Not that anything could come between you and your love of coffee anyway…but if you’ve ever noticed that your morning cup seems to get things moving in the gut health arena, biology researchers in Italy and from Harvard teamed up to discover that indeed drinking coffee may be one of friendliest behaviors to your digestive system.
Scientists at Italy’s University of Trento teamed up with public health researchers at Harvard and a few other global universities to dig deeper on an earlier discovery they’d made that, as they report in the November 18, 2024 study’s abstract, coffee is “the food showing the highest correlation with microbiome components.”
Indeed, this new study reinforced their belief and showed significant yield of “good” bacteria for the belly. Specifically, they found one coffee-loving microbe called Lawsonibacter, which they say was up to eight times more abundant in coffee drinkers on average, compared with non-drinkers. Lawsonibacter “dwells in the guts of almost all adults in regions where coffee is drunk, [but] explodes in its amount for coffee drinkers,” the researchers report, adding: “This is the strongest link between an individual food or drink, and a specific bacteria, ever identified.”
They also explain how Lawsonibacter works in the gut to show this effect. Coffee is made from fermented coffee beans and contains hundreds of compounds, including multiple antioxidants, which fuel the gut microbiome. (These antioxidants can also support heart health and metabolic health, leading to diabetes prevention and other physiological advantages.)
Another surprising point the research team points out is that coffee contains what they call “a decent amount of fiber, delivering around 1.5 grams per cup.” Here’s what this means, as they explain it: “When gut bacteria feed on fiber from coffee, they usually produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids that help support our metabolic, digestive, and immune systems and result in an increase of beneficial microbes.”
Not to mention, a lot of coffee lovers appreciate its role in help to ensure bathroom regularity. That’s another win for gut health and happiness.
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