Drinking alcohol can come with unwanted side effects, like diarrhea.
Learn why alcohol can cause diarrheaand how to prevent it.
Think Youve Got Food Poisoning?
A drink or two can help you relax and unwind, but imbibing can also have unwanted side effects.
One more side effect that you might not have seen coming is watery bowels.
Indeed, the relationship betweenalcohol and gut healthare closely intertwined.
board-certified gastroenterologist atGastro Health
In fact, alcohol consumption can cause diarrheaand its a fairly common experience.
Ahead, they explain the connection between diarrhea and drinking alcohol and provide tips for preventing alcohol-related diarrhea.
Why does alcohol cause diarrhea?
This can manifest as heart palpitations and evenchest pain after drinking alcohol.
For one, ethanol can disrupt the gut microbiome.
Are certain types of alcohol more likely to cause diarrhea?
Too much of any alcohol can cause diarrhea, says Dr. Robbins.
However, some types of alcohol are worse than others, including ones with very high concentration.
(Think tequila, vodka, and whiskey.)
board-certified gastroenterologist atGastro Health
Another offender is beer.
This can apply tosugary cocktails and other sneakily sugary drinksas well.
Looking for a better-for-you alcohol option?
Alcohol-induced diarrhea tends to afflict people who drink more and more frequently.
Binge drinking can severely damage your digestive tract, leading to frequent diarrhea spells, says Dr. Sonpal.
Additionally, drinking too much and too often can damage the stomachs protective lining.
According to one study published in 2022,consuming large quantities of alcohol might worsen symptoms of IBS.
How long does diarrhea usually last after drinking?
Dr. Bleich adds: Alcohol consumption can lead to pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas.
If this becomes a chronic issue, pancreatic damage can manifest partially as persistent diarrhea.
However, Dr. Robbins says that this is mostly common in extreme cases of alcohol consumption.
Conversely, can alcohol cause constipation?
While alcohol-induced diarrhea is common, it isnt a universal experience.
For some people, drinking alcohol can have the reverse effect.
Constipation can also be a side effect of imbibing alcohol.
Alcohol is dehydratingand when you become dehydrated, your body typically pulls more fluid from your colon.
The result is hard, lumpy stools that are a strain to pass.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for your gut to recover from alcohol?
The short answer is that it depends on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption.
However, it can take longer for those who are frequent over-imbibers.
Does alcohol ruin your gut health?
In the long term, alcohols impact on your digestion and overall gut health can have long-term effects.
Alcohol doesnt only have adverse effects on your gut.
reviewed by Jennifer Gilbert, MD, MPH
Aleman, Ricardo Santos et al.
Leaky Gut and the Ingredients That Help Treat It: A Review.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)vol.
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