At some point, we've all faced those moments where we're too busy to sit down for a proper bathroom break or we've struggled with irregular bowel movements. When life gets hectic, it's easy to neglect the simple routines that keep our bodies running smoothly, including regular trips to the bathroom.

But how often should you actually be pooping? This article will explore bowel habits and the foods that can help us stay regular, ensuring our digestive systems function properly.

Why is Pooping Important?

You might not think of it often, but making time for "number two" should be one of our "number one" priorities for maintaining overall health.

When our lives become busy, and we skip exercise or forget to eat fibre-rich foods, our digestive systems can become sluggish. Irregular bowel habits can lead to stool becoming stuck in the digestive system, where it can harden, cause bloating, or lead to constipation and painful bowel movements.

Moreover, not emptying our bowels regularly can cause more serious issues such as a stretched colon, twisted gut, faecal impaction, or waste buildup that may require medical interventions like medication or laxatives to clear². In more severe cases, infrequent bowel movements can increase the risk of bowel cancer, autoimmune disorders, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases².

Not pooping regularly is often a sign of poor overall health, which can include mental health disorders or side effects from harsh treatments such as chemotherapy.

So, how often should you poop? In the following sections, we'll discuss what is considered a healthy bowel routine and the foods that can help promote regularity.

How Often Should You Poop?

Pooping regularly is incredibly important for our bodies and is not something to take lightly! Healthy bowel movements ensure that we are properly digesting and assimilating nutrients while allowing waste products to pass safely through our system.

Regular and healthy bowel movements have been shown to prevent cancer and bowel diseases, and they are a clear sign that our gut is functioning efficiently⁴. While bowel habits can vary significantly from person to person, research suggests that the optimal frequency for bowel movements ranges from three times per week to three times per day³.

If you go more than three days without pooping, it is usually a sign of constipation and an indication that you may need more fibre or digestive nutrients in your diet.

What Foods Help Us Poop?

Fibre

Fibre is one of the best promoters of bowel health. It helps modulate the gut microbiome, boosts good gut bacteria, and keeps us regular! Soluble fibre, in particular, is beneficial because of its bulking effect within the bowel.

Soluble fibre dissolves easily in water and breaks down into a gel-like substance in the colon, making it easier to push waste through the digestive tract⁵. Good sources of soluble fibre include oats, whole grains, fruits, legumes, vegetables, cereals, nuts, seeds, lentils, and peas. These foods also serve as excellent prebiotics for our gut bacteria.

Coffee

Coffee is another well-known stimulant for bowel movements due to its caffeine content, which many people rely on first thing in the morning. Caffeine stimulates colon muscle activity and increases pressure in the anus, which can enhance the urge to poop⁶. So don't skip that morning cup of joe!

Probiotics and Probiotic Yogurt

Looking after your gut bacteria is essential! Probiotics help boost our good gut bacteria, which assists in regular bowel movements, better digestion, and reduced constipation. A healthy diversity of microbes in the gut is key to maintaining smooth bowel function.

Probiotic sources include supplements, cultured yoghurt, kombucha, and fermented foods like kimchi. For an easy start, consider a supplement like Gut Care, which contains 6.1 billion live bacteria and yeast microorganisms to boost gut health.

Takeaways

In conclusion, regular bowel movements are crucial for maintaining gastrointestinal health and preventing waste buildup in the body. They are vital for keeping our bodily functions and detoxification processes running smoothly—pooping is very healthy for us!

Although bowel habits vary from person to person, monitoring your bowel movements for regularity is an important part of maintaining overall gut health.

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