Why does coffee make us poop? Tip: It probably has nothing to do with caffeine

We all know this feeling of third cup of coffee on a Monday morning. Just when you find yourself in the furrow of work and – oh, brb.

As any coffee lover knows, the most popular drink in the world tends to make us poop. But why is still a bit mysterious. According to a new study presented at Digestive Disease Week, it's less caffeine than the effects of the coffee itself. The ability of coffee to help with bowel movement can come from its relationship with the gut microbiota and its ability to affect smooth muscle contractility, two factors that help us poop on a regular basis. At least, this is the case in rats.

"When the rats were treated with coffee for three days, the contraction capacity of the small bowel muscles apparently increased," said lead author Xuan-Zheng Shi, of the medical branch of the University of Texas, in a statement. "It's interesting to note that these effects are independent of caffeine, because caffeine-free coffee has had effects similar to those of regular coffee."

To reach their conclusion, the researchers dissolved 100% Arabica coffee powder in hot water and exposed it to rat poop and then placed it in boxes of Petri. When they were exposed to 1.5% coffee, they found that the growth of bacteria and other microbes in the feces was inhibited. This growth was even weaker with a solution of 3%. Although the overall bacterial count has decreased after being fed coffee for three days, it is unclear whether these changes affect "good" or "bad" bacteria. In another study, it was shown that the ingestion of coffee allowed the rats to better contract the muscles of the intestines and colon, two essential functions for a healthy poop.

Interestingly, decaffeinated coffee had a similar effect, which led researchers to believe that the level of caffeine had little to do with helping us make a decision.

The researchers note that their findings may indicate that coffee may be a good alternative for treating constipation after surgery, particularly ileus, a condition in which the intestines stop functioning, especially after abdominal surgery. A 2012 study found that patients who had recently undergone colon surgery were able to more quickly find normal bowel function when they drank coffee instead of water, and several other studies have highlighted its many health benefits, including improved liver function. to endure a longer life. However, a number of negative health impacts must also be taken into account, including insomnia, nervousness, irritability and even an increased risk of underweight at birth in pregnant women who drink caffeine.

Of course, the study was conducted on rats and researchers quickly indicated that further research was needed to determine whether the same effects were valid for humans.