The simple act of drinking coffee or any other beverage in the morning stimulates a defecation reflex known as the gastrocolic reflex. This reflex helps jump-start your bowels whenever you eat or drink. No scientific evidence exists showing that this is why you have a bowel movement after drinking coffee.
Note:While coffee does stimulate bowel movements, it is not recommended as a laxative to relieve constipation. Too much caffeine can dehydrate you, making the constipation worse. If you're a little backed up, chug some water.
While caffeine is a great energy booster, it may also stimulate the urge to poop. Several studies have shown that it can activate contractions in your colon and intestinal muscles ( 4 , 5 ). Contractions in the colon push contents towards the rectum, which is the final section of your digestive tract.
It's possible that the acidity of coffee is the key: Coffee has a compound called chlorogenic acid that triggers higher stomach acid levels and also higher production of gastric acid. It could be that the overall acidity bump makes the stomach dump its contents out more quickly than usual.
Multiple participants of another study said drinking coffee gave them the urge to poop, then went through a similar test. Their colon activity increased within four minutes of drinking unsweetened black coffee, an effect that lasted at least 30 minutes.
According to one study, both caffeinated and decaf coffee3 can increase bowel motility, but another study suggests caffeinated coffee has greater effects. The latter study found caffeinated coffee stimulated colonic movement4 23% more than decaf coffee.
Try natural laxatives that work fast for constipation relief, which include: aloe vera, leafy greens, chia and flax seeds, high fiber fruits, probiotic foods, and coconut water. Also make sure to drink plenty of water/fluids when consuming natural laxatives, since these work with high fiber foods to help soften stool.
"Caffeine is a gastrointestinal stimulant which means that it speeds up peristalsis (muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract)," says registered dietitian Caroline Bletcher. "Therefore it speeds up transit through the bowel, resulting in symptoms such as diarrhoea and stomach cramping."
Drinking lots of water and having a cup of coffee can also help relieve constipation.
For one, caffeine is a stimulant that increases gut motility, or the contraction of the muscles that propel contents in the gastrointestinal tract. This stimulating effect may lead to loose stools or diarrhea, which can contribute to dehydration.
One study showed coffee can increase the need for a bowel movement within 4 minutes of consumption! This is especially troublesome for those with diarrhea-predominant IBS since motility is already faster than it should be. Coffee may therefore worsen symptoms in people with diarrhea-predominant IBS.
Dumping syndrome is a condition in which food, especially food high in sugar, moves from your stomach into your small bowel too quickly after you eat. Sometimes called rapid gastric emptying, dumping syndrome most often occurs as a result of surgery on your stomach or esophagus.
That's because our colon chills out and goes on night mode. When we wake up in the morning, our body signals to our colon that it's time. It starts contracting 3x as strongly as it does while we're sleeping. These contractions move your poop along through your intestines so it can make its way out.
Try a combination of oatmeal and flax meal. Flax meal is ground flax seeds, which are extremely rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. You can further increase the fiber factor by stirring in some raisins. Dried fruit is very high in fiber too.
The foods with the longest time to digest are bacon, beef, lamb, whole milk hard cheese, and nuts. These foods take an average of about 4 hours for your body to digest. The digestion process still occurs even when asleep. Which means our digestive fluids and the acids in our stomach are active.
If a person experiences diarrhea within hours of eating, they may have food poisoning. Symptoms such as diarrhea can occur in as little as a few hours from eating the bad food. It is also possible that a person may have an undiagnosed case of IBS, so they should talk with their doctor if symptoms persist.
Extremely large poops may be the outcome of eating a very large meal or the result of chronic constipation that alters your bowel habits. If you've tried increasing your physical activity and upping fiber and water intake, and your poops still fill the toilet, it's time to talk to your doctor.
Caffeine. Caffeine can increase diarrhea, another major symptom of IBS. High sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate and some over-the-counter pain relievers designed for headache relief — check labels carefully.
Share on Pinterest Causes of explosive diarrhea can include viral infections, bacterial infections, and food allergies. The viruses most often responsible for diarrhea include norovirus, rotavirus, or any number of the viruses that cause viral gastroenteritis. This condition is what many people call the “stomach flu.”
Several studies report that consumption of coffee caused or aggravated symptoms or was a strong predictor of the occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease. A 2021 study in Frontiers of Nutrition found individuals who were drinking coffee weekly or more had greater odds of bowel disease than those who never drank coffee.
Insoluble fiber is the most beneficial for softening stools. It does not dissolve in water and helps food pass more quickly from the stomach to the intestines. Wholewheat flour, nuts, beans, and vegetables, such as cauliflower, green beans, and potatoes all contain insoluble fiber.