Have you ever felt a little weird after drinking a cup of coffee? We're not talking about the post-coffee-jitters, we're talking about acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) symptoms. You know, the ones where you feel like a fire-breathing dragon? Most people experience acid reflux from time to time, but for some, it's a daily nuisance. 

Common medicines to treat these are Maalox, Famotidine or Pepcid, Omeprazole or Oantoprazole. Chances are, if you've been prescribed one of these, you're all too familiar with the unpleasant symptoms related to GERD and acid reflux.

Oftentimes people note that liquid coffee makes these symptoms more prominent.  

GERD and Coffee

The Mayo Clinic says that GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), is when stomach acid often flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, "up to 40 % of the US general population" have had symptoms of GERD. That's a lot of people experiencing these symptoms. 

Now, the acidity from drinking coffee may affect you especially if you're susceptible to experiencing these symptoms. It is actually recommended to avoid the acidity in coffee in order to reduce GERD symptoms. The acidity from coffee is due to the presence of methylxanthines. Methylxanthines are natural compounds found in plants and have been used by humans for centuries.

So, does this mean no coffee?

Luckily, caffeine is not proven to be the culprit here (can we get a hallelujah?). However, the acidity in coffee is definitely guilty of causing some heartburn.

According to The American Journal of Gastroenterology, there have been no studies conducted to date showing clinical improvement in GERD symptoms or complications associated with cessation of coffee, caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, carbonated beverages, fatty foods, or mint.”

Since it is still debated on what actually triggers GERD and heartburn, it is recombined to keep a food diary. This way, you can keep track of what you eat and possible triggers that you can share with your doctor. It also doesn't hurt to just consult with them on what changes you may need to make to reduce acid reflux.

If you want to reduce the amount of acidity being consumed when drinking coffee but can't kick your coffee habit, try Eat Your Coffee Caffeinated Snack Bars. Because of the way EYC Bars are made, you can still have your coffee and eat it too! Plus, we have lots of tasty flavors to choose from. Fudgy Mocha Latte, Peanut Butter Mocha, and Salted Caramel Macchiato have been praised by sufferers of GERD and heartburn as being a great option to get your coffee without the burn. 

If you've been prescribed Maalox, Famotidine or Pepcid, Omeprazole or Oantoprazole, you likely have spent time understanding what you need to do to reduce uncomfortable symptoms of GERD and regular heartburn. Luckily, we've come up with a way that many people find to reduce the symptoms associated with GERD and coffee, acidity and coffee and acid reflux. Try it for yourself!