According to a study by the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, black tea can be used in treating gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation and diarrhea.
So does black tea make you poop?
If you are a tea drinker, you may have noticed that after you take your cup of black tea, you feel like visiting the bathroom after some minutes.
For some people, they cannot even answer the call of nature without taking a cup of hot black tea. So, what is it about black tea that forces you to poop?
And does black tea deal with constipation?
Understanding constipation
According to Mayo Clinic, if you have less than three bowel movements in a week, then you may be suffering from constipation. The stool gets hard since it is not moving, and it becomes more difficult to pass it.
Constipation involves irregular bowel movements that could go on for weeks. If you are also having challenges passing stool for weeks or longer, then you may be suffering from constipation.
People having constipation can experience a bloated stomach, and for the chronic cases, they can have problems doing their daily tasks.
As a rule, even when you are not constipated, it is recommended that you should take a lot of fluids to keep your body hydrated. That will help protect you from constipation.
If you are already suffering from constipation, drinking a lot of fluids, especially water, can help loosen the stool and deal with constipation. Hydration also helps to lubricate your intestines, facilitating an effortless passage of stool.
Additionally, black tea and other alcoholic drinks can also be used in dealing with constipation.
However, note that black tea can be a cause of constipation itself, and you should, therefore, be cautious while using it. Black tea is a diuretic, and when you take it, you urinate regularly. As such, if you do not hydrate yourself by drinking a lot of water, you may end up suffering from constipation.
So, how does black tea treat constipation or make you poop?
If you take it hot, black tea and any other hot drinks work as a vasodilator. As such, it widens the blood vessels that are involved with the digestive system. Thus, there are more gastrointestinal activities that involve digestion of the food that you take, absorption, and the excretion of waste from the body.
A hot beverage will also facilitate the contraction and relaxation of the digestive tract, which allows stools to pass through without much resistance.
Black tea is diuretic. Thus, taking black tea increases the quantity of water lost from your body through regular urination. As such, if you do not take a lot of water, you may become dehydrated, which can lead to constipation.
On the other hand, you can decide to drink a lot of water, which will not only hydrate your body but will also lubricate your intestines and loosen the stools. Thus, you can have an effortless elimination of waste.
Black tea contains caffeine that increases peristalsis. Peristalsis is a natural movement in the intestines that moves food in the stomach. The wave-like movement helps in the process of digestion and elimination of waste. When you take caffeine, the movement is enhanced.
Caffeine increases the sphincter pressure, thereby improving peristalsis and makes you feel like visiting the bathroom after taking tea. The caffeine also contains laxative properties that also help to deal with constipation. To add on the laxative properties of black tea, you can add other products with laxative properties such as honey, and so on.
There you have it if you were wondering, ”Why does tea make me poop?” now you know why.
It is worth mentioning that you should not use caffeine to relieve a child less than one year of constipation. Instead, consult your physician.
Also, if constipation continues for weeks even after you have taken black tea and other liquids, seek the help of a doctor.
How do you prevent constipation in the future?
- Take a lot of water and other fluids so that you do not become dehydrated.
- Ensure that you eat a balanced diet rich with high fiber foods. These include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
- Physical exercises such as jogging, swimming, walking, and aerobics are essential in keeping your body generally healthy.
Tips to deal with health issues associated with black tea
Apart from drinking black tea to deal with constipation, proper use of black tea can also help in dealing with the following issues:
Iron deficiency
Black tea contains a compound known as tannin. Tannin inhibits the absorption of iron into your body. If you suffer from iron deficiency, you can enjoy your cup of black tea between meals. For example, you can take a cup of black tea sometimes after lunch and before having your supper.
Anxiety and stress
Overindulgence in the caffeine that is present in black tea can lead to feelings of restlessness, stress, irritability, anxiety, and so on.
Black tea, in particular, has higher caffeine content than green and white tea since it takes longer to steep. The more the tea steeps, the higher the caffeine content.
If you notice that you are getting irritated or jittery each time you have a cup of black coffee, that might be a sign that you need to cut down on your intake.
You can also decide to use decaffeinated tea.
Disruptive sleep
As we have mentioned, black tea contains high levels of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that naturally keeps you alert and gives you the energy to face the day.
As such, if you take black tea at night, it will keep you alert, and you may not get sleep.
You should, therefore, avoid black tea at night or opt for decaffeinated tea.
Final thoughts
So does black tea make you poop? Yes, it does.
For starters, note that black tea can cause dehydration and constipation as it is diuretic.
On the other hand, black tea stimulates the sphincter enhancing peristalsis, which improves digestion and elimination of waste. Also, taking hot black tea enhances contraction and relaxation of the digestive tract causing movement of stool for removal. So, take lot’s of fluids in addition to your cup of black tea to ease constipation.
