Diarrhea that always occurs after drinking coffee, not caused by caffeine but by 'this ingredient'

Coffee contains chlorogenic acid, a type of polyphenol. Chlorogenic acid promotes the secretion of gastric acid, which contains digestive enzymes. Therefore, drinking coffee speeds up the digestion process, causing food in the stomach to move to the intestines quickly and promoting bowel movements. Additionally, coffee increases the secretion of the hormone gastrin, which is released from the lower part of the stomach. This stimulates the secretion of gastric acid and pancreatic juice, while also promoting the movement of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, leading to the sensation of needing to defecate.

However, it is not good for people with constipation to excessively drink coffee in order to promote bowel movements. Because when the digestion process speeds up due to coffee components, food may not be properly digested, putting a burden on the stomach. Additionally, substances such as caffeine and fatty acids in coffee can irritate the stomach and cause inflammation.

Every time you drink milk or latte, if you experience stomach pain and diarrhea, you may suspect lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a metabolic disorder where the body cannot digest the lactose found in milk. It occurs when there is a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose. If you have lactose intolerance, undigested lactose draws water into the small intestine, leading to symptoms such as bloating, cramps, and diarrhea. If the intolerance is mild, it is advisable to warm the milk before drinking; if severe, it is best to avoid milk and foods containing milk as much as possible. If you want to drink milk, consuming lactose-free milk, which has the lactose removed, is also an option.

Some people experience diarrhea after drinking beer or makgeolli. This is because the alcohol content in beer and makgeolli irritates the intestinal mucosal villi. The intestinal mucosal villi are responsible for absorbing water and nutrients from food in the intestines, but alcohol impairs this function, resulting in looser stool. Alcohol stimulates the intestines, causing increased intestinal muscle contractions, which leads to stool being expelled before sufficient water absorption occurs. Furthermore, fermented beverages like beer, makgeolli, and wine have higher sugar content than regular alcohol, which more readily induces diarrhea. Some sugars remain in the colon and have the property of retaining water. Additionally, alcohol interferes with the secretion of digestive fluids such as bile, hindering proper digestion of food. Especially in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, who have sensitive intestines, diarrhea after drinking alcohol occurs even more frequently.