Just a little pre-note – if this title applies to you and happens on the regular then definitely see a doctor as you could possibly have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). If you do have IBS and have not yet tried the low FODMAP diet then we highly recommend! It has helped many people find relief from diarrhoea symptoms. While each persons ‘triggers’ are very individual and dependant on what their gut is sensitive to, there are some common foods and drinks to be wary of, that aren’t actually high FODMAP!
Here they are:
Caffeine (Coffee)
Coffee is known for getting the average person moving, however for some and particularly those with IBS-D it can get things moving a little too quickly! Caffeine in the form of coffee has been found to rapidly increase rectosigmoid motor activity. If you think of your intestines like a railway line, those last couple of stops are suddenly sped up like a Japanese bullet train.
Alcohol
Don’t be too worried about your casual wines or beers but binge drinking can often result in some less than desirable bowel motions. This is because it effects the motility of the gut and over time with continued excessive drinking it damages the gut bacteria and strength of the intestinal walls. This can really affect overall health.
Fatty Foods
Funnily enough eating fat actually stimulates contractions in the large intestines which may lead to a bathroom stop shortly after eating. In people with IBS however this response can happen for longer and be more exaggerated leading to some very runny bowel movements.
Spicy Foods
You either love them or hate them or love them then hate them the next day. Capsaicin is the active component of spicy foods like chilli and is actually an irritant to our bodies. The burn you get when you rub chilli fingers into your eyes is obvious evidence of this and it has this same affect on our insides. Once eaten the small intestine becomes almost instantly annoyed by the capsaicin and tries to move everything out more quickly. This has a flow on affect to the whole digestive system which leaves no time for the colon’s usual business of absorbing the water from the stool and may cause a quick run to the bathroom in sensitive individuals.
By: Sarah Gulliver
IG: @thegutsydietitian
Image sourced from Pinterest.
References:
Brown, S.R., P.A. Cann, and N.W. Read, Effect of coffee on distal colon function. Gut, 1990. 31(4): p. 450-3.
McKenzie, Y.A., et al., British Dietetic Association systematic review and evidence-based practice guidelines for the dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults (2016 update). J Hum Nutr Diet, 2016. 29(5): p. 549-75.
Monsbakken K, Vandvik P & Farup P (2006) Perceived food intolerance in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome – etiology, prevalence and consequences. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 667–672.