Some people who are unable to clear their bowels on a daily basis spend every a stressful morning sitting on the toilet bowl, wondering why they can’t go despite drinking a lot of water, eating fruits and vegetables, and even diary products. In fact, if you do not have constipation, then you actually have nothing to worry about.
According to Medical Daily, toilet habits fall into two types:
1) Going at the same time daily (usually morning), and in the same toilet if available
2) Goes less frequently, with no fixed pattern
Both are normal, and none is healthier than the other. Anything in the range of thrice a day or thrice a week is healthy enough.
You should only be concerned if you encounter the following:
• Faeces are too hard, causing pain and difficulties in coming out. This might be a sign of constipation, piles or something more serious.
• Faeces are too loose, which could be a sign of diarrhea
• Sudden change in toilet habits e.g. going from once a day to once every three days. Perhaps you’ve been drinking less water than usual?
Changes in bowel movements can of course be attributed to other factors. Someone on a vacation may not go to the bathroom as often as he usually does due to a change in dietary and exercise habits. Additionally, some menstruating women may experience an increase in amount of bowel movements during their period due to the release of the Progesterone hormone.
If you feel that you aren’t getting as much bowel movements as you should, reviewing your diet is one of the first things you should do. It is a common misconception that lots of dietary fibre automatically equates to better clearance of the bowels. This is only true to a certain extent, because you also need to drink lots of water on top of consuming generous helpings of fruits and vegetables. Otherwise, your large intestine becomes akin to a blocked drain; both require water to move the waste along. Additionally, people who don’t eat a lot will naturally have less waste to clear out.
There’s probably a very sound reason why the need to go to the bathroom is described as nature’s call. So let nature run its own course, and don’t stress yourself needlessly over your irregular bathroom habits. Most of all, never administer laxatives (something known as colon cleansing) without a doctor’s direction. This is usually unnecessary as the body is equipped with its own cleansing mechanism.
However, if pooping causes pain or discomfort, as well as presents unnatural symptoms like blood and strange colours in stools, then it is definitely time for a visit to the doctor. Chronic constipation can eventually lead to colon cancer. Never ignore the signs and protests from your body!
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