That morning coffee can be an absolute godsend. But it can also send you running to the toilet at the drop of a hat.
Whether your personal preference is an espresso, americano, cappuccino or flat white, they do the absolute business first thing in a morning after you’ve had a shocking night’s sleep. Likewise, they can be the midday pick me up to get you through to the end of the working day.
But whether you have one at 7am or 1pm, millions around the world are left in the same situation soon after consuming what’s in their cup. And that’s sat on the loo.
Coffee can have one undesirable effect (Getty Stock Image/ Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography)
Yes, we’re on about needing a poo. For some it has no physical impact at all. But for the more unfortunate souls, it’s simply the consequence of waking yourself up.
There is a science behind this, though.
Why does coffee makes you need a poo?
Doctor Hussain Ahmad is an experienced hospital doctor and consultant practitioner in the UK, running Click2Pharmacy.
Speaking to LADbible, Dr Ahmad explained how the bodily changes that result from drinking a coffee.
“Drinking coffee can make you need to go to the bathroom more often because the caffeine gets your colon moving, which speeds up how quickly waste moves through your system.” Dr Ahmad said.
There is science behind why coffee makes you poo (Getty Stock Images)
“Even decaffeinated can have this effect since it still contains acids and oils that can trigger your digestive system.
“That’s why a lot of people feel the urge to go after having coffee.”
Doctor Kenneth Brown, a leading gastroenterologists out of Plano, Texas, also spoke to LADbible about how the issue impacts you.
Dr Brown, who hosts the Gut Check Project podcast, said caffeine can be a blessing to those who suffer with constipation.
“However, it can also cause diarrhoea in some people,” he says.
“Additionally, caffeine can increase the production of stomach acid, resulting in heartburn or acid reflux, which can be uncomfortable and even painful.”
Dr Brown explained how coffee beans have something called chlorogenic acid, which is a type of antioxidant.
“This compound can stimulate the muscles in the gut, which can trigger a bowel movement,” he said.
Many people need the toilet after drinking coffee (Getty Stock Images)
“Furthermore, N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides [a chemical closely related to the neurotransmitter serotonin] are naturally occurring compounds that act as laxatives. These compounds increase the water content in the colon and the contractions of the colonic muscles.
“The combination of these compounds can cause a sudden urge to use the restroom in some people, but they also make a great natural remedy for constipation.”
What can you do to limit coffee’s impact on your guts?
If you struggle with handling coffee due to the impact it has on your digestive system, Dr Ahmad suggests you should try cutting back as a first point of call.
“Avoid having it on an empty stomach, or experiment with different kinds of coffee,” he adds.
It’s all in the beans (Getty Stock Images)
Dr Brown has issued four points which he says should help big time in combatting the issue if you need to address it.
He said: “Try drinking smaller amounts of coffee at a time. This can help to reduce the amount of caffeine and other components in the coffee that may be causing digestive upset.
“Try drinking coffee at various times of day. In the morning, coffee will stimulate the gastro-colic reflex, where the hormones from the stomach tell the rectum to contract.
“Experiment with different brewing methods. Some people find that 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 for some people and contribute to stomach upset, especially if you have issues like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).”
