Why Do I Have Diarrhea Every Morning?

Explore reasons behind having diarrhea every morning, from IBS to dietary triggers. Find personalized solutions and a synbiotic supplement for gut health improvement.

Having diarrhea every morning is not the ideal way to start your day. However, this is a surprisingly common issue that has a wide range of potential causes. Whether your morning diarrhea is caused by IBS, dietary habits, or chronic intestinal disorders – the good news is there is often a lot you can do naturally to manage these symptoms.

Here, we will undercover some of the common causes of morning diarrhea. We will also share with you some natural solutions to this annoying condition.

Understanding Morning Diarrhea

In order to understand how to treat and manage morning diarrhea we first need to consider what we mean by the term. Morning diarrhea involves an urgent bowel movement which is looser than usual.

You might have morning diarrhea as soon as you wake up, or it might come on shortly after your first drink or food of the day. The severity of morning diarrhea can vary from person to person. Some people will have repeated frequent loose bowel movements whereas for others it may just be a one-off occurrence.

We can differentiate between acute and chronic morning diarrhea.  Acute morning diarrhea is likely to result from an infection or food poisoning occurrence. This type of sudden diarrhea may also be the result of eating a particular food you disagree with, drinking too much alcohol, or being under a lot of stress. (Source)

Chronic morning diarrhea means you have the symptom on an ongoing basis or it comes and goes over time. This type of morning diarrhea is more disruptive to your life and you will likely want to seek treatment for it, as it can affect your daily routine adversely.

Common Causes Of Morning Diarrhea

To treat your morning diarrhea you first need to understand what is causing it. One of the most common potential causes of mourning diarrhea is irritable bowel syndrome. (Source)

IBS is a benign condition that results in abdominal pain bloating and altered bowel movements. For some people, IBS will produce diarrhea symptoms and for others, constipation will occur. Many people also suffer from mixed IBS where symptoms of constipation and diarrhea alternate. IBS can occur at any time of the day however morning diarrhea is a common occurrence in people with IBS due to increased hypersensitivity which is worse in the morning.

Inflammatory bowel disease is another possible cause of your morning diarrhea.  Inflammatory bowel disease may include Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.  These conditions are spotted on an endoscopy inspection of the intestines. Here you will have inflammation or damage to the intestine which can result in diarrhea that can often be worse in the mornings. (Source)

If your morning diarrhea is caused by inflammatory bowel disease it’s likely to be chronic in nature and you probably have other symptoms accompanying this condition including blood in the stools as well as abdominal pain. You may find this condition flares up and then decreases in severity, but for some people, morning diarrhea may be more consistent.

Food allergies and intolerances can also be responsible for episodes of morning diarrhea. For example, if you are lactose intolerant and consume a meal containing dairy before bed you may find that in the morning you are awoken with morning diarrhea as a result. Similarly, if you are having a food allergy to a milk protein or another allergen, morning diarrhea might be a symptom you experience.

Infections and illnesses can also produce morning diarrhea symptoms. For example, if you have traveler’s diarrhea or another gastrointestinal bug you may have morning diarrhea upon waking. Both viral infections and bacterial infections are capable of causing morning diarrhea symptoms.

In the absence of any of these conditions or medical issues, you may also experience morning diarrhea if you are suffering from stress and anxiety about the day ahead.

Diet And Morning Diarrhea

What you drink can influence your risk of triggering morning diarrhea. Fatty foods and spicy foods are more likely to cause diarrhea than other types of food. Similarly making sudden dietary changes for example because of travel, holidays or other celebrations can cause diarrhea in those susceptible.

Even positive dietary changes may cause diarrhea, for example by suddenly increasing your fiber intake. There are some common dietary triggers that may cause diarrhea. These include foods high in gluten, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and heavily spiced foods such as curries. Of course, it’s also possible that in the absence of any specific dietary changes what you eat will cause diarrhea if you experience food poisoning as a trigger.

Some people find that during a flare-up, switching to easily digestible super greens blends is an easy way to meet your nutritional needs while letting your gut rest.

