Why Does Beer Make Me Poop?

Why does Beer make me poop?

In this article, we will answer Why Does Beer make you poop after drinking and show you the science behind those frequent runs. This article will also show how you can ease hangovers.

Beer is known for troubling you with DADS(Day-after-drink-stools). There could be 4 main reasons as to why this happens to you.

Ethanol in beer increases the acid in your stomach that damages the mucosa of your intestines causing gut inflammation. Inflammation meddles with the absorption of nutrients from your digestive tract. All these sets in diarrhea and you experience frequent runs.

Alcohol in the beer decreases the vasopressin release in the blood. The reduction in the release of this antidiuretic hormone decreases the water reabsorption by the collecting ducts of your kidneys, hence, increasing the amount of water in your stool and urine.

Dehydration occurs as a result of increased urination. This leads to constipation in some people.

Alcohol in your beer also increases Gut motility. This means that the contents of your gut move quickly down the digestive tract than usual without getting proper time for adequate absorption. This explains the basis for watery stools and frequent urination.

Beer has a relatively larger amount of sugar than other forms of alcohol. With the gut motility increased due to the alcohol, a large amount of sugar in beer rapidly moves to the colon of your large intestine with no prior digestion in the stomach. This propels the bacteria in your colon to ferment the sugars resulting in gas, cramps, and diarrhea.

How much alcohol does Beer have?

Beer typically has 4-8% ABV (Alcohol By Volume). The ABV in beers varies largely, depending on the brewing process. The ABV value varies from 4-8% typically. However, 5-6 % is considered the standard for most beers in the US. Craft beers contain a relatively higher ABV, that is, 12% approximately.

Drinking When You Have Digestive problems

People suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drink the same amount of alcohol as anyone else in the US. But alcohol can provoke a rather severe response from their bodies. This includes

Diarrhea
Abdominal pain and cramps
Blood in stool

Types of IBD include Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis.

According to a 2002 study, chronic alcohol consumption can damage the mucosa permanently resulting in a condition called a leaky gut syndrome. It also hinders the stomach’s ability to fight bad bacteria.

Other FAQs about Beer which you may be interested in.

How long is beer good after the expiration date?

How to flavor beer?

Does root beer have alcohol?

How to prevent it?

To prevent the severe effects of drinking, It is important t take into account what you eat before and after drinking

What to eat before drinking

Never drink on an empty stomach. Always eat a balanced meal rich in Fibre before drinking. This includes eating whole grains, bananas, rice, or chicken. Food slows down the gut motility. Keep yourself hydrated because alcohol is going to deprive you of a lot of water and nutrients. If you do not have the time to allow yourself a proper meal then opt for fiber supplements.

What to eat after drinking?

You are going to lose a lot of water and electrolytes due to diarrhea after drinking. To avoid weakness due to severe dehydration, you should always hydrate yourself. Do not drink coffee. Caffeine is an antidiuretic and It will only worsen your diarrhea.

The crux is to stay hydrated at all times: before, during, and after drinking to buffer the effects of diarrhea. And avoiding spicy, dairy, fried, and caffeinated beverages while drinking. Salt and spices add to the bloating and acid reflux you experience during a hangover.

In addition to that, you should always consider the following to benefit you in the longer run

Drink in Moderation

Have self-control and drink only a decent amount to avoid upsetting your digestive system. Generally, 12 ounces of beer is considered a decent amount. Go easy and take breaks and hydrate yourself before you gulp down another glass of beer.

Switch to a different alcohol

People suffering from gluten intolerance might suffer severe consequences of drinking beer since beer is fermented barley and barley has gluten. So you might want to switch to different alcohol like wine or liquor to see If your body adjusts accordingly or not.

Some people are allergic to the tannins in wine so it is not always the solution but you will not know unless you give it a try.

When to see a doctor?

DADS should be gone within 24-48 after drinking. However, If the situation lasts longer than that, you should see your doctor. He may suggest taking antidiarrheal medications like Imodium A-D or Pepto-Bismol.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered why Does Beer makes you poop after drinking and showed you the science behind those frequent runs. This article also showed how you can ease a hangover.