Digestive Issues

Many people found that drinking a cup of coffee in the morning encourages bowel movements. Coffee's laxative properties have been linked to the release of gastrin, a hormone that the stomach produces and which speed up activity in the colon. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that decaffeinated coffee causes a similar reaction.

While peristalsis, the muscle contractions that transport food through your digestive system, is increased by coffee, the substance itself also seems to encourage bowel motions. Given this result, it is not unexpected that high dosages of caffeine may cause some people to develop loose stools or even diarrhea. However, recent studies have shown that some people's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may worsen as a result of consuming caffeinated beverages. Coffee seems to be an example of this condition.