**Word of warning before I start: this post is borderline TMI.**
In terms of my reputation, this might be the riskiest post I have ever written.Ā I was actually hesitant to post about poop because itās hardly the most glamorous subject to discuss publicly.Ā Feces, shit, crap, poop, dumpā¦call it what you want but letās be honest, itās a natural human response: no matter how feminine or sophisticated you are, we all do it….even Marilyn Monroe did it.Ā And chances are you feel pretty great afterwards. I know I do! Ā As much as I love breakfast, Iād rather wake up to a trip to the bathroom.
Besides the ācleansedā and ālighterā feeling post-bathroom, a healthy bowel is necessary for us to maintain vitality as well as fight off infections & illnesses.Ā Although thereās no rule for frequency of bowel movement, the general range is 3 times a day (those lucky folks) to 3 times a week.Ā Of course bowel movements are very personal, but here are some general tips which work for me.
- Eat more fiber: Fiber absorbs water, which adds bulk to the waste matter & softens (hence the TMI disclaimer) so that it can pass through your bowels easily.Ā Ā Along with fruits & vegetables, high-fiber foods include wholegrains, beans & lentils.Ā Donāt go crazy with your fiber intake, especially if you arenāt used to it.Ā After a certain point, too much fiber can actually lead to constipation, especially if there isnāt enough fluid in your digestive track.
- Stay hydrated: Especially if you are eating plenty of fiber, the bodyās digestive tract requires fluids to help move things along.Ā Without enough water, your intestines wonāt be able to work properly, making it difficult to pass waste.
- Exercise regularly to keep things regular: Any kind of activity helps promote bowel movement by stimulating the muscles & nerves in the gut to work better.Ā Howās that for workout motivation ;)!
- Add in probiotics for a healthy gut: Healthy bacteria are essential for a properly-functioning digestive system.Ā Disease-causing bacteria & fungus can disrupt the function of healthy bacteria, and antibiotic medications can destroy good bacteria along with the problematic organisms they are meant to kill. Ā Ā Probiotics such as yogurt, kombucha, miso & supplements can help protect the intestinal lining from ābadā bacteria, and restore balance to the digestive system by ācrowding outā bad bacteria.
- Consider laxatives:Ā Although I have never needed to take one, I would definitely consider them for the sake of comfort. From what I have heard, there are several natural & herbal ones available on the market .Ā Just try & use them for short periods so that your colon retains its natural ability to contract.
- Find what works for you: Various foods/drinks/situations can have different effects on certain individuals.Ā One friend swears by lemon & hot water whereas another vouches for papaya.Ā Personally Iāve found that coffee, oats & alcohol are almost surefire ways to get things going again. Ā Ā Oh and if I am a bundle of nerves, letās just say there better be a bathroom nearby ;)!
If ever an ice was present, consider it broken after this post!
What helps you getĀ your “business” done?
I love you for writing this post! As uncomfortable as it is to discuss topics like this, I think it’s so important to understand the importance of things like poop and what is healthy and what is not. Good for you!
I don’t know if this is healthy or not but coffee does it for me. I just broke the ice too…haha!
When we finally do meet (because it will happen one day), it’ll undoubtedly be over a cup of coffee ;)!
LOL! I love you. There’s nothing I love more than lightening my load first thing in the morning. š
In addition to your tips, a HUE help for me has been my morning apple cider vinegar cocktail. Kombucha also does wonders for the “digestion.”
āLightening up your loadā-ā haha sounds so much nicer than ātaking a dump.ā Once I finish these ACV tablets, Iām going to buy the liquid form and try your cocktail!
I am the tmi queen and you know poop is no foreign aspect in my life. great tips, sadly my stomach hates me and nothing tends to work… but I go plenty. haha
I hope you manage to sort your stomach out soon!
Here’s the thing everybody poops!! Not sure if you heard of the children’s book lol Way to go on the post though, #bravewoman! Tea does it for me, in the morning with breakfast. I try to have yogurt everyday as I have some tummy issues but not in the “number 2 area”. Banana’s and apples are good helps too as well as having lots of veggies.
Have a good weekend K! XX
Apparently caffeine shouldnāt work because of its dehydrating properties bu we must be the exceptionā¦along with coffee, tea also helps big time!
I love TMI! And oh lord, COFFEE. Drink a mug and ten minutes later? I know where I’ll be/what I’ll be doing. Great for those mornings when it just isn’t going to happen on it’s own ;D
True story! Why people would ever give up coffee is beyond me (spoken like a true addict ha)!
I love my morning poop.
Amen!
