I'm sure you’ve heard all the buzz about matcha. It’s packed with antioxidants, it gives you sustained energy without the crash, it’s virtually calorie-free, AND it tastes amazing…

But you can't help but notice... every time you drink a cup of matcha, within minutes...you know. Things start moving.

Have you ever stopped to think about WHY this happens? (And YES, it's happening and NO, it's not all in your head.)

There are a few components of matcha that are each known to contribute to healthy (and sometimes swift!) bowel movements. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Matcha Is Antioxidant-Rich

It turns out that one of the reasons matcha is so good for you is because of its high catechin content. Catechins are a type of antioxidant, and they're found in abundance in matcha. In fact, matcha contains 137 times MORE of these bad boys than its green tea counterpart! That says a lot about the nutritional power within this powder!

And while antioxidants are important for overall health, some of them can also act as laxatives. For example, one of the most abundant antioxidants in matcha is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been shown to stimulate bowel movements and help with constipation.

Matcha's high antioxidant content also supports the liver and kidneys, allowing  them to more effectively remove waste from the body, further promoting healthy digestion and bowel movements.

Matcha Contains Caffeine

Matcha contains about 34 mg of caffeine per gram of powder and we all know that caffeine is a natural diuretic. That means it helps your body get rid of water by making you pee more. But did you know that it can also have a laxative effect? It draws water into the bowels and can even help move food along when it’s trapped in your intestines.

The amount of matcha you consume and how sensitive you are to caffeine will determine how fast or slow the laxative effect hits, but it's pretty common for some people to experience accelerated bowel movements after drinking matcha.

Matcha Is Hydrating

Just as water and other fluids can have a hydrating effect on the body and support a healthy digestive system, so can matcha.

Dehydration is definitely a contributing factor to constipation so it makes sense that matcha could come across as having a laxative effect considering it helps encourage a normal (and healthy!) bowel movement when consumed first thing in the morning.

Matcha Is High In Fiber

Another reason matcha might make you poop is because it’s high in fiber. And lucky for all of us matcha lovers (or soon-to-be matcha lovers), matcha contains 385mg of fiber per 1 gram of powder!

Fiber is an important nutrient that helps keep your digestive system regular. Not only does dietary fiber help to soften stools, it also adds weight and volume, helping them to move along more easily.

The bottom line: Drinking this green goodness is an easy way to up your fiber intake and stay regular... add it to the list of matcha's contributing poo-factors!

Matcha Is Often Consumed WARM

If you enjoy a good matcha tea or matcha latte hot, the simple fact that it's a warm liquid being consumed very well may be contributing to your sudden urge to poop.

The warmth of the liquid can stimulate digestion and relax your intestinal muscles, increasing the motility of your intestines. Warm matcha may also help to soften your stool by adding liquid to it.

And after a long night of sleep and digestion, the stool is usually close to being ready for elimination when we first wake up and start sippin' on our matcha. This can create a more urgent and diarrhea-like poop experience. Nothing too complicated about that, right? ;)

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! The answer to your burning question, "does matcha make you poop", is: YES! Yes, it CAN make you poop!  

But that doesn’t mean you should avoid it or shy away from drinking it when you need a boost of energy. Whether you enjoy matcha for the taste, its health benefits, or both, you deserve to enjoy yourself some matcha!

Maybe make your first cuppa on a morning where you can spend a little extra time at home so you can (safely lol) discover how your body's going to respond.  How often and how urgently is just going to depend on how you react to caffeine and all of the other contributing factors above.

If you DO find yourself making a rushed trip (or two) to the bathroom shortly after tea time, just remember – it’s totally normal! It likely means your body is simply reaping all the benefits of this amazing superfood as it works its magic!

If you get discouraged, remind yourself that the benefits matcha has to offer- for MOST people- outweigh this one potential negative side effect... if you're not prepared for it. So be prepared! ;) Goodluck and thanks for reading!