Coffee And Gut Health: Reasons Why Coffee Is Good For Gut Health

For some people, coffee is an important part of their daily routine. It can be a delicious way to start the day or a nice pick-me-up in the afternoon. However, you may be unaware that coffee can have some beneficial effects on gut health.

Coffee has been shown to have a number of gut health benefits, including reducing inflammation, improving digestion, and protecting against gastrointestinal disorders.

Coffee, on the other hand, can have some negative effects on gut health, so it's important to be aware of both the positive and negative effects.

Let's take a closer look at the effects of coffee on gut health. But, before we get there, let's look at the history of coffee.

A brief history of coffee

This history of coffee goes back centuries. It was believed to be found in the year 850 in the region of Kaffa (the name derived from this) of Ethiopia. Once a fruit that ate out of curiosity became a common food among the people of this region because it made them happy and awake after eating this fruit.

Then the grain spread into the Yeman history in the fourteenth century. It is unknown how and who introduced this fruit to Yemen. History says that the old shepherds of Yeman discovered that their goats were more lively and awake after eating coffee leaves and berries. So, they told this incident to some monks in a nearby monastery.

One day, one of the monks started burning some branches of this plant. Without him noticing, some of the grains fell onto the fire. A delicious aroma arose from the fire, attracting the other monks. They withdrew the grains from the fire and ground them to make a better-tasting beverage from this powder. Then this beverage arrived in the Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century. And then it became famous all around the world.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and it's not just because of the taste. Coffee has also been shown to have some potential health benefits, including gut health.

Nowadays, coffee is mixed with other flavors like blueberry, chocolate, caramel, etc., to make it more delicious. Some people also add milk and sugar to their coffee. If you'd like to taste a whole new flavor, we recommend The Best Blueberry Coffee.

Ways that coffee benefits your gut

Several observational studies have shown that coffee consumption can benefit gut health in several ways.

Coffee can improve gut motility

Coffee is known to improve gut motility, or the movement of the bowels, in people with constipation. This could be due to coffee's high caffeine content, which stimulates colonic motor activity. Caffeinated coffee has a similar stimulating effect on the colon as a meal. In fact, it is 60% stronger than water and 23% stronger than decaffeinated coffee.

However, the same stimulating effect can also cause diarrhea in some people as it can stimulate the digestive tract too much. Therefore, if you find that coffee gives you diarrhea, it's best to limit your intake or avoid it altogether.

Coffee can improve gut microbiome

There is some evidence that coffee may benefit the gut microbiome. The consumption of coffee preparations containing green and roasted coffee beans increased the metabolic activity and/or numbers of the Bifidobacterium spp. population, a group of bacteria with reputed beneficial effects.

Another Pubmed study about the effects of coffee consumption on patients with fatty liver and diabetes published in 2020 showed that 12 weeks of consumption of 200 mg/day caffeine plus 200 mg/day chlorogenic acid was effective in reducing weight in patients with NAFLD and diabetes, at least in part through the rise in gut Bifidobacteria.

While these studies provide some evidence that coffee may improve gut health, more research is required to confirm these findings.

Coffee has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti cancer properties

Coffee has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The National Library Of Medicine states that these effects are likely due to the presence of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds in coffee. Polyphenols are known to have many health benefits, including reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, polyphenols can also reduce the risk of cancer by blocking the formation of carcinogens, stopping tumor growth, and inducing apoptosis.

Coffee Helps With Postoperative Ileus

Coffee has been shown to help with postoperative ileus, which is a problem many people experience after surgery.

Coffee consumption is effective and safe for enhancing gastrointestinal function recovery after abdominal surgery. This is great news for those having surgery, as they now know they can drink coffee to help speed up their recovery.

Other health benefits of coffee

In addition to the gut health benefits mentioned above, drinking coffee has also been linked with a number of other health benefits.

These include a decreased risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. Coffee may also help protect against chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, metabolic syndrome, and type-2 diabetes.

