Why Does Coffee make You Poop? Five Reasons Behind it

6 min read JAN 02, 2023

Most health professionals find coffee a good solution to facilitating bowel movements. It activates the production of essential hormones that trigger a bowel movement.

So, if you find it difficult to poop, taking a cup of coffee gives your body the relief you have waited for. So, take that cup of coffee instead of whining in pain due to constipation after a delayed bowel movement.  

Why does Drinking Coffee Help with Bowel Movements?


Coffee contains other chemical factors that stimulate gastric acid production and the hormone cholecystokinin. These hormones trigger a gastrocolic reflex that makes the stool soften. This way, you will visit the bathroom regularly no matter your difficult colonic activity. Therefore, drinking coffee might be the best decision to boost colonic activity since coffee makes you poop.

The hormones produced trigger contractions of the colon, which causes the urge to poop. Studies from Harvard medical school show that colon activity increased when people took the beverage. So the intestinal muscles start contracting, prompting a successful bowel movement. During these contractions, stomach contents push towards the colon, and there is higher production of gastrin levels.

Does Decaf Coffee make you Poop too?


Decaf coffee contains components like regular coffee but has removed most of its caffeine content. Most people refer to it as decaffeinated coffee. It has less caffeine content since not all caffeine gets removed from the coffee.

We found out that caffeinated coffee also stimulates hormones to about 23% as compared to taking water. It might be possible for you to poop faster after taking this beverage since it prompts a hormonal response.

Since this coffee also helps you poop, it proves that other factors might be at work to boost your urge to poop. If you often get constipated overnight, a morning routine of decaf coffee makes your stomach acid coffee.

It helps in stimulating colonic motor activity that triggers bowel activity. Stomach acid coffee appears when you take coffee to start the production of digestive juices.

Dark roast decaf coffee gives amazing poop results. You might want to try it.

5 Reasons Why Coffee makes You Poop in the Morning


The act of stimulating colon motor activity might be due to several reasons. Unsweetened black coffee could lead to the following reactions as you wake up:

  • The colon stays inactive during our resting hours of sleep. The simple act of taking this beverage makes the colon muscles active. The activation of the colon often referred to as gastrocolic reflux might cause your immediate urge to poop.

  • Sometimes, our bodies interpret the beverage as a meal. The impact makes the colon activate for a poop push hence the urge to poop.

  • Drinking coffee stimulates the production of stomach acids that facilitate the churning process. However, low-acid coffee serves most coffee lovers who opt to keep their acids on the low side.  

  • It might be a coincidence if you feel the urge to poop in the morning. In the morning, the body prepares itself to release poop that accumulated in the colon overnight. In this regard, a morning cup of warm coffee coincides with this biological clock making you want to poop.

  • Coffee may contain artificial sweeteners. Some coffee brands may package a coffee combination with artificial sugars to give you a ready-to-drink energy fluid. Artificial sugars cause diarrhea in most people. The urge to poop after taking coffee may originate from the added sugars. 

Coffee as a Hormone Stimulator


Like most energy drinks, coffee brings on board the hormone stimulators that promote different body functions like the movement of waste in the colon.

Coffee also gets identified to trigger either a nervous system reaction leading to hypersensitivity or activity. All these body functions get traced back to coffee's laxative effect and hormonal stimulation.

The hormones stimulated by coffee include the hormones gastrin and cholecystokinin. These essential gastric acids help make the poop soft.

What Digestion Conditions Require You to take Coffee to Help Poop?


Constipation


Constipation is when you may fail to visit the toilet for a long call at least thrice weekly. The delay might be due to poor digestion and the failure of the food matter to move down the digestive system successfully.

Our digestive tract gets susceptible to many infections and health conditions. When the stool moves too slowly in the digestive tract, it results in constipation. It may also arise if the stool doesn't get eliminated from the rectum. Coffee sends triggers to the colon, relieving the distress by creating the same urge to visit the bathroom.

In most cases, you get medication to help alleviate the symptoms. Drinking that cup has become another sure method to find relief. Coffee stimulates hormones that trigger colon contractions that ultimately eject poop.

Lifestyle habits


For a perfectly functioning dietary routine, you will need to eat enough vegetables and fiber and take lots of water. However, we may fail to balance our nutritional needs. In return, poop lacks that natural push out of our bodies.

Drinking a cup of coffee may come to your aid if you realize that you have eaten unbalanced foods. The reaction that coffee triggers will help push food down the digestive tract for successful bowel movements.

Eating too many dairy products


If you add milk products, they may cause constipation and digestive issues. In children, lactose intolerance leads to poor digestion. Children and some adults suffering from this condition may also develop constipation. This caffeinated drink helps poop move smoothly in the small intestine to avoid constipation.

If you have eaten food with milk without knowing it, this beverage might be a step towards relief. Drinking unsweetened black coffee might be a good option in such a situation as in lactose intolerant people. It helps stimulate colon activity.

The coffee's laxative effect helps soften the stool and ultimately eject poop. If you have taken dairy products, let your first cup be a coffee cup. For people with digestive health issues like irritable bowel syndrome, coffee forms an integral part of their lives.

In Summary


Coffee stimulates intestinal hormones; hence stomach lining triggers the release of digestion acids.

Your body may interpret coffee as a meal; hence stomach acid gets released.

Coffee might coincidently sync with your active body form in the morning.

The coffee might contain artificial sweeteners prompting diarrhea and intense colon contractions.

Coffee prompts digestive acids to initiate the churning process.

Frequently Asked Questions


Does coffee increase colon activity?


Coffee activates your gut the same way it does after taking a 1000-calorie-rich meal. In addition, increased gut activity promotes bowel movements of the gastrointestinal tract.

Is milk good for coffee?


If you have lactose intolerance, black coffee could be all you need for a cup of coffee.

Do all people poop after drinking coffee?


Not everybody might poop after drinking coffee. Taking it helps regain normal digestion.

Final Thoughts


If you find your poop challenging to push, a cup of coffee might do the trick. Coffee saves most people a trip to the doctor, and you might find it affordable and home-friendly to try. 

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Medium roast

 

"Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program."

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