How often do you go to the bathroom? Well, wait, it is not that we are not interested, it should interest you because the frequency with which you go to the bathroom says more about you than you imagine. A study published in Cell Reports Medicine reveals that your gut health does not only depend on what you eat, but also on how many times you evacuate per day!
According to the research, the best range for the body is to go to the bathroom once or twice a day (that much????). In other words, it is not normal to have constipation or frequent diarrhea, because it can cause quite serious imbalances, from toxins that damage the kidneys to inflammatory processes that can affect the liver. And yes, fruit, fiber and vegetables are necessary to go to the bathroom correctly.
Both constipation and frequent diarrhea can generate serious imbalances: from toxins that damage the kidneys to inflammatory processes that affect the liver. The key seems to be a diet rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables, accompanied by healthy habits.
How often do you poop?
The study published in Cell Reports Medicine analyzed more than 1,400 healthy adults, combining clinical data, blood and stool tests, along with questionnaires on diet and lifestyle. Although everyone seemed to be apparently fine, those who only went to the bathroom once or twice a week (whaaat?) showed toxic compounds in their bodies, of course, because they do not eliminate the waste that their body no longer wants. And when the intestine does not empty as it should, the bacteria stop fermenting fiber (healthy).
And pooping many times?
If constipation is not good, overdoing it is not either. Those people who have frequent diarrhea do not necessarily have a disease, but they may have liver inflammation or stress in the liver (or both). Basically, the body loses bile acids too quickly (the ones responsible for digesting fats properly) and that is why the liver is constantly in emergency and they go to the bathroom so often.
The perfect point of pooping
The team identified that there is a perfect middle point of times, and it is once or twice a day. This way, the beneficial bacteria (strict anaerobes) can produce the fatty acids that strengthen health and do not poison the body itself, it is key to maintaining good gut health.
What does diet have to do with it?
Practically everything, yes, we also hate diets and love eating whatever we crave, but the people who were in the healthy zone shared habits like eating fruit, drinking a lot of water and their diet was much more plant-based than meat-based. They exercised regularly and did not do miracle diets (that never works, and you already know it).
And everything influences the balance of your gut microbiome, so take care of it!
Are the are differences between men and women?
Yes. Women and younger people tend to go to the bathroom less, probably due to hormonal, neurological factors or perhaps because they eat less, but that was the result.
How to poop “well”
If you want regular and problem-free bowel movements, go all in on fiber. You can eat apples or pears, leafy green vegetables, legumes like lentils or chickpeas, and whole grains. These foods not only make going to the bathroom easier, they also feed your microbiome, those good bacteria that keep the intestine in balance. A fiber-rich diet is literally the key to having a “good poop”.
And if we had never stopped to think that the intestinal schedule can be the reflection of our health, now is the time. Something so everyday could be key to keeping our health in good shape!