How a morning cup of coffee gets the bowels moving
Caffeine triggers a process that brings on the urge, says UCI Health gastroenterologist
IN THE NEWS: A morning cup of coffee is notorious for helping with bowel movements. It happens because of something called the gastrocolic reflex.
Dr. Kiran Sachdev, a gastroenterologist with UCI Health, spoke with EatingWell about how caffeine can trigger the process.
“This is where eating or drinking causes a wave of contractions to move stool toward the rectum. Essentially this reflex, which is strongest in the morning, is your body’s internal voice telling you ‘I have to poop!’”
She also talked about why she advises against drinking coffee on an empty stomach.
“Avoid coffee on an empty stomach. It can cause reflux, bloating or diarrhea for some people. It’s best when enjoyed with or right after a meal.”
Sachdev’s clinical interests include esophageal disease, gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders, obesity medicine and integrative health. She sees patients at the UCI Health Chao Digestive Health Institute and the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, part of UCI Health.
She is an associate professor in the UC Irvine School of Medicine Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology.
Make an appointment by calling 888-717-4463.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.