Negative effects of coffee on your gut

While coffee has many gut-friendly benefits, it's important to remember that it can also have some negative effects. Specifically, coffee can cause bloating, stomach pain, and diarrhea in some people. Let's look more closely at each of these negative consequences.

Coffee may cause irritable bowel syndrome (Ibs)

Coffee is a beverage that many people have enjoyed for centuries. Drinking coffee may be linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

IBS is a disorder that affects the large intestine and can cause abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. The study found that the odds of coffee drinkers developing IBS were 44% greater than those who never drank coffee. The odds were highest in people who had at least 106.5 mg of caffeine intake per day.

Caffeine is a stimulant that can produce diarrhea in some people with IBS. As a result, caffeine is one of the top five foods that should be avoided if you have this disorder. You should also note that the above study is focused on all caffeine, not just coffee and that other food items and beverages contain this stimulant as well.

Coffee may promote acid reflux and heartburn

Coffee has been shown to promote the development of acid reflux(GERD) and heartburn in some people. A trial completed by John K DiBiase, found that 30 people drinking coffee caused heartburn, regurgitation, and dyspepsia in most participants. The research also looked into the various types of coffee roasting. It discovered that variations in roasting methods did not cause differences in coffee-induced upper gastrointestinal symptoms.

Another study, the Reflexogenic Potential Of Diet Of Patients With Laryngopharyngeal Reflux found that coffee is among the beverages that can trigger heartburn and other symptoms of LPR.

Coffee may trigger leaky gut symptoms

The leaky gut syndrome refers to a disorder in which the intestine lining becomes damaged, allowing bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream. This can lead to several symptoms, including inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune diseases.

Coffee may trigger leaky gut symptoms in some people. Coffee may also damage the gastroduodenal mucosa in habitual high coffee consumers. The same study found that the gastroduodenal mucosa was capable of significant regeneration within 48 hours. However, for some people, coffee may trigger leaky gut symptoms.

This research is important for those who suffer from leaky gut syndrome, as it may help to explain why coffee consumption can worsen their symptoms. If you are a coffee drinker and you experience any gut-related issues, it may be worth considering cutting back on your caffeine intake. If you regularly have issues with your gut, we recommend The Best Supplements For Gut Health.

Other negative effects of coffee

Coffee may cause loss of pregnancy

Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate. Too much caffeine can cause problems with conception and increase the risk of miscarriage. 

A study from the NIH and Ohio State University, Columbus, finds that women who consume more than two caffeinated drinks per day are more likely to miscarry. The same is true for women who drink more than two caffeinated beverages during the first seven weeks of pregnancy.

Caffeine can also cause other problems with pregnancy, such as low birth weight and premature birth. However, not all studies found this association.

It's essential for women trying to conceive or who are pregnant to avoid caffeine as much as possible. This means limiting coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate to no more than one or two servings per day.

Coffee may raise serum lipids levels

A cup of coffee in the morning is something that many people enjoy, but Pubmed suggests that drinking coffee may raise serum lipid levels. According to this study, increases in serum lipids were greater in studies of patients with hyperlipidemia and in trials of caffeinated coffee than in those of decaffeinated coffee. The authors concluded that coffee might have a small but clinically significant effect on serum lipid levels.

This is an important finding, as elevated serum lipid levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. If you are trying to lower your serum lipid levels, it may be best to avoid coffee or at least limit your intake.

Conclusion 

Analyzing all of the above facts, we can conclude that moderate coffee consumption is generally safe if you are a healthy adult. Coffee may benefit the gut microbiome that assists with your digestive tract, protect against chronic diseases, and help in your overall health.

However, there are some people who may need to limit their coffee intake or avoid coffee altogether. These include pregnant women, those with the leaky gut syndrome, those with acid reflux, and those with elevated serum lipid levels. If you fall into any of these groups, it's best to consult with your doctor before making any dietary changes.

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