A TikTok doctor claims a surprising sign on your tongue might indicate you shouldn’t be drinking coffee – according to to traditional Chinese medicine practices
For many, a morning cup of coffee is essential to kicking off the day.
But a doctor has warned that one surprising symptom in your tongue may signal that you shouldn’t be drinking it at all, and there’s an easy check you can do at home. “Do you know if you should be drinking coffee?” Dr Anis Khalaf asked his 457k followers on TikTok (@acupuncturefit).
“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 you have a lot of cracks in your tongue with a thick yellow coating, you probably shouldn’t be drinking coffee.”
Dr Khalaf claims this is often down to a potential ‘imbalance in the body’, which the caffeinated drink can worsen. Although he didn’t provide too much detail as to why, he referred to something known as the ‘yin deficiency’ in Chinese medicine.
He added: “This is a yin deficiency with heat and dampness which basically means a fluid or cold deficiency with heat taking over.”
If you’re still scratching your head wondering a ‘yin deficiency’ is, fear not. Dr Lawrence Cunningham, a GP at The UK Care Guide, explained it’s a bodily imbalance where ‘nourishing aspects’ are depleted, leading to restlessness, heart sensations and other uncomfortable symptoms.
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. “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,” he said.
“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, visiting a GP is always advised.
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