Bowel Blockage & Coffee

Bowel Blockage & Coffee
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Bowel blockage, also known as intestinal obstruction and constipation, can be a painful condition to work through. Coffee may be able to assist with bowel blockage. If you feel you are suffering from this condition, speak with your doctor about treatment and coffee usage.

What Bowel Blockage Is

Bowel blockage is a partial or complete blockage of the bowel that results in the failure of the intestinal contents, including food and fluids, to pass through. Symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, and vomiting. Treat these symptoms quickly to prevent parts of the intestine from dying.

What Causes Bowel Blockage

Fibrous bands of tissue in the abdomen, hernias and tumors can all cause bowel blockage. Adhesions, or scar tissue that forms after surgery, can also cause the intestine to block movement. Gallstones, not enough fiber in the diet, dehydration, milk and irritable bowel syndrome are all known to cause constipation. Speaking with your doctor is the best way to pinpoint what may be causing your bowel blockage.

Coffee Benefits

Coffee seems to offer health benefits, including a reduction in the risk of Type 2 diabetes. According to MayoClinic.com, among coffee drinkers, coffee may be the largest food source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. If you experience side effects to the caffeine in coffee, drink decaf or keep your intake to a moderate amount.

Coffee and Bowel Blockage

Coffee contains 2,000 different components, including micronutrients such as magnesium, potassium, niacin and vitamin E. These components may help with conditions such as gallstones, which cause bowel blockage. Coffee can also loosen stools and help with movement in the colon and intestines. Be cautious with coffee and bowel blockage because liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee, can worsen your symptoms of bowel blockage by causing dehydration. If you have questions, ask your doctor about the correlation between coffee and bowel blockage.

References

Article reviewed by S.C. Ville Last updated on: Jul 5, 2011

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