We love our morning coffee in the UK. It is thought we drink around 98 million cups of the stuff every day.
There are known health benefits to consuming a certain amount of coffee. Some studies have shown it could lower the risk of diabetes and hypertension, for example.
But one expert has warned that some people should consider staying away from the hot beverage.
Speaking on social media platform TikTok, acupuncturist Dr Anis Khalaf explained that coffee could be making a yin deficiency worse.
And one way to know if this is the case is to check your tongue, Gloucestershire Live reports.
“Do you know if you should be drinking coffee?” he asked viewers. “If you want to know the answer, you’re gonna wanna stick out your tongue.
“You can go to a mirror and do a small test to find out.”
If your tongue appears cracked and yellow, Dr Khalaf claims you may be experiencing an “imbalance in the body” and the caffeinated beverage could worsen this.
He continued: “This is a yin deficiency with heat and dampness which basically means a fluid or cold deficiency with heat taking over.”
Doctor Lawrence Cunningham, a GP at The UK Care Guide, explained that a yin deficiency is what happens when our bodies are running low on nourishing elements, leaving you feeling restless and overheated.
As coffee is an “inherently warming” stimulant, the beverage can certainly enhance these symptoms, however, he claimed this isn’t always the cause of a yellowing tongue.
He said: “In my experience, a thick yellow coating on the tongue generally indicates an imbalance in the body’s digestive system rather than a specific aversion to coffee.
“This coating can be attributed to a range of factors such as poor oral hygiene, dehydration, or the presence of bacteria and yeast. While coffee itself isn’t usually the direct cause, it can exacerbate the conditions that lead to such a coating.
“Coffee is acidic and can alter the pH balance within the mouth, which may contribute to the proliferation of bacteria and yeast, potentially leading to a yellow coating.”
Aside from the tongue symptom, there are various other signs that drinking coffee is negatively impacting your body.
Stomach discomfort and acid reflux are among the most common, as coffee is known to increase stomach acid production – which the body may not like too much.
He continued: “Also, frequent headaches or migraines can sometimes be linked to excessive coffee intake, especially if one is consuming high quantities throughout the day.”
If you’re concerned about the colour or texture of your tongue or any other unusual symptoms, visiting a GP is always advised.