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, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).