How Often Should You Poop? Digestive Health Tips

Digestive health can be a tricky matter, and it may sometimes be difficult to know whether or not your bathroom habits are normal or not. 

Suppose nothing seems to be particularly wrong, but you still happen to find yourself having to use the bathroom frequently throughout the day. In that case, it is normal to be concerned and to wonder if your bowels are overactive or if this is a sign of something serious. 

Before you panic, allow us to reassure you that there really may not be anything wrong at all. The fact of the matter is that no two bodies function the same way, and digestive health is not as clear-cut as you may think it is. 

That said, there are still some general factors to consider for you to determine whether or not your digestive health might need some improvements, and we are here to help. This is your guide to all things digestive health, including how often you should poop. 

Am I Pooping Too Much Or Too Little? What Is Considered Normal?

Believe it or not, when it comes to bathroom habits, the “norm” largely depends on what is normal for you as an individual. There is no universal standard regarding how many times you should or should not poop each day, so you should use your digestive history as your standard. Even on a larger scale, the term “health” or “healthy” is largely subjective and can mean different things depending on the person.

Bowel movements occur at different frequencies for different people. If you have always had a certain number of bowel movements each day for most of your life, you could consider this to be your version of “normal.” For some people, normal may mean three or four bowel movements each week, but for other people, normal may mean three or four bowel movements per day. Thus, as long as your bowel movement schedule remains consistent, you probably have nothing to be concerned about. 

There are still a couple of ways to tell whether or not your bathroom habits are healthy. Healthy bowel movements are those that give you the chance to empty your intestines at such a frequency that you do not end up feeling bloated or uncomfortable, nor do you have to strain to relieve yourself during a bowel movement. 

Considering that if you have consistently experienced pain, bloating, and constipation for the majority of your life, such that this is your regular, you should consult your doctor. It might be nothing too serious, and the solution could be as simple as incorporating laxatives or probiotics into your diet.  

How To Establish Digestive Regularity

If your bowel movements do not seem to abide by any kind of regular schedule, there are a few things you can try that may help you establish digestive regularity.  

For one thing, incorporating more fiber into your diet may be just what you need. Fiber works to add bulk to your stool, eliminate excess fluids in your body, and promote more regular, frequent bowel movements, so it can certainly help you regulate your digestion and get things moving. 

Aiming to go to the bathroom around the same time every day can train your body by establishing a routine. A good time of day would be around 20 to 30 minutes after a meal, as it is during this time period that your body induces wave-like movements that clear out your bowels.  

There are also a few other things you can do to try to establish regular, healthy bowel movements, including:

• Making sure you incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes into your diet, and making sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. When combined with plenty of fluids, the fibers in the foods mentioned above may make it easier for you to have a bowel movement. 
  
  
• Taking care to eat regular, well-balanced meals. Frequently skipping meals or enjoying meals that leave major gaps in your diet can wreak havoc on your digestive system and even your overall health and wellbeing. Establishing and maintaining a regular meal schedule packed full of healthy, whole foods may help you feel better both physically and mentally, not to mention the many benefits it can have when it comes to digestion.
  
  
• Limiting your consumption of milk and other dairy products. These kinds of food products can lead to constipation, as can processed foods. 
  
  
• Aiming to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, such as going for a walk or run, playing a sport, or practicing yoga. 

Incorporating more probiotics and prebiotics into your diet through yogurt or fermented foods. Alternatively, you may also opt for probiotic supplements, and these can be especially handy if you have dietary restrictions. The GoBiotix Probiotic Detox and Complete Prebiotic Multivitamin are just two examples of supplements available to you that may help you boost your digestive health.

These products can help support a healthy gut and liver, support your immune system, regulate digestion, and restore good bacteria in your gut. Making them perfect choices if you are looking for an easy way to get your fill of probiotics and prebiotics. 

GoBiotix is committed to offering products with no refined sugars, non-GMO ingredients, and quality standards so that you can enjoy supplements that are both safe and effective.

When it comes to vitamins and supplements, make sure to consult your doctor before starting a new vitamin regimen because your doctor is somewhat familiar with your medical history and will be able to advise you or give you any necessary information pertaining to your specific health concerns.

If you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making use of these tips, but you are still struggling with irregular bowel movements or other forms of digestive irregularities or issues, this can be an indication that you might need to consult your doctor for further guidance and a diagnosis.

Generally, if you are not experiencing any kind of discomfort or any concerning symptoms, and your bowel movements have been regular for as long as you can remember, you likely have nothing to worry about. That said, you should still consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns, even if you are not experiencing irregularity. 

The Bottom Line

When it comes to digestive health, what is considered normal is very subjective and depends on each individual’s specific situation. There is no universally accepted standard regarding how many times you should poop each day- instead, what is “normal” for you depends on your bowel schedule. If you have had singular bowel movements at the same frequency, without discomfort like constipation, bloating, or abdominal pain, for the majority of your life, this is your “normal,”, and you probably have nothing to worry about. 

If you experience regular bowel movements, but they are accompanied by abdominal pain or bloating, you may want to consult your doctor to get to the bottom of things so that you can be more comfortable moving forward. 

Sources

Normal Bowel Movement Why it is Important For Your Health | Intermountain Healthcare

Bowel Retraining: Strategies for Establishing Bowel Control | About Constipation.org 

Tips for a Healthy Bowel Movement | Mass General