Energy drinks are popular worldwide and can give you a boost to keep you going throughout the day. However, you would have noticed that sometimes after consumption, you feel the urge to go to the toilet.
Is that can of energy drink the culprit?
Here is a short answer: Generally speaking, energy drinks don’t make you poop, but you may have to visit the restroom a lot if your stomach is quite sensitive.
Caffeine affects bowel movement but it strongly manifests in people who have a low tolerance. Due to their high caffeine content, energy drinks may cause some people to experience laxative effects.
It has been shown that caffeine stimulates the muscles in the colon and intestines, causing people who are sensitive to caffeine to feel the urge to poop. Moderate consumption of energy drinks may prevent this.
Here are the reasons why caffeine can make you go on constant toilet breaks and much more. Keep on reading!
Contents
Common Ingredients of Energy Drinks
There are many different types of energy drinks, but most have some mutual ingredients. Caffeine, vitamins, sugars, and amino acids are commonly found in energy drinks.
Caffeine
In addition to improving alertness and enhancing physical performance, caffeine is one of the most important ingredients in energy drinks.
The caffeine content in energy drinks varies according to the brand in order to suit different energy requirements.
Adenosine cannot enter the brain when caffeine is consumed, making it a natural stimulant. You feel alive and energized the moment you consume your energy drink.
The average caffeine level in energy drinks is between 100mg and 300mg. Something even higher than this level can seriously harm your health.
In addition to stimulating the body’s metabolism, caffeine can cause a wide range of adverse effects.
It has a low pH which means it has an acidic nature. It interferes with hydrochloric acid in the stomach, causing stomach upset and heartburn.
Within 45 minutes or even less, caffeine gets absorbed into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body.
A study revealed that excessive caffeine consumption can cause heart rate decline and can have a negative impact on the health of the heart.
To summarize, excessively consuming caffeine might cause the following side effects:
- Digestive issues
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Highblood pressure
- Bleeding Disorders
- Diarrhea
- Osteoporosis
Sugar
Sugar is the main sweetener in energy drinks. On the other hand, an energy drink contains 41 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving compared to 39 grams in a 12-ounce cola drink.
Sugary drinks of any kind have the potential to cause health problems:
- Weight gain
- Heart disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Mood disorder
- Tooth decay
- Sugar crash
- Skin aging
Amino Acids
Amino acids are vital to your body’s function. It gives you energy during the day so you can face the challenges of life.
A major function of an amino acid is to keep a person’s body’s protein supply full. Here are some of the amino acids commonly found in energy drinks:
| Taurine | Reduces risk of heart diseases, maintains blood sugar levels, supports the functions of CNS, and regulates the immune system |
| Glycine | Improves the quality of sleep, protects the heart, improves cellular growth, and aids in type II Diabetes |
| Choline | Aids in memory regulation, reduces anxiety, improves gene expression, and lowers high blood pressure |
| L-Tyrosine | Boosts neuron communication, builds proteins, improves memory and thinking skills, and helps maintain focus |
| L-Carnitine | Transforms fat into energy, helps in muscle movement, improves heart and brain function, and reduces lactic acid build-up |
Vitamins
Energy Drinks are a blend of several vitamins including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and several Vitamin Bs.
These formulas differ
This table explains how vitamins benefit our bodies in an easy-to-understand way.
| Vitamin A | Improves Vision Regulates Immune System Helps in Reproduction Support Organ Functions |
| Vitamin C | Helps in the development of bones and teeth Boosts Immunity Promotes iron absorption Lowers high blood pressure |
| Vitamin E | Helps in the regeneration of cells Improves reproduction ability Lowers the Risk of Cancer Protects from oxidative stress |
| Vitamin B6 | Boosts metabolism Supports CNS function Improves Cell functioning Helps in the secretion of Neurotransmitters |
| Vitamin B12 | Improves Genetic Expression Helps in making DNA Forms RBCs Keeps neurons healthy |
Can Energy Drink Affect Stomach Function?
