Why does the body 'like' to defecate in the morning?

Most people tend to have bowel movements in the morning, especially within 30-60 minutes of waking up. This is not a random habit but a biological response controlled by circadian rhythms and hormones.

For many people, morning is the "golden hour" for bowel movements for the following reasons:

The colon is active.

Circadian rhythms control many of the body's activities, including bowel movements and the times when the colon is most active. In fact, the colon usually "sleeps" at night and increases its activity significantly in the morning, especially right after waking up, according to the health website Medical News Today (UK).

The body often feels like going to the toilet after waking up due to many biological mechanisms in the body.

PHOTO: AI

A study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that colon contractions increased significantly in the first two hours after waking up. Meanwhile, colon activity at night was almost minimal.

This explains why many people naturally feel the urge to poop as soon as they open their eyes. The body's circadian rhythm therefore programs it to poop in the morning, which is the most convenient and natural time.

Increased cortisol hormone

Normally, the alertness hormone cortisol naturally peaks between 6 and 8 a.m. In addition to its role in keeping the body alert, cortisol also acts on the enteric nervous system, increasing muscle tone and stimulating colonic motility.

When cortisol increases, the entire metabolic and digestive process is also restarted after a long night's sleep, including the movement of stool toward the rectum. This is why when stressed, some people tend to defecate more often. The reason is because cortisol increases sharply. But under normal physiological conditions, morning cortisol levels are part of the reason why the body feels the need to defecate at this time.

Gastrocolic reflex

The gastrocolic reflex is a natural reaction that causes the colon to contract more strongly when the stomach is full. stimulated by food or drink. This reflex is most active in the morning, when the body is hungry after 7-9 hours of sleep.

Simply drinking warm water, sipping coffee, or starting breakfast sends signals to the colon, stimulating contractions and creating the urge to defecate. A study published in the journal Gastroenterology found that coffee, even decaffeinated coffee, can trigger the gastrocolic reflex as strongly as a meal. This helps explain why many people "go well" after drinking their morning coffee.

Breakfast helps kick-start the digestive system

Breakfast plays an important role in activating the bowels. When you eat breakfast, your stomach expands, digestive hormones such as gastrin and cholecystokinin are secreted, and the digestive reflex is activated. All of this facilitates a natural bowel movement early in the day, according to Medical News Today .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-co-the-thich-dai-tien-vao-buoi-sang-185251121140103136.htm