The age-old debate between coffee and tea enthusiasts continues to divide the nation, but for many, the morning isn’t complete without a strong cup of coffee. However, a doctor on TikTok has issued a surprising warning about this popular caffeinated beverage, all based on the condition of your tongue.
Dr. Anis Khalaf, a well-known figure on TikTok with over 457k followers on his account @acupuncturefit, shared a video explaining a simple test to determine if you should avoid coffee. In his now-viral video, Dr. Khalaf advises viewers to check their tongues in a mirror for specific signs.
“If you want to know the answer, you’re gonna wanna stick out your tongue,” he says. “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”, told the Mirror.
Dr. Khalaf attributes this sign to a potential imbalance in the body, which can be exacerbated by coffee consumption. Although he doesn’t delve deeply into the specifics, he references a concept from Chinese medicine known as ‘yin deficiency.’ “This is a yin deficiency with heat and dampness,” Dr. Khalaf explains, “which basically means a fluid or cold deficiency with heat taking over.”
For those unfamiliar with the term, Dr. Lawrence Cunningham, a GP at The UK Care Guide, provides further clarification. He describes yin deficiency as an imbalance where the body’s ‘nourishing aspects’ are depleted, leading to symptoms like restlessness and heart sensations—symptoms that many might associate with excessive coffee consumption.
@acupuncturefit Ever considered what your morning cup of coffee does from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective? Join Dr. Anis as he explores the intriguing effects of coffee on your body according to TCM. Learn why coffee might be beneficial for some body types and potentially harmful for others, depending on your individual balance of yin and yang. Discover the thermal nature of coffee and how it interacts with the energy channels in your body #oralhealth #didyouknow #healthtips #dranis #coffee ♬ Smalltown Boy – Bronski Beat
According to Dr. Cunningham, coffee, being an ‘inherently warming’ beverage, can worsen these symptoms but isn’t necessarily the root cause of a yellow-coated tongue. Speaking to The Sun, he elaborates, “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 might not directly cause the yellow coating, it can exacerbate underlying conditions that lead to such symptoms. Therefore, even though coffee may not be the direct culprit, it can certainly contribute to the digestive imbalances reflected on your tongue.
For those who rely on their daily dose of coffee, this might be a wake-up call to pay closer attention to their overall health and hydration levels. As Dr. Khalaf’s video continues to circulate, it serves as a reminder of how our bodies can manifest internal imbalances in visible ways, and why it’s crucial to listen to these signals.