effects on the digestive system. The flavourings you use in your coffee, whether you add milk or sugar, also make a difference. These will be mentioned in a moment, but let’s get back to the types of coffee.
There are almost exclusively two types of coffee used in the production of coffee products: arabica and robusta.
Arabica is a sensitive type of plant that needs to be affected by a number of factors (weather, soil quality, etc.) to produce a good crop, but if these conditions are met, you get a very high quality bean. This quality, together with the right amount of caffeine, means that not only will the flavour be extremely smooth, soft and silky, but it will also not have that unpleasant effect on the stomach that causes pain and burning sensations.
The robusta variety, on the other hand, is a much less demanding type that can produce larger quantities, but at the price of a much lower quality coffee. This is not only reflected in its enjoyment value and flavour, but also in the fact that it has a more acidic effect, making it easier to cause heartburn and stomach pain.
Many people use various flavourings with coffee, the most common being sugar and milk, but most people are unaware that both can have an acidifying effect, which can add to the unpleasantness of the robusta type.
Which coffee to choose to avoid stomach upset?
As just described, it is recommended to drink arabica coffee, which has beneficial properties that prevent stomach upset. Ayura’s ganoderma coffee specialities are made from 100% Arabica coffee and therefore meet this requirement to the maximum. Another positive aspect of these products is that they are sweetened with palm milk powder instead of animal milk powder and with stevia, which is also of natural origin and gives a very delicate taste without causing acidity, unlike traditional flavourings.