Do Cheerios Make You Poop?

Cheerios is a typical cereal that is loved by many. This cereal makes an excellent sweet and crunchy treat. It’s also a perfect breakfast, especially for those who don’t want to experience the hassle of preparing breakfast from scratch. Despite being famous and loved by many, how good is cheerios?

Cheerios can be included as part of a balanced and healthy diet. The cereal comprises mainly whole grain oats, which boost an excellent nutrition profile and offers various health benefits. Whole grain oats contain proteins, vitamins A, C, D, and B12, zinc, calcium, and iron, improving health. But do they have any drawbacks? Like making you poop? Stay tuned to learn more about whether cheerios make you poop or not.

Do Cheerios Make You Poop?

Yes, cheerios can make you poop. That’s so because they are made up of whole grain oats containing high amounts of insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool, enhancing peristalsis. With enhanced peristalsis, your bowel movements become smoother and more regular; hence you poop anytime you eat cheerios. Besides being high in insoluble fibers, other factors make you poop when you eat cheerios. They are:

Sugar

consuming too much sugar can make you poop. High amounts of sugar cause more water to be absorbed from the intestines to help balance the solute (sugar in this case). This increased water absorption from the small intestine to the digestive system increases bowel movements, making you poop.

Cheerios’ original formula contains a little sugar (1g). However, the introduction of other varieties has seen the sugar content of cheerios increase. For instance, the Honey Nut cheerios variety contains about 9g of sugar per serving, while Cheerios Protein contains 16-17 g. This amount of sugar causes more water to be pulled from the intestines, making you poop when you eat cheerios.

The Honey Nut cheerios type also comprises fructose. Around half of the sugar from honey is fructose. Fructose is hard to digest effectively and often leads to malabsorption. Studies suggest that about 40% of people living in the western hemisphere experience loose stools and diarrhea when they consume high-fructose fruits like strawberries, grapes, and watermelon. The same is valid for people who consume Honey Nut cheerios with high fructose content.

Irritation of the intestines

many things can irritate your intestines, like spicy foods. Fiber has also been shown to irritate the intestines by causing the intestines’ muscles to contract more when trying to get rid of the irritant (fiber). This may lead to more regular bowel movements and sometimes diarrhea.

Whole grain oats contain oats bran which comprises soluble fiber called beta-glucan. The soluble fiber has numerous health benefits. However, the outer shell of oats seeds where oat bran comes from is hard and more fibrous, which can irritate the intestines linings in some people. This may lead to more stools.

People with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) are especially at a higher risk of intestine irritation than others. And although there are minimal studies supporting this, a 1990 study concluded that oat bran made irritable bowel syndrome symptoms worse in 55% of patients and better in 10% of patients.

Allergies and intolerance

although oats don’t have gluten, there’s a possibility of allergy or intolerance. Oats contain a protein called avenin, which can cause allergy and intolerance in some. So, whether you have an avenin allergy or a minor intolerance, consuming foods rich in oats like cheerios can lead to various symptoms. Such symptoms may include rashes, irritated and itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, runny nose, regular bowel movements, or diarrhea. 

In case of an allergy, the body mistakes the avenin protein for foreign organisms that may cause harm. And although there’s no real threat, the immune system fights the protein by creating antibodies to attack it. This is what leads to undesirable symptoms.

Are Cheerios Healthy?

Yes, cheerios are healthy and contain several essential nutrients. One, they are whole grains containing high amounts of fiber. Fiber adds bulk to stool, preventing constipation. Fiber also helps lower cholesterol, reducing your risk of heart disease. Moreover, fiber increases satiety, helping people desiring to lose weight.

Whole grain oats also contain essential vitamins. For instance, they contain calcium, which is crucial in strengthening bones and teeth. Calcium also helps prevent bone-related disorders like osteoporosis, osteopenia, and osteomalacia. Cheerios also contain iron which is vital in the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin help transport oxygen to different parts of the body. Without sufficient oxygen, you stand at risk of anemia. Zinc present in oats plays a crucial role in reproductive health.

As for vitamins, cheerios contain vitamin A needed for improved vision and strengthening the mucus lining, preventing diseases. Vitamin C is great at healing wounds, improving skin health, and improving immune health. Vitamin D is good for strong bones and teeth, while vitamin B12 is essential for blood formation and the formation of healthy nerves.

Types Of Cheerios

There are different types of cheerios, according to various flavors. These types contain the base whole grain oats, sugar, and additional ingredients. Some popular types of cheerios include:

Plain – the most basic and original cheerios version. They contain 1 g of added sugar with no extra flavorings.

Honey Nut – this type is sweetened with honey and sugar and is flavored with almond flavor.

Chocolate – is made from oats, corn, cocoa powder, and sugar.

Multigrain – this type comprises whole grain oats, brown rice, and corn and less sugar.

Apple cinnamon – contains whole grain oats, sugar, cinnamon, and an apple puree.

Frosted – incorporate whole grain oats, sweetened with sugar coating and flavored with vanilla.

Ancient grains – sugar-sweetened cheerios made from whole grain oats, rice, and quinoa.

Conclusion

Do cheerios make you poop? Yes, cheerios can make you poop. That’s due to their high content of insoluble fiber, which adds bulk to stool, aiding peristalsis. This enhanced bowel movement makes you poop. Other reasons that can make you poop when you eat cheerios are if you are allergic or are intolerant to avenin protein in oats or have irritable bowel syndrome. The high fructose content in some cheerio varieties increases water absorption from the intestines, making you poop.