Coffee is one of the most loved beverages. Many people across the world love taking a cup of coffee every morning. Besides being rich in caffeine, coffee also boasts of having numerous nutrients and beneficial antioxidants.
Several people love coffee as it helps them stimulate pooping. In fact, research shows that about 29 percent of participants felt the urge to poop within 20 minutes of taking coffee. In this article, you’ll learn why coffee stimulates pooping.
Coffee boasts of being rich in caffeine. Caffeine works as a safe, natural stimulant. It assists a person to stay alert. On average, a single cup of coffee provides about 95 milligrams of caffeine.
Although caffeine is highly effective in boosting energy levels, it also stimulates oneself to poop. In fact, several studies show that caffeine activates contractions in the intestinal muscles and colon. As the colon contracts, its contents are pushed toward the rectum. The rectum is the last section of the digestive tract.
One study shows that by taking caffeine, the colon becomes 23 percent more functional than taking decaf coffee and 60 percent more functional than taking water. Also, research shows that taking decaffeinated coffee can stimulate you to poop. Thus, there’re other compounds in coffee, besides caffeine, that are responsible for this kind of stimulation.
How Does Coffee Simulate You To Poop?
Initially, it was believed that coffee stimulates an individual to poop due to its caffeine content. However, research shows that decaffeinated coffee also does the trick. Thus, there’re other factors that stimulate you to poop.
The key ingredients in coffee that are behind this stimulation are N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides and chlorogenic acids. Studies show that these compounds stimulate the stomach lining to produce stomach acid, which assists in churning food for faster movement through the stomach and intestines.
There’re other factors that explain why coffee makes you poop. Studies show that drinking coffee enhances the functionality of the colon, an action known as gastrocolic reflex. Upon eating, the food activates this reflex. Although coffee isn’t a type of food, it has a similar effect on the bowels like food.
Also, the bowels tend to be more active when waking up than sleeping. Thus, taking coffee in the morning means the bowel movement occurs effortlessly like a coincidence.
The body’s circadian rhythm, which is like an internal clock, assists in regulating many processes, with bowel movements being one of these processes.
With that said, no study has clarified the effect of these coffee ingredients on stimulating the colon. Further research can assist in determining their significance.
Coffee Stimulates Hormones
Studies show that coffees stimulate the hormones that assist in pushing food down the intestines. For instance, coffee increase the level of gastrin. Gastrin is a hormone that stimulates the colon to become more active. Studies show that taking decaffeinated or regular coffee regularly increases the level of gastrin by 1.7 and 2.3 times respectively when compared to taking water.
Also, coffee raises the levels of cholecystokinin, which is a digestive hormone. Basically, cholecystokinin increases food movement through the large intestines. It also enhances gastrocolic reflex.
Cream or Milk Can Enhance Bowel Movements
A freshly brewed cup of coffee is generally free of preservatives and additives. However, many people add sugar, sweeteners, cream, or milk. Cream and milk enhance bowel movement due to their lactose ingredient.
About 65 percent of people around the world have problems with digesting lactose. Individuals who are intolerant of lactose experience symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, or stomach cramps after taking dairy products. Thus, lactose triggers pooping among individuals who are intolerant of lactose.
Does Coffee Trigger Pooping In Everyone?
One study found that 29 percent of participants had an elevated need to go to the bathroom within 20 minutes of taking coffee. About 53 percent of women who took part in this study felt this urge.
Women experience this urge more than men since digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome tend to affect women more than men.
Although the need to go to the bathroom is common after taking coffee, not everyone is affected. Also, it’s not yet clear whether this urge can fade away among regular coffee drinkers.
Older adults and individuals with irritable bowel syndrome are more susceptible to this urge since their bowels experience more sensitivity to coffee.
People who are intolerant of lactose can also suffer a similar urge when they add cream, milk, or any other daily product to their brews.
Conclusion
There’re several compounds found in coffee that can stimulate the bowels. They include N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides, chlorogenic acids, and caffeine. Adding cream or milk to your brew can increase the urge to poop, especially in individuals who are intolerant of lactose.
However, it’s not yet clear which ingredients among them have the most impact. With that said, anyone who’s struggling to poop can consider drinking coffee as a perfect solution.
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