Or is it the coffee?
Key Takeaways
Coffee is likely the first thing on your mind every morning.
Have you ever wondered what exactly causes that reaction?
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Doctors, including a gastroenterologist, help us to answer that question.
Why Coffee Makes You Poop
There are numerous reasons why coffee makes you poop.
These are the most common ways it affects the digestive system while you prepare for your day.
When you go to sleep, your digestive function slows down.
And when you wake up, the first thing you eat or drink reactivates that system.
If coffee is the first part of your daily diet, it instantly gets your colon working.
According to a 2020 review inNutrients, these contractions may start within four minutes of drinking coffee.
Any stool in your colon may begin moving toward your rectum as the rest of your body wakes up.
Cholecystokinin also increases bile production in the small intestine to push waste through faster, perStatPearls.
Does the Time of Day You Drink It Matter?
The time of day you drink coffee matters because your digestive system is more sensitive at certain times.
Drinking coffee while your stomach is more active may result in faster bowel movements.
Does the bang out of Coffee Make a Difference?
The throw in of coffee you drink could make a difference in your bowel movements.
These are some of the influencing factors you should consider before brewing your next cup.
Depending on your health conditions and caffeine tolerance,your body may be more or less sensitiveto that amount.
On the flip side, decaf coffee has little to no caffeine.
Try both to see the difference in your symptoms and make the best decision for your daily diet.
Hot vs. Iced
Hot coffee has caffeine and a standard brew strength.
Iced coffee requires soaking grounds to extract a concentrated brew strength, resulting in extra-strong java.
The intensified coffee may spike your hormone production more directly and cause colon contractions that lead to bowel movements.
Is It OK to Rely on Coffee for Pooping?
Coffee makes you poop, so can you rely on it for pooping when you’re constipated?
Here are a few things to consider.
Excessive caffeine intake may also affect your blood pressure.
Additionally, caffeine should be limited in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The Bottom Line
Coffee causes numerous biological reactions after your first sip in the morning.
Not only may it help you wake up, but it can also help you poop.
This is because coffee, caffeinated or decaf, increases the production of digestive hormones and gut movements.
Changing how you drink it could mitigate your bowel movements.
Those changes will depend on your personal preferences.
The higher stomach acid production and longer half-life in caffeine can cause effects after you finish your morning cup.
There are a few ways to reduce the effect of coffee from making you poop.
You could make a weaker brew to drink less potent java or drink only decaf.
If you need the caffeine, avoid adding milk to your coffee.
The lactose in milk could increase the urge to poop in some people.
Additionally, some non-nutritive sweeteners might increase the pooping effect.
How long it takes for coffee to increase the urge to poop may vary from person to person.
However, some research suggests that digestive contractions may start within four minutes of drinking coffee.
