Carlos Solis
Many people reach for a cup of coffee after a big meal. That can work for some—but it isn’t always a good idea for everyone.
How coffee affects the gut
Coffee stimulates the gut by increasing muscle contractions. For many people, that helps move food through the digestive tract at a comfortable pace before it leaves the body. If digestion is a little slow, this effect can be helpful.
In people with irritable bowel syndrome, though, that same stimulation can backfire: pushing food through too quickly causes discomfort and worsens symptoms.
Effects on the microbiome and nutrition
Coffee’s effects go beyond gut motility. Regular coffee consumption is associated with differences in the microbiome, the community of trillions of microorganisms that help digest food and absorb nutrients. Habitual coffee drinkers often have higher levels of certain microbes linked with better health.
Coffee is a major source of polyphenols in many diets, a group of antioxidant compounds that feed beneficial microbes. Coffee also contains a small amount of fiber.
When you drink it matters
Caffeine has a long half-life — in some people it can stay in the body for up to 12 hours and interfere with sleep. Poor sleep contributes to worse gut health, and daytime tiredness after a bad night often leads to less healthy food choices that further harm the microbiome.
Doctors recommend drinking caffeinated coffee only until noon and switching to decaf coffee or herbal tea in the afternoon.
From The Guardian
