Possible Reasons Why Coffee Makes You Feel Bad

There are plenty of reasons to love coffee. For one, it's a great way to get a quick energy boost in the morning or during the day. Coffee is also loaded with antioxidants, which can help protect your body from disease. Plus, there are countless different ways to enjoy coffee, from classic black coffee to elaborate espresso drinks.

No matter how you take your coffee, there's no denying that it's a delicious beverage. This drink has become a necessity for people like me. But for some people, coffee doesn't always taste so great. In fact, coffee can sometimes make you feel pretty terrible. Why is that so? Read on to find out.

Why Is Coffee Making You Feel Bad?

You Maybe Drinking Too Much

One possibility is that you're simply drinking too much coffee. If you're downing multiple cups of coffee every day, it's not surprising that you might start to feel some consequences. 

Coffee is a substantial source of antioxidants, which can help protect your body from disease. But as they say, too much of anything is bad. This fact doesn't exclude coffee.

Caffeine is found in coffee and many other drinks and can have side effects such as jitters, anxiety, increased heart rate, or sleeplessness. The more caffeine that’s consumed, the stronger these feelings will be. These sensations are worsened if you are not used to caffeine or drink it on an empty stomach.

Maybe You're Sensitive to It

It’s also possible that you’re simply sensitive to coffee. This means that even a small amount can cause symptoms such as heartburn, stomach pain, or indigestion. If this is the case, it might be best to switch to decaf or find another drink that suits you better.

Just like some people are sensitive to gluten or lactose, others may be sensitive to coffee. Persons with this syndrome are referred to as Caffeine-Sensitive. However, doctors don't know the exact cause of sensitivity to caffeine.

Some symptoms include headaches (and migraines), upset stomachs, bladder control problems, anxiety, and jitters. If you find that coffee always makes you feel bad, it might be worth cutting back.

Allergies

What's worse than coffee sensitivity? Coffee allergy. Yes, there are people that have allergic reactions to coffee. Allergies can cause a whole host of problems such as skin irritation, headaches, digestive issues, and more.

Still, this problem is directly related to coffee sensitivity. Up to 50% of the population worldwide has some degree of unease with coffee, such as nausea, dizziness, anxiety, or confusion. The most common diagnosis is a coffee-induced intermittent syndrome (CIIS). CIIS victims have seemingly random reactions to coffee. 

This can include gastrointestinal problems, anxiety, heart palpitations, and headaches. It can then manifest as hives, itchiness, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and face, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.

What Can You Do About It?

If you're experiencing any of the following problems, here are some things you can do to help:

• Anxiety: Deep breathing exercises can help to calm your nerves, and try to avoid caffeine before bedtime. This way, it can't affect your sleep.

• Headaches: Drink plenty of water and take ibuprofen if needed. If you're still experiencing headaches, it might be time to cut back on your coffee intake.

• Irritability: Again, deep breathing exercises can help as well as taking breaks throughout the day to clear your head.

• Restlessness: Get up and move around for a few minutes, or try some simple stretches to release tension.

• Procrastination: Break your project down into smaller tasks that can be completed easily and set a timer for each task to keep yourself on track.

Drink plenty of water and try to stick to a regular sleep schedule to help offset any effects of caffeine. And if you're still struggling, consider speaking to a doctor or therapist about ways to manage anxiety and stress.

If you're finding that coffee is making you feel more tense, irritable, or restless, it might be time to cut back on your intake. If you can, try taking it out of your diet entirely. If you do this, you should look out for withdrawal symptoms.

How Can You Deal With Withdrawal Symptoms?

Coffee is a stimulant, and like all stimulants, it can be addictive. People who drink coffee regularly can develop a tolerance to caffeine, which means they need more caffeine to get the same effect. 

When you stop consuming caffeine, you might experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can last for a few days to a week.

If you have withdrawal symptoms, here are a few things you can do:

• Drink plenty of water and other fluids.

• Get plenty of rest.

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers if needed.

• Exercise regularly.

• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants.

• Eat a healthy diet.

There are plenty of coffee substitutes that you can drink instead of coffee. Some popular alternatives include tea, herbal tea, and energy drinks. There are also decaffeinated versions of coffee that might be a better option for you.

Conclusion

Coffee brings a lot of advantages, but there are also several reasons why coffee may make you feel terrible. It could be because of the caffeine content or because your body and digestive system are not compatible with the drink. If you are feeling horrible after drinking coffee, it might be time to cut back on your intake or switch to a beverage that is more suitable for you.