In once heard a rather crude joke that is kind of funny: “The most OVERRATED thing in life is GOOD SEX and the most UNDERRATED thing in life is a good BOWEL MOVEMENT.” Well, not to play down the concept of “good sex” but when you have not had a good movement in several days and then you have one, that does produce a sort of exhilaration, right?
There are a number of reasons why regular bowel movements are important for good health including:
- Prevent Digestive Issues: Frequent, regular, and painless bowel movements prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, and bloating.
- System Detoxification: Regular elimination prevents waste from sitting too long in the colon, preventing toxic fermentation.
- Overall Health: Regularity is tied to better heart health, consistent energy levels, and a balanced gut microbiota.
- Disease Prevention: Consistent bowel habits are linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer.
- Nutrient Absorption: Proper motility allows for maximum absorption of essential nutrients
“Regular” bowel movements may be considered, depending on the person, as having three movements a day to three movements a week. If the stool is soft and easy to pass without straining, this also fits the definition of “regularity”.
Some measures we can take to help regularity of bowel movements include:
- High-Fiber Diet: Consume foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains to add bulk to stool.
- Hydration: Drink enough fluids (water, warm beverages) to help fiber move through the system, as fiber absorbs water to soften stool.
- Regular Activity: Moderate exercise, such as walking or swimming, helps increase blood flow to the digestive system and speeds up digestion.
- Routine & Posture: Try to have a bowel movement at the same time each day, ideally 15-45 minutes after breakfast. Use a small stool to raise your knees above your hips while on the toilet to straighten the rectum.
- Probiotics: Incorporate fermented foods like yogurt or kefir to support healthy gut bacteria.
There are OTC medications that may help people that do struggle with regularity of bowel movements. However, frequent use of these medications may result in a sort of “addiction” to them, i.e. people that use these too often may not be able to have regular bowel movements without the use of these meds.
If you feel you are struggling to have normal bowel movements go visit your doctor to discuss this issue as a medical workup is warranted.
No songs about regular bowel movements, but there are a number of “toilet humor” movies with Austin Powers-International Man Of Mystery being labeled in the top 10 of this movie genre. Here is one of the songs from the soundtrack.
