There is nothing more frustrating than having to cut back or avoid your coffee drinking because you may have stomach sensitivities. However, there is some good news for coffee drinkers out there with stomach habits since they can now better enjoy their brew by sipping on a dark roast!

In a recent study done by the American Chemical Society, food chemists examined dark roasted coffee to find that it naturally produces a chemical compound that creates cells in the stomach from creating excess acid that is often exacerbated by drinking coffee. If you have ever struggled with having a sour stomach after drinking coffee in the morning, drinking a dark roast instead may be the solution that you have been looking for. Of course, many sensitive stomached coffee drinkers also prefer cold brewed coffee, which has up to 60% less acid than traditionally brewed hot coffee. There are also coffees on the market that are labeled to be "stomach friendly", where they are treated with steam to remove chemicals and caffeine that can often cause gastrointestinal discomfort. However, food chemists wanted to examine this issue even further to find out what chemicals in coffee caused a sour stomach and heartburn.

This research was done by taking extracts from two different coffee blends, one being light and the other being dark. These were also compared to the stomach friendly varieties of coffee that are steam treated. Each of the extracts shown to have a unique chemical composition, with varying amounts of other compounds, as well as caffeine.

When the extracts from these types of coffee were administered to human stomach cells, the cells increased their acid production. The one exception to the case was a compound in one of the extracts called N-methylpyridinium, which is a chemical naturally produced during roasting. It is not found in green coffee beans, but it begins to occur the darker that the coffee is roasted. This is actually a stomach soothing compound produced in dark roasted coffee, and scientific researchers are beginning to test a specialized blend of this compound for production.

This is fantastic news for anyone with stomach issues who still wants to enjoy their daily cup of coffee, especially since coffee has been proven to have such a large range of health benefits. Overall, it will reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver, stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and even type II diabetes. Of course, you do not want to let a little sour stomach get in your way of this healthy enjoyment, and experts recommend that you drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day for the greatest health benefits. If you are a coffee drinker that also happens to have a sensitive stomach, take care to choose premium dark roasts of coffee that contain the gentle compound that will prevent excess acid production in your stomach upon drinking. This is truly the best way to enjoy your cup of Joe on a daily basis while still being good to your stomach!