According to a recent clinical study, coffee has been discovered to have beneficial effects on digestion and the gut, as well as protect against common digestive issues like gallstones and some liver disorders.
According to an assessment of 194 research papers, moderate coffee use (defined by the EFSA as 3–5 cups per day) did not cause harm to the various organs of the digestive tract.
The findings relating to coffee drinking and a reduced risk of gallstones and the evidence linking coffee consumption with a lower risk of pancreatitis are two areas of particular interest arising from the research, albeit additional research is needed.
1. Coffee is linked to gastric, biliary, and pancreatic secretions, all of which are necessary for food digestion. Coffee has been proven to boost the synthesis of gastrin, a digestive hormone, and hydrochloric acid, a gastric acid component, both of which aid in the digestion of food in the stomach. Coffee also enhances the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that boosts bile production and is linked to indigestion.
2. Coffee consumption has been linked to changes in the composition of the gut microbiota. Coffee drinking was observed to alter the composition of the gut microbiota in the research examined, primarily at the population level of Bifidobacteria, a common gastrointestinal tract inhabitant.
3. Coffee is linked to colon motility, which is the movement of food through the digestive tract. According to the research, coffee may increase colon motility as much as cereals, 23% more than decaffeinated coffee, and 60% more than a glass of water, according to the research, and it may be connected to a lower risk of chronic constipation.
Recent research also supports coffee’s protective effect against liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most common types of liver cancer.
Despite evidence that coffee drinking may aid in the early stages of digestion, the majority of data did not support the conclusion that coffee causes gastro-oesophageal reflux. Instead, other risk factors such as obesity and a poor diet have a combined or additive influence.
Astrid Nehlig, Ph.D., Emeritus Research Director at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, led the new study (INSERM).
According to Nehlig, “Contrary to popular belief, coffee drinking is not associated with bowel or digestive disorders in general. In some cases, coffee can help prevent you from having typical digestive problems like constipation. There may also be a link with enhanced levels of gut bacterial groups such as Bifidobacteria, which have been shown to have beneficial benefits. Although more research is needed to fully comprehend coffee’s effects throughout the digestive tract, this is a very promising start. “
