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Why does Coffee make you Poop? Top four Reasons

Dave Carter

Published: August 13, 2021

Last updated: November 23, 2022

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with an estimated 2.25 billion cups consumed every day. It is also a powerful laxative that makes many people poop more than usual. Why does coffee make you poop? The answer to this question has some science behind it. Many factors might contribute to your experience with coffee, such as how often you drink it and what type of beans are used, so there is no way to know for sure how the coffee will affect everyone who drinks it. 

However, there are more benefits you can derive from enjoying your favorite cup of coffee! Taking your coffee moderately will ensure you do not get to have frequent bowel movements! This article will look at the leading causes for increased pooping and frequent urination after several cups of Joe - let’s dive right in!

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Why does coffee make you poop?

Top Reasons Why does coffee make you poop

You know that feeling that gets us when we drink coffee? The one where your stomach starts to give you a bit of a warning signal, because it knows the caffeine is going to make things rather interesting in a short period of time? Well, my friends, I have news for you. That stomach sensation is actually an indication from your body that it needs to poop! After drinking coffee, many people experience symptoms such as increased bowel movements and stomach discomfort.

This means that not only does coffee make you poop but also coffee does make you diarrhea. So next time your tummy starts acting up after drinking coffee don't worry- just head over the nearest toilet and let everything come out the way it needs to! Also, if you are bloated, coffee helps make poop come out! So, why does coffee make you poop?

Below are some of the reasons for your pooping!

  • Acidity

Coffee makes you poop because of its acidity. The acids in coffee make your stomach produce more gastric juices which causes the colon to release gas, making you poop or have some rather unpleasant sensations. The stomach and intestines contain a layer of mucus that is extremely sensitive to changes in pH and any triggers will urge you to poop. When coffee enters the body, it disrupts this delicate balance. The acidity causes enough inflammation on its own but when we drink water with our coffee, the caffeine helps your brain to block receptors from sending messages to your bowel muscles telling them you want to shit your poop out.

  • High Caffeine Content

Coffee contains more than double the amount of caffeine as chocolate milk drinks such as chocapic. Who knew that coffee can be a laxative? Scientists have found out about this fascinating relationship between caffeine and bowel movements. The idea is when your body digests the caffeinated drink, it releases something called methylxanthines which stimulates nerve cells in your colon to contract. This let’s our stomach have bowel movements that make us poop!

  • Hormones

Many people have a lot of questions about how coffee affects your hormones. A study was carried out which proves that one thing to consider is that caffeine can cause your adrenaline hormone to increase, which helps your body to go into a "fight or flight" mode and causes constipation because it slows down digestion rate. However, this doesn't mean you need to stop drinking coffee altogether if you don't want more coffee poops in the toilet!

  • Milk or Cream

A small amount of your coffee with milk or cream in it, will not lead to an instant bowel movement. However the more dairy products you consume through drinking coffee or take food with too much carbs, this is when let down occurs which could cause your frequent constipation as well as diarrhea or “coffee poops” due to lactose intolerance if consumed often enough

Is Coffee a diuretic?

Is Coffee a Diuretic Guide

So, is coffee a diuretic? Yes, coffee is a diuretic. This means that coffee makes us poop and gives you the urge to pee more than usual. Don't be surprised if you have to run to the bathroom soon after drinking your first cup of coffee! Coffee also causes water retention, which can lead to bloating and weight gain. If you're trying to lose weight but still need your morning caffeine fix, there are ways around this: try decaf coffee or an iced coffee instead (which has less sugar).

But all in all, if your goal is to drink less fluid so as not to retain water, then I would say avoid anything containing caffeine altogether. If you're not getting enough water in your diet, caffeine can act as a diuretic. It dehydrates the body so that it needs to urinate more often and expel liquids through other routes - like from your bowel system! It is difficult to isolate effects of a single element from other minerals, vitamins, herbs, etc., but here are some factors and how they may affect your body:

  • Water content:

The reason why you often hear about coffee’s dehydrating you is because it has caffeine that acts as a diuretic. However, when compared with many other caffeinated beverages such as tea, soda pops or energy drinks which normally contain less than 100mg per serving and have very little water content. The type of food you take will also affect your water body water levels.

  • Carbohydrates, sugar and cream added

The sweeteners in coffee contribute to fluid retention. However, it is not only the sugar but also what it is made of that makes a difference in its diuretic effect in addition to how much caffeine one consumes.

  • Caffeinated or Decaffeinated coffees:

Studies show that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may increase your urine output by as much as 30%. It does not mean these drinks are diuretics, even though it appears so according to this numerical data.

Is Coffee a laxative?

Is Coffee a laxative Facts

Coffee enthusiasts will say the drink is not laxative or diuretic while others may argue that it is. So, is coffee a laxative? Despite what you may have heard, there is no scientific evidence that supports coffee being an actual laxative especially for long-term use. In fact, the evidence suggests that coffee may even delay bowel movements in some people. 

A study done shows coffee is a laxative because it contains caffeine which will stimulate the gastrointestinal tract by increasing intestinal contractions and stimulation to induce defecation. This leads you toward thinking that coffee’s diuretic since it causes frequent evacuation of the bowels, thus more urination due to the need for water.

10 Best Coffee Machines

The Best Coffee Machines that You Can Buy Online.
Extensively Reviewed by a Coffee-Enthusiastic.

The Best Coffee Machine Reviews

Conclusion

We hope we have answered the “why does coffee make you poop” question! The good news is that there are many ways to get the benefits of coffee without needing to be concerned about a pesky side effect. If you are already hooked on your daily cup, we recommend switching to decaf or trying instant espresso instead of traditional brewed coffee (hint: coffee tastes especially tasty by using one of the 10 best small coffee machines outlined here). You can also enjoy some caffeine-free herbal tea in place of breakfast for an energy boost in the morning and throughout the day!

Dave Carter

As a coffee enthusiastic Dave share with you his latest and greatest coffee news and insights. He es always interested in trying out new things about the best bean of the world!

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