That first eye-opening sip of your favorite cup of coffee can be a blessing or curse. For many people, having their cup of coffee in the morning means they'll need to head straight to the restroom shortly after. Is your coffee to blame? If you find yourself shying away from coffee in the morning because coffee makes you poop, you'll want to continue reading to learn just what could be the cause.

Coffee Makes Me Poop: What Causes It?

There have been many studies done to determine just what it is in coffee that sends most people running for the nearest bathroom after that first cup. While it is still undetermined what the actual cause is, some things that might contribute to it include:
1

Caffeine content

The caffeine contained in coffee can be one of the factors that cause you to have to poop. Coffee can stimulate bowel movement because it causes the colonic muscles to begin working. It is also believed that an increase in peristalsis reduces the time the colon has to perform all its functions. One of the main functions of the colon is to absorb water from the bowels, when this isn't performed, you end up with looser stool. The additives you mix in your coffee, like milk, cream or sugar, can also be the culprit since some of these items can cause diarrhea.

2

Gastrin and cholecystokinin

Gastrin and Cholecystokinin are two chemicals found naturally in coffee. If you are one of the people that say "coffee makes me poop", it could be because of these two chemicals. These chemicals get absorbed through the blood and are distributed to the brain and colon. Once it reaches the colon, typically within 20 minutes, it stimulates bowel movement which can give you the urge to poop.

3

Magnesium

The magnesium in coffee can also be to blame. The high magnesium content in coffee is known to make people go to the bathroom more often.

Who Are More Prone to Poop After Drinking Coffee?

You have known the answer to "why coffee makes me poop", then you may wonder about this question. Over a fourth of the people who drink coffee have admitted that soon after their first cup, they need to poop. While this affects both men and women, women are more likely to have the urge to poop after drinking coffee than men.

Individuals who have irritable bowel syndrome or irritable bowel disease are more likely to feel the consequences of coffees laxative effects. Additionally, the caffeine in coffee can also irritate those who have acid reflux, ulcers in the stomach or those who have other gastrointestinal conditions.

Is It Healthy to Drink Coffee for This Purpose?

You may be wonder if you should be concerned about continuing to drinking coffee if you feel the urge to always poop after drinking it. Drinking no more than 16 ounces of coffee a day can help stimulate bowel movement, which is not necessarily bad for you. Consuming more than this amount on a regular basis can, however, have negative effects. Drinking an excessive amount of coffee can lead to too much calcium and magnesium, not to be excreted from the body. When this occurs, you can experience hypertension or anxiety.

Coffee can also have a negative impact on your sleep. It typically takes the body 10 hours to remove the caffeine from it, which can keep you from getting the proper amount of sleep each night. While the first initial cup of coffee can cause you to have to poop, it is actually a diuretic. It increases the removal of liquid from your stool, which can make it more difficult for the stool to pass.

If you constantly say "coffee makes me poop", you want to consider the amount of dietary fiber you consume each day, as well as ensure you get the proper water your body needs. To promote more healthy bowel movements, exercise regularly and reduce stress.

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