ELI5: Why does coffee make you poop?

Coffee makes you poop because it gets your tummy muscles moving!

Imagine your tummy is like a long, squishy slide for food. When you eat, the food slowly slides down. But sometimes, it needs a little push.

Coffee is like a tiny cheerleader for your tummy, shouting "Move it! Move it!" It does this in a few ways:

• It wakes up your gut. Coffee tells your digestive system, the part of you that breaks down food, to get ready for action. Think of it like turning on a light switch that says "Time to digest!"

• It releases hormones. Your body makes special messengers called hormones. Coffee tells your body to release hormones that make the muscles in your tummy squeeze harder. These hormones are like little helpers pushing the food down the slide faster.

• It might be the acid. Coffee has acid in it, and for some people, this acidity can irritate their tummy and make it want to empty out quicker. It's like if you tickled the slide, it might make the food want to rush down!

• It's sometimes the warmth. Drinking something warm, like coffee, can also encourage your bowels to move. It's like giving the slide a little heat to help things along.