Intolerant and allergic to caffeine – Is there a difference?

Besides great taste, coffee provides added benefits such as a temporary energy boost or increasing alertness due to the effects of caffeine. For many however, there are less positive side effects. 

If one is allergic to caffeine, any amount or trace in their system can cause hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, or other more severe or life-threatening reactions.    

On the other hand, if intolerant to caffeine, there is a high likelihood that one is lacking the enzymes necessary to digest the caffeine and therefore does not experience the temporary energy boost.  Instead, physical symptoms can include an upset stomach and headache; while mental symptoms can include anxiety or fatigue.  

For those coffee lovers who are caffeine intolerant, many caffeine-free or reduced caffeine beverage alternatives are available.  Instead of eliminating coffee from your daily routine, consider decaffeinated coffee.  And yes, just like regular coffee they don’t all taste the same.  Encouragingly, great tasting decaf does exist.

Category: Coffee Drinker

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