LOVE this!! My best girlfriends are those I can discuss everything with–including poo! I’ve had so many gastrointestinal issues over the past five years, so I truly appreciate this post and your willingness to share TMI (although nothing is TMI over here!).
My stomach is super sensitive, so whenever I disrupt my routine, I have major constipation issues. This includes traveling, diet, emotional stress etc. Taking time to relax is SUPER important, as is pumping in that fiber. I always drink tea or hot chocolate with Benefiber a few hours before bed, and find that eating a tablespoon of coconut flour (or a Luna Fiber bar) each day, helps things move along. Fibrous veggies–especially uncooked fibrous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower etc.–actually irritate my stomach, so I only eat them cooked. I prefer to load up on leafy greens, and drink lots of tea and kombucha. I also try to take a walk after lunch and dinner, which really helps me digest.
Okay, that was MUCH more information that you ever wanted, I’m sure, but I could literally talk about tips/tricks for hours. Haha!
Happy weekend, Khushboo! xoxoxo <3
p.s. oh, and yes, froyo definitely counts as probiotic fuel! š
Haha thank you for all your tripsā¦ much appreciated there are no boundaries on my blog :)! Travelling also wrecks havoc to my system…at least the first few days! As much as I love veggies, my stomach can only handle a certain amount before it starts to feel extremely bloatedā¦even worse when the veggies are raw!
Hahaha this post made me laugh! So true though we all do it! One of my girls has started pooping in the potty all by herself and I’m so proud! I want to tell everyone my girl is pooping in the potty, it is a huge deal and she gets sticker rewards. Kind of makes me laugh cause any of my friends without kids think it is TMI and think it Is odd how proud I am! The one time in her life when someone will be cheering her on for pooping!!!
Haha thatās adorable! Potty training your children is definitely an achievement!
Hhahaha loved this post girl and it’s great that you talked about it… somewhat of a shunned topic to an extent š I have at least one and usually two apples per day and that always gets the job done! Also Fiber one cereal when I need it, otherwise all of the fruit I eat, and veggies too! Yay for poop heh
Seriously- I donāt get why itās considered a ātabooā to discuss this topic in publicā¦we all do it! Never had Fiber 1 Cereal but I can vouch for Bran Flakes.
Puhahah! This is awesome š
Not TMI at all! We all do it..it’s part of life! I can tell how my diet is by looking at it. Always like seeing it float! omygosh..now that’s TMI.
I’m very regular these days, but I wasn’t always this way. I suffered from constipation for almost a year at one point. I would go once every 4, 5 days! Isn’t that crazy! Changing my diet was the BEST thing I ever did for myself!
Yikes once every 4 to 5 days doesnāt sound like fun at all! Did you constantly feel uncomfortable or did you just become accustomed to it?
Coffee? Lol. I’ve never really had an issue with this.. but fro yo is also the answer to everything! š
Agreedā¦although Iām not sure those who are lactose intolerant would š
Ohhh girrrl, best post of the week! I LOVE going shit. There..I said it..and I ALWAYS say it. A nice poo is the best way to start the day. I am always making sure I stay regular with a lot of water, A LOT of fiber, running, and eating clean!!
Haha, glad you concur!! Running ALWAYS helps if I havenāt already gone beforehand. However the only downside is when ārunners trotsā hits before you are done with the run!
Two words here: green monster! hahah it’s so good for this business! Also, when i’m faced with too many choices and i can’t decide i need the loo! Loll weird right? Great tips! Water and exercise definitely help move things along! š
Haha I can understand the green monster bit but the effect of too many choices is hilarious…but hey, whatever works right ;)!
you are quite a woman [and i say it in a very very good way], loved this post.
hmm for me, exercise and loads and loads of water works š
i have been suffered quite a bit with constipation, hmm junk food and colas wreck my system.
Ha thanks! Eating too much junk food does me no favors too!
On an empty stomach, a little lemon juice mixed with water works pretty well in getting things moving down there.
Exercise always, always works for me. Especially running. …I’m prone to getting the runner’s trots :-S
Runners trots are such a bittersweet feeling…hate when they hit during a great run yet being able to “go” feels so good š
Hmm… constipation or having to crap in the bushes? I don’t really know what’s worse.
Hahaha poo is always funny in my opinion. And this is going to be TMI but lately I’ve needed some err help. So this post comes very timely indeed.
Trust me though, there can be a thing as too much fiber (brussel sprouts I am looking at you!). I find warm water with lemon helps first thing in the morning.
Hahah no such thing as TMI amongst friends :). Brussel sprouts are SO gassy…I learned the hard way hahah!