The best day starts after we have our first poop early in the morning. So, making sure your digestive system is in full swing is a requirement for a healthy stomach.
Quick Answer: Yes, energy drinks can make you poop when overconsumed.
Energy drinks in general may trigger a bowel movement when overconsumed. Excessive caffeine can impact the digestive system resulting in diarrhea and other side effects.
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Why do energy drinks make you poop?
Energy drinks can make you poop due to caffeine and sugar.
While caffeine is an effective energy booster, it activates the colon which urges you to poop. Studies have shown that it triggers contraction in the colon and intestinal muscles which pushes the bowel out.
In addition, caffeine makes the colon 60% more active compared to water. This pushes the food to the rectum quickly and urges you to poop.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the limit of daily intake of caffeine is 400 mg. Exceeding the limit can result in toxic effects such as headaches, palpitations, and diarrhea.
Moreover, sugar can stimulate the gut to release water and electrolytes resulting in bowel movements. Ingesting too much sugar may trigger diarrhea.
Also, some of the components in energy drinks that may give you runs are artificial sweeteners like xylitol and mannitol.
On a side note, ingesting 40 to 80 grams of fructose a day may also result in diarrhea. That said, the fix is to go easy on energy drinks to avoid a bad stomach.
Are energy drinks laxatives?
Energy drinks are not laxatives – there is no research proving their laxative effect.
Laxatives are used for treating constipation. Constipation can be due to a deficiency in high-fiber foods or eating too much sugary sweets.
To help you understand better why energy drinks may not be considered a laxative, refer to the table below.
| Types of Laxatives | Descriptions |
| bulk-forming | absorbs liquid in the intestine and swells to form a soft and bulk stool |
| osmotic | pull water from the surrounding tissues resulting in softer stool |
| stimulant | increase the muscle contraction to move the stool mass easily |
Although energy drinks may induce a laxative effect, you can’t consider them laxatives because it is not a prescribed treatment for constipation.
Can energy drinks damage your stomach?
Excessive and regular consumption of energy drinks may damage your stomach.
Overconsumption of energy drinks may cause you to develop gastritis. As a result, this can lead to symptoms like inflammation in the gut, ulcers, discomfort, and bleeding.
Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine which make the stomach produce more acids to compensate for it. The seemingly high production of acids causes heartburn and damages the stomach lining.
In addition, too much caffeine may also overwhelm the digestive system which can lead to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and sweating.
Can energy drinks make you poop blood?
Energy drinks do not cause you to poop blood unless you’re suffering from hemorrhoids or fissures.
Hemorrhoids are similar to varicose veins which develop in your anus and lower rectum. This happens due to certain factors like straining during bowel movements and sitting in the toilet for a longer period.
On the other hand, a fissure is caused by damage in the anus lining or anus canal which may be due to constipation or persistent diarrhea.
That said, if you’re suffering from these conditions, it’s likely you’ll notice blood on your poop when you have your runs.
However, if you’re relatively healthy and is consuming energy drinks in moderation, your excrement should look normal.
Do energy drinks make your poop smell?
It’s quite normal for your poop to have a distinct smell. Moderate consumption of energy drinks is unlikely to make your poop smell.
Foods that are high in sulfur such as meat, dairy, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables make your poop smelly.
Also, giardiasis is an infection caused by a parasite called giardia. It causes diarrhea with symptoms such as foul-smelling stool.
If you’re curious to know what your stool says about your health, the video below explains it!
Do energy drinks make you pee and poop more?
Energy drinks will make you pee and excessive consumption may also cause you to poop.
Frequent urination is due to the diuretic effect of caffeine, one of the main components in energy drinks. Caffeine increases the blood flow in the kidney, and in turn, spurs the release of more water through urination.
Moreover, energy drinks may cause you to poop more if you’re sensitive to some ingredients. Also, when you had too many servings in one go. Diarrhea is a symptom of caffeine overdose!
In a Nutshell
Moderate consumption of energy drinks is acceptable. As long as you’re healthy and are consuming the right amount there is no need to worry.
It could trigger digestive issues if overconsumed. It is a wise idea to stop consuming energy drinks if you’re currently experiencing some stomach problems – it’s going to force you to keep going to the bathroom back and forth!
So, if you want a healthy digestive system, be sure to eat healthily and limit your energy drink consumption!