Gastroenterologists Reveal How Much Coffee They Drink for a Healthy Gut

Whether it’s a latte or a cappuccino, most of us enjoy a cup of coffee or two in the morning to get us ready for the day ahead.

However, it can occasionally be difficult to digest and can cause problems if too much is consumed. The evidence is though, that coffee in moderation can actually help aid a healthy gut. And gastroenterologists have told Newsweek that they certainly do not cut it out of their diet.

“I drink one cup of coffee in the morning. I am a slow metabolizer of caffeine. More than one cup interferes with my sleep. The evidence we have is that coffee is good for you. In my opinion coffee is good for you as long as it does not interfere with your sleep. People who are ‘fast caffeine metabolizers’ can tolerate more coffee than slow metabolism,” Toufic Kachaamy, interventional program specialist, chief of medicine and director of gastroenterology and endoscopy at City of Hope Phoenix, told Newsweek.

Coffee has been scientifically proven to aid digestion, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). This is because it aids acid production in the stomach and actually works to increase the amount of good bacteria in the intestines.

Compounds found in coffee—such as polyphenols—can also have the same effect as prebiotics, which also aids existing good bacteria.

“I do consume up to 2 cups of decaffeinated coffee a day. Even decaffeinated coffee has been found to have health benefits for the liver, including reducing the risk of chronic liver disease. I avoid the caffeine as this can affect my sleep,” Vincent Ho, a clinical academic gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University, who also goes by the Gut Doctor online, told Newsweek.

Occasionally, too much coffee can have some negative effects on the body. For example, drinking too much of it can cause us to use the restroom more frequently, which can lead to dehydration. If a person becomes very dehydrated, they may become constipated. Coffee has also been linked to indigestion for some people.

James Tabibian, a gastroenterologist at Adventist Health Glendale and professor at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, told Newsweek however, that he does not believe that coffee is detrimental to the digestive system.

“I most certainly drink coffee and don’t believe that it’s bad for the digestive system other than it can worsen or cause gastroesophageal reflux. Decaf coffee is less likely to have this effect,” he said. “There are actually studies that suggest coffee has protective effects on the digestive system health.”