Healthy Bowel Movements: The Exit Doors for Illness and Disease

When considering healthy living, bowel movements are often overlooked. But when we explore the primary ways for the body to detox (stool, urine, and sweat), we realize just how important it is to have regular, healthy bowel movements. Bowel irregularity can be painful, frustrating, and embarrassing. When those exit doors are closed, many toxins have nowhere to go. If you’re already making an effort to support the body’s natural detoxification process, this can make you even more sick by trapping those toxins in the body!

So what is considered a healthy bowel movement, and where do you start if you’re not experiencing at least one every day? An ideal bowel movement should be soft, formed, and snake-like, and you should be having 1-3 per day as part of your daily routine. If this isn’t happening, there are many simple ways to improve your regularity:

1. Hydration - drink more water, especially with meals! Dehydration is a major contributor to constipation.

2. Stress Management - deep breathing exercises, meditation, and vagus nerve stimulation (read more about that here) can all support the gut-brain connection.

3. Daily Movement - a regular routine of walking and/or other forms of exercise helps keep the gut moving.

4. Mindful Eating - eat in a relaxed state, chew thoroughly, and try not to snack mindlessly. Give your body time to digest as effectively as possible.

5. Fiber - shoot for 30 grams per day, and consider psyllium husk if you aren’t getting enough from food

There are also some things to look for and consider eliminating to help support your gut health. Gluten and dairy can be inflammatory for many, and eliminating them from your diet for 30-90 days can be a great start. Many prescription and over-the-counter medications can also cause constipation as a side effect - if you’re concerned about a medication you’re taking, this is a great conversation to have with your healthcare provider. Also, watch out for snacking and being sedentary - when you’re finished eating in response to hunger, get up and move around to encourage digestion and avoid overeating.

If you’re making great strides in focusing on your gut motility and you’re still struggling with constipation or irregularity, there are additional ways to support regular bowel movements. Follow the link below to learn even more about opening those exit doors and helping your body’s natural detoxification process.

If you’re feeling discouraged with your efforts, remember that consistency is key - even small changes can make an enormous difference if you’re implementing them as part of a daily routine.

Bowel irregularity can often lead to other problems such as constipation, inflammation, or an overactive immune system. If you’re not experiencing healthy bowel movements, we would love to help you get to the bottom of it. We’d be happy to schedule a discovery call with you. During this call, we can discuss your symptoms in more detail and come up with a plan tailored specifically for you.

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this email is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content is for general informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional