Coffee/Caffeine

So I was doing a little reading this week. I was always under the impression that caffeine/coffee was "bad for crohnies." Apparently, according to a GI website, there is no significant evidence to suggest such, and the site actually discussed it being more of a positive thing to ingest as it "contracts the bowels" and ensures a cleaner gi-tract. It did go on to say, that it's not the caffeine in soda that is bad for you; it is more of the simple sugars (which I'm sure most/all of us know).

Just wondering how many of you, despite symptoms that you may be having, drink coffee on a regular basis and what effects it may or may not have on you?

I'm drinking a cup right now! Yum Yum!

Everyday morning one cup of coffee w/ milk & sugar

Coffee,iced tea and h2o for me.

on the day i was diagnosed with Crohn's, my GI told me it was probably a good idea to cut out caffeine. (especially as i was doing my uni exams at them time and so i was drinking quite alot!) i just switched to decaff and i only very occassionally have a cup of "real" tea/ coffee now. i havent really noticed a difference between when i drink the real stuff and when i drink the decaff, but i think that since i can't taste the difference anyway that i should stick to the decaff stuff.... its just not worth the risk for me!

Sorry,said that twice. Getting old I guess!!!!!

Tea is absolutely fine and I drink it a lot. As you might be able to guess from my name... <_<

Coffee is okay. Usually have it black w/o sugar, but I can't tolerate it as strong as I used to. Black coffee is hard on the stomach, but I think it's more the coffee itself rather than the caffeine it contains. Fizzy drinks are also rather hard on the stomach, but I think that's due to the carbonation and concentrated sugar dump and not the caffeine. Only rarely drink them.

Do you have a link to the article? Interested in reading it.

http://www.gicare.com/Diets/Crohns-Disease.aspx

There is the original writeup that sparked my research on caffeine. Doesn't say much other than "caffeine could be more of a benefit," but later discusses the simple sugars in sodas to stay away from. All of it is pretty good info there. I'll see if I can find the "coffee article" I found that was pretty neat.

*activated your link*

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 5/22/2010 8:04:29 AM (GMT-6)

I've never had a problem with soda, but coffee was too harsh for me even before the diagnosis. However, the company that makes vita-muffins also make a coffe called strong and gentle that is supposed to be "easy on the gut". May be worth a shot...

Three cups black coffee a day. Sometimes it will get things moving to much, but not always. Don't drink alot of carbonated drinks.

I find green/sweet iced tea gives me terrible indigestion. I LOVE it though!

I LOVE coffee and tea! I actually worked at Starbucks for awhile, and was constantly caffinated for about a year! However, I had a resection 7 weeks ago, and since then have not been able to enjoy coffee. I am hoping I will be able to tolerate it again though!

No problem NiceCup. That is my GI that I go to. He really never steered me in the wrong direction, so I take the advice I can get off his site and put it to good use.

For the first few years after I was diagnosed, I kept drinking Mountain Dew like it was the only liquid on earth (our water tastes funky). I finally switched to caffiene-free sodas after I lost my job due to severe symptoms. I felt better. I just recently switched from soda to Gatorade, and feel better still. Though, over the years I've learned how to better manipulate my diet, so that probably accounts for most of the improvement.