Latest news with #bowel habits
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Slash your risk of bowel and colon cancer with these very surprising foods: They contain the key nutrient proven to help - and which most overlook. Now doctors reveal exactly what to eat
A fibre-rich diet is important for our gut health and helps to keep our bowel habits regular. And more recently, research has suggested it can lower cholesterol, improve heart health, reduce our risk of type 2 diabetes and – because it can help you feel fuller for longer – it's even good for weight management.
Medscape
11-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Balancing Caffeine to Benefit Bowel Function
TOPLINE: Caffeine intake has a U-shaped relationship with chronic constipation, with intakes < 204 mg/d having a laxative effect, whereas higher intake increases risks. However, this does not apply to adults aged 60 years or older, among whom high caffeine intake is linked to a reduced risk for chronic constipation. METHODOLOGY: Researchers explored the association between caffeine intake and bowel habits and the risk for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collected between 2005 and 2010. They included 12,759 participants (10,785 with normal bowel function, 988 with chronic diarrhea, and 986 with chronic constipation). Complete information on caffeine intake (eg, coffee, tea, and energy drinks) was obtained from two 24-hour dietary recall interviews and bowel function using the Bristol Stool Form Scale. IBD status was based on whether a doctor or other health professional had ever diagnosed participants with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. TAKEAWAY: Participants with the highest caffeine intake had a 25% lower risk for chronic constipation than those with the lowest intake. A threshold analysis identified a breakpoint at 204 mg/d. Below this, each additional 100 mg of caffeine reduced the risk for constipation by 18% (P < .0001), whereas above it, each additional 100 mg increased the risk by 6% (P = .0430). The U-shaped relationship was absent in adults aged 60 years or older, in whom high caffeine intake reduced chronic constipation risk. Among high-income individuals, each 100 mg increase in caffeine intake was associated with a 12% increased risk for chronic diarrhea. No significant association was found between caffeine intake and IBD risk. IN PRACTICE: 'Caffeine use in clinical practice needs to be approached strategically, with the right amount of caffeine being consumed according to the defecation status of the population,' the authors of the study wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Xiaoxian Yang, Department of Hepatology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, China. It was published online in the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. LIMITATIONS: Due to the cross-sectional design, this study could not prove if caffeine intake caused gut changes. Recall bias may have affected dietary data, and bowel habits were self-reported. Only a limited number of participants had IBD. DISCLOSURES: The study received no funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