Medical Conditions Linked To Morning Diarrhea

Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of morning diarrhea. This could be a chronic intestinal disorder such as celiac disease – which can result in morning diarrhea if you are consuming high-gluten foods. (Source)

And, as previously mentioned, conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are both capable of causing morning diarrhea during flare-ups. Luckily both of these conditions can normally be managed through the use of medications and other treatments to reduce the severity of symptoms and the incidence of morning diarrhea.

You may also experience morning diarrhea as a medication side effect, for example, if you are taking immunosuppressant drugs morning diarrhea may be a potential symptom. Similarly, other medications such as anticholinergic medications are also capable of causing these symptoms.

Diagnosing And Treating Morning Diarrhea

It can be hard to treat morning diarrhea without properly diagnosing the cause. Self-diagnosing can be challenging and unreliable too. So it may be more beneficial to contact a Healthcare professional for advice and support when diagnosing and treating your morning diarrhea.

Your healthcare professional will likely suggest a number of treatment options for you. These may include the use of antiviral medications which are usually used when you are experiencing acute morning diarrhea. In other scenarios, you may be prescribed an immunosuppressant drug if your morning diarrhea is caused by autoimmune conditions such as celiac disease.

For most people however, you are likely to be encouraged to make lifestyle and dietary adjustments for example by eating more low-fat foods or avoiding gas-producing foods such as cruciferous vegetables and beans.

Preventing Morning Diarrhea

To prevent morning diarrhea from occurring you will need to personalize your approach to your specific needs.

For example, it might be enough to focus on dietary changes such as avoiding lactose or other food allergens, or you might need to get more tests done to establish exactly what is causing your condition and then avoid triggers accordingly.

Many people find that eating a balanced diet and engaging in regular exercise helps to regulate bowel movements as well. If you know you will be traveling and therefore exposed to a range of new pathogenic bacteria you might want to take further preventative measures such as taking a course of probiotics to try and prepare your gut environment for any new pathogens it may encounter.

Human Tonik Product Spotlight

Whatever the cause of your morning diarrhoea you can likely benefit from taking a targeted gut health support supplement.

For example, if your morning diarrhea is caused by IBS then taking a probiotic supplement can help to improve gut dysbiosis which may reduce your symptoms. Similarly, if you’re morning diarrhea results from inflammatory bowel disease, studies have shown that positively modifying the gut microbiome may help to reduce the severity of these inflammatory states. (Source)

Probiotics can also benefit people who have picked up travelers’ diarrhea or another gastrointestinal infection.

While most products simply contain one or two probiotic strains, Human Tonink’s Synbiotic Tonik actually contains four different probiotic strains which help to increase the diversity of your gut microbiome.

In addition, it combines four different prebiotic strains to create a symbiotic formula where the prebiotics will enable the probiotics to thrive. This means you are providing the fuel for your beneficial gut bugs at the same time as increasing the diversity of your beneficial microbes.

Synbio Tonik also contains a high CFU number meaning you have a higher chance of the helpful microbes meeting your gut alive.

Conclusion

Morning diarrhoea is a common but troublesome condition,  that can be caused by a number of possible factors.

Luckily there are lots of steps you can take to help reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Reducing stress, getting appropriate advice from your healthcare professional, and optimizing your gut health can all help.

Whether your condition is caused by IBS, IBD, or an infection – taking a high-quality probiotic supplement such as Synbio Tonik can make all the difference.

FAQ Section

What Are The Main Causes Of Diarrhea Every Morning?

IBS, IBD, dietary factors, stress, and chronic disease are some of the most common causes of morning diarrhea. Infections and food poisoning may also cause these symptoms.

Can Diet Changes Help Manage Morning Diarrhea?

Yes, if your symptoms are made worse by food allergens, intolerances, or specific trigger foods such as spices or fats, then eliminating these from your diet may help.

Should I See A Doctor For Morning Diarrhea?

If you are not sure what’s causing your morning diarrhea, if it happens frequently or if you have other symptoms then it’s probably time to see a doctor. They may suggest you have some tests after listening to your symptoms and health history.

How Can Lifestyle Changes Affect Morning Diarrhea?

By reducing stress and eliminating trigger foods you may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of your morning diarrhea symptoms.

Is Morning Diarrhea A Sign Of A Serious Health Condition?

Not usually, but if you are concerned, or if you have other symptoms too then make sure to see a healthcare professional.