Your morning bowel movements could be better!
Here, gastroenterologists share their top tips and tricks for pooping in the morning.
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Its not even remotely sexy, but it is #goals.
Before we dive into these questions and more, lets revisit what exactly constitutes a healthy poop.
board-certified gastroenterologist at the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California
What does a healthy poop look like?
A healthy bowel movement happens smoothly without straining and provides a sense of complete evacuation.
(All of which make for apoop that feels goodto passand leavesyoufeeling satisfied as a result.)
How often should you poop?
However, one poop a day is considered a general rule of thumb for healthy bowel movement frequency.
You might poop more than once a day or less than once a day (e.g.
Stool discoloration may also be a sign that its time to get a GI doctors advice.
Our gut operates the same way it does when were awake, just muchslower.
It acts moreslowly, but it doesntfullyrest, ever.
board-certified gastroenterologist at the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California
Its always contracting and moving.
We start to move, we eat and drink, and that increases the contractions of the gut.
As our colons contract, feces gets moved throughout our intestines, usually resulting in an early-morning poop.
This movement is also due in part to our breakfasts, explains Dr. Robbins.
Eating triggers thegastrocolic reflex, which controls the motility of our lower GI tract.
On the contrary, you might poop any time of day.
Looking to boost your morning bowel regularity?
Ahead are nine digestion tips that GI doctors say can help you achieve more satisfying morning poos.
9 good digestive habits to promote pooping in the morning
1.
Drink water regularly
Proper hydration is super important when it comes to regulating your morning bowel movements.
If patients are dehydrated, theyre going to be constipated, Dr. Berookim says.
Without water, stools can indeed become bulky and dry.
That aforementioned fiber, for example, is a critical component ofhaving good poops.
Taking good care of your microbiome health is advisable, too.
Eatingfermented foodssuch as kimchi, yogurt, and tempeh can help.
Dr. Berookim further advises minimizing caffeine and alcohol intake because both are diuretics.
Diuretics cause increasing urination, which can lead to dehydration, which can lead to constipation, he says.
So, moderation is key when it comes to caffeine and alcohol.
Youve got all that food in your stomach, so its more likely to reflux.
This disruption of the gastrointestinal systems process can make establishing morning regularity more difficult.
(In other words,working out does make you poop.)
Dr. Berookim says that to get things moving in your bowels, you should probably get yourself moving first.
He suggests, at the very least, walking 30 minutes per day.
Just being fit will help in having a nice, routine bowel movement in the morning, he says.
Consult with a doctor about your medications
Sometimes, medications can impede healthy bowel movements, says Dr. Berookim.
Consider hormonal issues
Hormonal imbalances can also cause issues in the poop department.
Some are unavoidable, such asthe regular weekly hormonal shifts in your cycle1.
But other hormonal imbalances are treatable.
These are mild and help with morning bowel movements without causing urgency in the middle of the night.
FAQs:
Why do I have to poop twice in the morning?
Is it normal to poop 3 times in the morning?
Having to poop multiple times in one morning can be annoying.
What is a simple trick to empty your bowels every morning?
These activities stimulate the gut and in turn, can prompt a morning bowel movement.
Is it healthy to poop in the morning?
How do I stop pooping the first thing in the morning?
reviewed byJennifer Logan, MD, MPH
Judkins, Taylor C et al.
2020, doi:10.1186/s12905-020-01000-x
Knezevic, Jovana et al.
Thyroid-Gut-Axis: How Does the Microbiota Influence Thyroid Function?.Nutrientsvol.
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