Coffee is one of the beverages that many people can’t start their day without consuming. The aroma and bold flavor are quite energizing to many. But it might have a certain effect on people suffering from IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Often I get questions like Can coffee cause IBS or flare up the symptoms. Well, to answer that, I would like to briefly explain what IBS is and whether coffee can affect people suffering from IBS.
What is IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
IBS is a condition of the gastrointestinal system, where there is unexplained abdominal pain and is associated with a change in bowel habits. It is of two types, constipation and diarrhea-predominant, where the stool consistency changes to constipated or diarrheal (loose) type respectable during the attack or flare. Often it can be mixed type as well. IBS is a functional disorder, in the sense that, no diagnostic test can confirm the condition, and diagnosis is done based on the symptoms.
Can coffee cause IBS?
Certain food products serve as a trigger for IBS. Is coffee one of them? Well, coffee can affect people with different subtypes of IBS differently. Coffee with or without caffeine can increase gastrointestinal motility and result in diarrhea in normal individuals if consumed in excess. Now imagine, people having Diarrhea predominant IBS, whose intestinal motility is already increased. With consumption of coffee, it might bump up the motility aggravating the symptoms.
However, it does not hold validity for all people suffering from IBS as only 26% of people suffering from IBS usually report worsening of symptoms. So, it varies from person to person. Whether coffee suits your IBS condition can only be determined by you. But if have IBS and is a caffeine-head as well, you may like to take a look into the following recommendation for coffee intake in IBS put forward by multiple scientific and nutritional guidelines:
- Limit your coffee or caffeine intake to a max of 400mg a day
- Reduce amount based on symptoms
- Stop consuming if unable to tolerate at all
As I have already mentioned, the majority can tolerate coffee in IBS, but the amount should be individualized based on tolerability.
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