Quit Coffee

Effects of Caffeine and Coffee on Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease, & Colitis
The article below is an in-depth review of the current research available about the affects of caffeine and coffee on conditions of the colon, including Crohn's Disease, Colitis, and IBS. It is primarily intended for health care and medical professionals. If you would like to read a summary of the main points in this article, click here.
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The prevalence today of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis among the adult population is linked to causative factors from both stress and diet. Twenty percent of adults are estimated to be suffering from IBS alone with symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and constipation and/or loose stools. Certain foods including: caffeine, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, insoluble fiber, alcohol, chocolate, hot spices, carbonated drinks and foods high in fat can trigger IBS symptoms. 1, 2, 3 Additionally, certain food intolerances may trigger IBS like dairy products and gluten containing grains.

As many as 1.4 million4 people in the United States suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD); a state of intestinal inflammation so severe that the disease interferes with their nutritional status and their ability to absorb nutrients in the intestinal tract. A common characteristic of those suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is a compromised ability to properly digest and absorb necessary nutrients, leading to deficiencies. People suffering from IBS, Crohn’s disease and colitis find that making certain dietary changes can be very helpful to relieve symptoms and prevent recurrence.

Of all the dietary habits that people find difficult to change, coffee drinking is one of the most challenging because it is so entrenched in cultural habits and caffeine addiction.5 Withdrawal symptoms can involve painful headaches, nausea, vomiting, and loose stools.6 People whose health problems would be ameliorated if they gave up coffee can improve their chance for successfully quitting coffee if they have both a satisfying alternative and a method to slowly decrease their caffeine intake to reduce withdrawal symptoms.

The following characteristics of coffee have an adverse effect on the intestinal tract:

* Coffee Stimulates the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract to Overactivity
o Coffee produces a laxative effect in susceptible people through stimulation of rectosigmoid motor activity, as soon as four minutes after drinking. Even modest doses of coffee can have this effect, whether or not the body is ready to dispose of the feces, resulting in loose stools. Studies show that decaffeinated coffee has a similar stimulant effect on the GI tract proving that the laxative effect is not only due to caffeine. 7, 8, 9
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