Understanding coffee's surprising effects on digestion
6 September 2024 08:09
Coffee is one of the most common morning choices. Although many people can't imagine life without it, doctors warn against consuming it in excess. Why? It triggers a visit to the bathroom, which is unpleasant for everyone.
Do you end up in the bathroom after drinking coffee? If so, you need to know why this happens and how to avoid it. Coffee (and also tea, because it too contains caffeine) is not only a diuretic but generally stimulates the digestive system. However, in some, it may cause certain discomforts, including diarrhea.
Why do we want to go to the bathroom after coffee?
Dr. Hussain Ahmad, a doctor in the United Kingdom, explained in an interview with LADbible why so many people need to visit the bathroom after drinking coffee. His statement also applies to decaffeinated coffee, which acts the same as "regular" coffee.
- Drinking coffee can make you need to go to the bathroom more often because caffeine stimulates the colon, speeding up the movement of food through the body - he said.
Dr. Kenneth Brown from Texas confirmed his words and noted in the same interview that coffee can be both a blessing and a curse. Caffeine is an excellent way to relieve constipation for some people.
- However, it can cause diarrhea in some individuals - said Dr. Brown.
- Furthermore, it can increase stomach acid production, leading to heartburn or acid reflux, which can be uncomfortable or even painful - he emphasized.
The causes of these effects of coffee are chlorogenic acid and chemicals called N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides.
- These are naturally occurring compounds that act as laxatives. These compounds increase water content in the colon and muscle contractions of the colon - he explained.
How to prevent bathroom visits?
According to both specialists, there are several ways to avoid frequent bathroom visits after drinking coffee.
- Avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach or experiment with different types of coffee - suggested Dr. Ahmad.
Dr. Brown presented four other proposals that should help combat this problem.
- Try drinking smaller amounts of coffee at a time. This can help reduce the amount of caffeine and other coffee ingredients that can cause digestive disturbances.
- Try drinking coffee at different times of the day. In the morning, coffee will stimulate the gastrocolic reflex, where hormones from the stomach signal the rectum to contract.
- Experiment with different brewing methods. Some people find cold brew or French press coffee causes less stomach discomfort than regular drip coffee.
- Avoid adding too much cream or sugar to your coffee. These can be triggers and contribute to an upset stomach, especially if you have issues like irritable bowel syndrome.
