Is it true that coffee aids digestion?

"Caffeine stimulates the gut, increasing muscle contractions, she says, which for many people helps food move through the digestive system at a nice pace before being excreted. If you've got a slightly sluggish digestion, that can be helpful, she says. But for others if you have irritable bowel syndrome, for example it can backfire, speeding things up too much and making digestion uncomfortable."

"Coffee's effects aren't limited to gut motility. Regular consumption has also been linked to better overall gut health. There's growing evidence that habitual coffee drinkers tend to have a different gut microbiome the trillions of microbes that help with digestion and nutrient absorption with more of certain microbes associated with good health. Coffee is one of the main sources of polyphenols in our diets, a group of antioxidant compounds that these microbes feed on. It also contains a small amount of fibre."

"Caffeine has a long half-life it can circulate in the body for up to 12 hours for some people and may disrupt sleep. And poor sleep is related to poor gut health, says Leeming. Grogginess after a bad night's sleep can also trigger less healthy food choices, which can affect our gut health more negatively still. She recommends only drinking caffeinated coffee before noon, and switching to decaf or herbal tea in the afternoon."

Caffeine stimulates gut muscle contractions and can help move food through the digestive system, making it useful for mildly sluggish digestion. For people with irritable bowel syndrome or other sensitivities, caffeine can accelerate motility excessively and cause discomfort. Regular coffee consumption is associated with a different gut microbiome composition and may support overall gut health through polyphenols and a small amount of fibre. Caffeine can remain in the body for up to 12 hours for some individuals and may disrupt sleep; poor sleep negatively affects gut health and food choices. Limiting caffeinated coffee to before noon and switching to decaf or herbal tea later is recommended.

Read at www.theguardian.com