Coffee's bathroom rush: Understanding the caffeine connection
Coffee is a popular choice to start the day. However, doctors warn against excessive consumption, as it can lead to frequent trips to the bathroom.
If you find yourself frequently heading to the bathroom after drinking coffee, it's helpful to understand why this happens and how to prevent it. Coffee, like tea, contains caffeine, which has a diuretic effect and stimulates the digestive system. For some, this can result in unpleasant issues such as diarrhea.
Why do you rush to the bathroom after coffee?
Dr. Hussain Ahmad, a doctor from the UK, explained in an interview with LADbible that many people feel the urge to go to the bathroom after drinking coffee. This includes decaffeinated coffee, which behaves similarly to regular coffee.
He explained that consuming coffee might increase the need to use the bathroom more often, as caffeine activates the colon and speeds up digestion.
Dr. Kenneth Brown from Texas confirmed these observations, adding that coffee can be both a blessing and a curse. While caffeine is effective for relieving constipation, for some people, it can cause diarrhea.
Furthermore, it may stimulate the stomach to produce more acid, potentially causing symptoms such as heartburn or acid reflux, which can lead to discomfort or pain, according to Dr. Brown.
The reason for coffee's effects includes chlorogenic acid and N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides, which naturally occur in coffee and act as laxatives. These compounds increase the water content in the colon and cause contractions of the colon muscle.
How to avoid problems after coffee?
Specialists suggest several ways to avoid too frequent bathroom visits after drinking coffee. Dr. Ahmad recommends avoiding drinking coffee on an empty stomach or experimenting with different kinds of coffee.
Dr. Brown proposes four other methods:
- drinking smaller amounts of coffee at a time, which can help reduce the amount of caffeine and other digestive-disrupting ingredients,
- drinking coffee at different times of the day, as it stimulates the gastrocolic reflex in the morning,
- experimenting with brewing methods, such as cold brew or French press coffee, which may be gentler on the stomach,
- avoiding adding too much cream or sugar, which can upset the stomach, especially if you have irritable bowel syndrome.