You can upset your stomach if you consume too many energy drinks.
You may not get stomach aches from the energy drink itself, but from the ingredients within, especially if you do not moderate your consumption.
There has been a previous discussion about the possibility that energy drinks contain caffeine, which can lead to stomach irritation, indigestion, and heartburn.
Some people could develop gastritis, characterized by symptoms like stomach pain and nausea, even if they don’t experience this side effect.
Additionally, energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine which may overwhelm your digestive system if you consume more than you can handle.
It is possible to suffer from side effects such as insomnia and heart palpitations, from a large intake of energy drinks every day.
A number of other ingredients in energy drinks cause an upset stomach in addition to caffeine.
Some people may experience negative effects, such as vomiting and stomach pain while consuming energy drinks containing guarana and L-carnitine.
For this reason, if you’re sensitive to ingredients in energy drinks, you’d be better off avoiding these drinks and picking up something gentler instead.
If you want to avoid a stomach ache, consume only a tolerable amount of caffeine, watch how much you consume, and avoid doubling up on caffeinated drinks.
More Poop or Constipation?
Energy drinks contain ingredients like caffeine that can affect bowel movements in caffeine-sensitive people. This can either result in more poop or constipation.
Caffeine is a diuretic, which can cause dehydration due to its high content in energy drinks. Constipation can be caused by dehydration, so you should drink water rather than energy drinks to promote bowel movements.
The following are some safe and effective ways to relieve yourself if you are constipated:
- A healthy diet, which includes fruits such as figs, bananas, apples, and pears, is essential. The fiber and water in these fruits will help bulk up your stool and allow it to pass through your colon more easily.
- Salads, legumes, and broccoli are all good sources of vegetables.
- Keep your body hydrated by drinking approximately 6-8 glasses of water daily.
Are Energy Drinks Laxatives?
Caffeine may also be found in energy drinks, sodas, and other types of tea, kombucha included. There is no evidence, however, that they have the same laxative effect as coffee.
But Caffeine is a stimulant, and one of its effects is to promote gut movement or the movement of muscles that move gastrointestinal contents. This invigorating impact may cause diarrhea or loose stools, which may lead to dehydration.
Can Caffeine In Energy Drinks Upset Your Stomach?
Caffeine in excess may also cause stomach distress. Sweating, nausea, and vomiting are some of the side effects of drinking energy drinks.
There’s so much caffeine and extra vitamins in there that the labels advise you not to drink more than one a day. Just one cup of coffee has enough caffeine to significantly alter a person’s digestive processes.
Do Celsius Energy Drink Make You Poop?
Even though energy drinks like Celsius don’t have a laxative impact on the vast majority of consumers, some with sensitive stomachs may find that they need to use the restroom more often after consuming them due to the ingredients.
It’s also possible for your digestive tract to get overwhelmed by a diet high in Celsius. Temperatures in the Celsius range are excellent for boosting energy levels, but they may also increase the need to relieve oneself.
How To Cure An Upset Stomach?
It’s recommended that you drink clear liquids until you feel better when you have an upset stomach. You can rehydrate your body with water because it contains electrolytes, which are free of additional ingredients.
Furthermore, water is generally good for your health, and it has little risk of causing stomach pain.
Studies also show that ginger has many benefits for treating certain types of upset stomachs.
Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory that comes in many forms, all of which can be helpful. Some people prefer ginger in the form of chews and supplements, whereas others prefer ginger in a beverage.
Energy Drink Recommendations
Here are some of my favorite brands that you can check out!
Other Notable Mentions
Conclusion
Energy drinks can upset the balance of your stomach, and this is not only due to their caffeine content.
They usually have a lot of vitamins and minerals that can cause an upset stomach if not taken in the right amounts. To compensate, I’d recommend drinking energy drinks within your own personal limits.
Don’t drink a full can if you feel that you’re not cut out for it, just consume it on your own safe terms.