Part 2: Pooping Well

We talked about Good Sleeps last week, now let’s talk about the second understated factor in the maintenance of good health… Good Poops!

In a time when colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Canada and when an estimated 20 million Canadians are suffering with digestive disorders, it is an entirely relevant and important topic!

Part 2: The significant basics of Good Poops

Did you know your bowel movements can give you insights into what is going on inside your body?
They can give you hints about the health of your gallbladder, liver, pancreas, your gastrointestinal tract and digestive function, your nutritional status, your immune system function, allergies, your stress levels, and more.
Bowel movements are essential for clearing toxins and wastes out of our bodies and keeping you feeling well and your body functioning properly.


What does the perfect poop look like?

• It should be easy to pass, brown, banana shaped, and not too pungent - about 1-3 times per day.

How to have the perfect poop:

1. Go when you feel the urge. Often this requires some stimulation from the top of your digestive tract (i.e. eating) in combination with parasympathetic activation (i.e. relaxing).
   
2. Breath deeply a few times before scarfing down your food. This will notify your body that it can switch to “rest & digest mode” and will allow you to digest your food properly.
   
3. When you eat: sit down, turn off your computer, phone, TV, etc. and enjoy, experience, & chew your food - even better yet, with the company of others!
   
4. Nutrition basics: drink enough water throughout the day (which means less caffeine, pop, & alcohol), eat enough fibre, greens, and probiotics, and avoid a high sugar, high carb, highly processed diet. Some fibre and water before bed and lemon water in the morning is often a helpful combination.
   
5. Don't forget about exercise! Nothing gets your body systems to work like movement.
   
6. While on the porcelain throne: avoid sitting for too long or straining as this can cause damage to the rectum and try lifting your feet up onto a couple thick books (squatting is the ideal posture for bowel movement elimination).

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There are plenty of supplements, medications, and health concerns that can alter bowel movements. If you are showing some signs that something might be off in your body, have a licensed practitioner help you get back on track.

@drkatherinemasters #TuesdayMorningTidbit