Why Does Coffee Act As A Laxative? (video)
Author: Victoria Aly
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
The laxative effect of coffee is observed in one in three people and is not due to the caffeine content.
In addition to the invigorating effect that coffee provides, it has another characteristic property among some - it acts as a laxative .
According to a common theory in the past, the characteristic side effect is due to the caffeine content of the hot beverage, but the laxative properties of coffee are observed even when it is decaffeinated. In addition, it is not typical of energy and some soft drinks, which also contain caffeine .
What is the laxative effect of coffee?
When we consume the refreshing drink, its acidity has an effect on the stomach . It stimulates the secretion of acids in the stomach - digestive compounds that help the body break down proteins .
Coffee also contains the compound chlorogenic acid, which further increases the level of stomach acids. This can lead to a faster passage of gastric contents into the intestines and can be one of the many factors that contribute to the laxative properties of the drink .
Coffee has been shown to affect the movement in the colon about 4 minutes after consumption, similar to the effect of swallowing a hearty meal.
There are nearly 1,000 different compounds in a cup of coffee, and while researchers are sure that even just one of them is the cause, they can't know exactly what affects digestion .
The hormones gastrin and cholecystokinin are released in the body . Consumption of coffee - with or without caffeine, increases their synthesis, which also affects the effect they cause.
Gastrin is a hormone that "activates" peristalsis - contraction and relaxation of muscles, which helps the movement of waste products in the intestine.
Cholecystokinin stimulates the synthesis of digestive enzymes and bile , which regulate the process of defecation .
Curiously, this laxative effect of coffee is observed among one in three people.
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