Whether you are an avid coffee drinker or not, you must be, at least once, wondering why coffee sometimes makes you poop, and more importantly, how to stop coffee from making you poop?
For most people, coffee is the obvious choice in the morning as a pick-me-up beverage. Additionally, it provides you with natural antioxidants.
In fact, some people cannot properly function until they have their morning cup of coffee. The problem is, usually, you will find yourself in the restroom a few minutes following your morning coffee ritual. Tell me about it!
A study launched in 1990 showed that 29% of attendants said that they make at least one visit to the toilet after drinking coffee.
So keep scrolling, and you will find out how to stop coffee from making you poop.
Why Does Coffee Make You Want To Poop?
This situation doesn’t happen to everyone. So if coffee doesn’t affect your poop habit at all, that’s so lucky of you. However, for some, there is a strong connection between coffee and morning poop. But, what is in coffee that gives you an instant desire to hit the bathroom?
Caffeine. Since coffee is the most common caffeine drink, people automatically assume that caffeine is the stimulant that encourages your colonic activity.
But that is just part of the answer. The truth is that caffeine does contribute to the laxative effect of coffee. However, research points out that decaf coffee causes the same reaction to your stomach, just a little weaker, while Coke and other energy drinks don’t. Therefore, some other factors must be at play.
Coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, contains compounds called chlorogenic acids. These acids result in the production of gastrin. This hormone provokes the stomach to produce more digestive acid and create contractions. At the end of the process, you will feel the urge to defecate.
So, to sum up, coffee wakes up your stomach, and it starts contracting. That’s how after consuming coffee, you will rush off to poop.
How To Stop Coffee From Making You Poop?
The simplest answer? Stop drinking coffee! That is way too much of a sacrifice, especially for all the coffee lovers out there.
But seriously, if the situation is too severe and it messes up your lifestyle, then yes, gradually ditching it from your routine will be the best remedy. If it is not so bad, prepare yourself now, and let’s get started!
Control The Acidity Level
As we have mentioned in the previous part, the presence of acids in coffee contributes to your stomach discomfort. The advice is that you could replace your current coffee with a less acidic one.
There are 2 ways to cut back the acidity in your coffee:
The first way is during the handling process. You can dry the coffee beans while they are in the pulp or roast the beans slowly. These techniques help reduce the acidity level of the coffee.
Using coarser grounds instead of fine ones will also help to lessen the laxative effect.
Another way is to go for dark roasts or coffee beans naturally low in acid content. Between the 2 most common beans, Arabica contains less acid than its counterpart, Robusta. It is also said to be tastier and more flavorful.
So the next time you want a cup of coffee, ask the barista to use Arabica beans for your drink.
Go For Decaf Coffee
As caffeine is one of the main factors that loosen your stool, you may want to minimize its intake. The exclusion of caffeine will not solve the problem completely but will have less of an effect on your digestion process.
It would be best if you were wary about the caffeine intake not only because of the diarrhea problem but also for the sake of your health.
A low or moderate amount of caffeine will help you boost your physical and mental performance. High doses of it will be counterproductive. Some unpleasant or even dangerous side effects that you might experience include anxiety, insomnia, and addiction.
If it is too hard to jump right into decaffeinated coffee, slowly lower the caffeine ratio in your drink until it is down to zero.
Half-caffeinated is also a good choice. It is made up of half-regular, half-decaf beans. Drinking a half-caff blend serves the purpose of lowering caffeine consumption without giving up on the flavor.
Read more: Do Frappuccinos have coffee?
Cut Out Additives From Your Shot
If you only feel the desire to poop when you add milk or creamers to your cup, then the culprit may be the dairy products, not the coffee itself.
This situation doesn’t solely occur to people who are lactose intolerant. Every adult with a sensitive stomach or irritable bowel syndrome probably has the same symptom.
If this is the case for you, simply remove these additives and have your coffee black. It will not be easy at first, but you will get used to it over time.
Cannot resist the hankering for sweeteners? Try replacing them with some alternatives. Coconut, almond milk, syrup, and non-dairy creamers will be just fine.
Do Not Drink Coffee On An Empty Stomach
Many people tend to drink coffee first thing in the morning, right after getting up from bed. But consuming a whole cup of coffee with an empty stomach is not advisable at all.
Imagine your stomach as a black canvas. As coffee is digested, it can trigger an instant gastrocolic reflex, leading to the urge to poop.
The best way to have your first cup of coffee of the day is to pair it with a hearty breakfast or at least a snack. From now on, try to fill your stomach with some food first to see if there is any improvement.
Your breakfast should be healthy and stable with some carb and protein, and, of course, without additional caffeine. It not only minimizes the effect of coffee-poop but also gives you the energy to power through the day.
Why This Is Not An Alarming Situation?
First and foremost, we don’t say that people who have severe reactions to coffee or hypersensitive digestive tracts can drink it without concern. They have to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions for good.
Otherwise, you don’t necessarily have to be worried about the pooping-after-coffee situation. This reaction is absolutely normal, and some even consume coffee for its laxative property.
Listening to random myths through the grapevines is up to no good. It is important that you do your research, trust science, and know where to seek help if you notice any awful signs of your body.
The Bottom Lines
With everything we offer above, we hope that now you have figured out the link between coffee and your visit to the oval office every morning and how to stop coffee from making you poop?
If any noticeable symptoms appear, have a visit to the doctor immediately for professional help. You can still enjoy your cup of joe, but always keep your caffeine intake in control because too much of anything is good for nothing.
Last but not least, having a healthy diet is the best way to keep you strong, healthy, and awake in the morning. So that is the ultimate way to go!