The Real Reason Coffee Makes You Need To Use The Bathroom More Often

Coffee enthusiasts are probably aware of what happens after they’ve had their fix. According to WebMD, they become more alert. They may also become jittery, depending on how much they’ve consumed. And then there’s the pressing need to use the restroom, which they can only hope does not occur in the wrong location or at the wrong time.

Before you curse your coffee habit and wonder if it’s time to switch to tea, keep in mind that the substance causing your bathroom urge isn’t the coffee itself, but something in it — and that substance is caffeine. While the caffeine content of coffee varies from 60 milligrammes per teaspoon instant to 150-200 milligrammes per cup brewed or shot espresso, caffeine is also found in other foods and beverages such as black tea and chocolate, according to Norman Urology.

As a result, while giving up coffee in favour of tea may reduce your caffeine intake, it may not be enough to keep you from spending a lot of time in the bathroom. Particularly if you’re drinking more tea in order to get the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.

However, why does caffeine cause those unscheduled bathroom visits? Caffeine does more than provide an energy boost. Additionally, it affects your bladder, which stores fluid that your body must expel. According to medical experts, caffeine stimulates the detrusor muscle in the bladder specifically. Simultaneously, it signals your brain that it is time to use the restroom in order to avoid an accident.

Caffeine, according to Rena Malik, a urologist and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is “It is a bladder irritant, and when the bladder becomes irritated, it contracts. This contraction is what gives you the sensation of what we urologists refer to as ‘urgency,’ which is the sudden, unavoidable desire to use the restroom.” This is one of the primary reasons that many experts, such as those at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, advise people to cut back on their caffeine consumption.

If your bathroom urges become too strong after drinking coffee, you may want to consider cutting back. However, many experts advise against cold turkey quitting. St Joseph’s recommends halving your daily coffee consumption for a one- or two-week period. Caffeine addicts may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches when attempting to quit what Norman Urology refers to as the world’s most popular drug, but gradually tapering off can help avoid them.

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