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Many people find that a morning cup of coffee helps get their
bowels moving.
Coffee’s laxative effect has been attributed to the release of
gastrin, a hormone the stomach produces that speeds up activity in the colon.
What’s more, decaffeinated coffee has been shown to produce a similar response
(19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
However, caffeine itself also seems to stimulate bowel movements
by increasing peristalsis, the contractions that move food through your
digestive tract (21Trusted
Source).
Given this effect, it’s not surprising that large doses of
caffeine may lead to loose stools or even diarrhea in some people.
Although for many years coffee was believed to cause stomach
ulcers, a large study of more than 8,000 people didn’t find any link between
the two (22Trusted
Source).
On the other hand, some studies suggest that caffeinated
beverages may worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in some people.
This seems to be especially true of coffee (23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).
In a small study, when five healthy adults drank caffeinated
water, they experienced a relaxation of the muscle that keeps stomach contents
from moving up into the throat — the hallmark of GERD (25Trusted Source).
Since coffee can have major effects on digestive function, you
may want to cut back on the amount you drink or switch to tea if you experience
any issues.
Summary: Although small
to moderate amounts of coffee can improve gut motility, larger dosages may lead
to loose stools or GERD. Reducing your coffee intake or switching to tea may be
beneficial.
