“Tell me about your bowel habits.” “Is your poop lagging?” “Do you tend to be on the constipated side or do you have loose stools?”
These are some of the questions I ask my patients. The reason for asking such questions is that bowel health helps show the state of the digestive tract. But what happens when we’re constipated?
When stool is left in your digestive tract, it does more than just sit there. It releases toxins into your body, killing off good bacteria. What seems like innocent constipation can actually lead to a whole host of other symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, stress, hemorrhoids, Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth (SIBO), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Toxic Mega Colon, and many others.
Your body has the means to detoxify itself through its backdoor, the colon. But if we suffer from constipation, our bodies can’t rid itself of the toxins that may be the source of some of our symptoms. Many of my patients, after a little work, have 1-2 bowel movements a day. How can we go from constipated to having nice and easy bowel movements? Below are five points to consider.
1. Diet
Follow your Blood Type/Swami Diet. After all, we should be using our food as medicine and our medicine as food. Making sure one consumes enough fiber such as leafy greens is a great start. If more fiber is needed, a fiber supplement may be added to your diet.
2. Water
Drinking enough water helps keep our bodies lubricated. Drink half of your body weight in ounces a day. That means if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking about 75 ounces daily. This may seem like a lot, and it is, especially if you haven’t been drinking anywhere near your recommended amount.
A word of advice: take it slow. Don’t start drinking your recommended amount all at once. You will be running to the restroom far too often. Instead, start by carrying a water bottle around with you or at least follow the trick I learned in the Boy Scouts: drink until your pee is clear.
3. Magnesium
This mineral can help with many different conditions including headaches, stress, hypertension, etc. It can help bowel movements to occur. Just be warned: do not take too much or your stools will become too loose.
4. Probiotic
Probiotics are the good bugs that should be in your digestive tract. There is tons of research on probiotics and all their health benefits. I always recommend one that’s geared for your ABO Blood Type. This cuts down on the number of pills you need to take, which in turn cuts down on the cost, and a probiotic for your blood type (Polyflora line) will give you better results
5. Colonics
This is something I recommend to people who have a longer history of constipation. A colonic can reset your muscle tone in your digestive tract along with giving it a much-needed spring cleanse. I always recommend finding a practitioner that is associated with a doctor as you know you can trust in their skills and equipment.
The above examples are ways you can take back control of your health. With a little motivation and desire, I am hoping you can find the energy to start living a healthy life. Pooping is an important part of everyday habits and should be thought of as a vital part of your day.
