Anyone who has ever suffered from occasional or chronic constipation or infrequent trips to the toilet knows just how frustrating it can be to not poop every day. If you’ve been asking yourself what can’t I poop, you’re not alone and we have some ideas to help.
Constipation is usually the direct result of a lifestyle that may be lacking in exercise and proper nutrition. Many of us live more sedentary lives than we care to admit.
Spending extra time on the couch or sitting at a desk all day at work can cause havoc to the body’s digestive system.
You don’t need to go all out at the gym seven days a week to gain the benefits of exercise. Simply making a commitment to move your body a few days a week will help you to feel better.
Go for a walk around your neighbourhood, do an online yoga video or meet up with a friend for a game of tennis. The options are endless when it comes to physical activity and they all will leave you feeling great!
Add a poor diet to inactivity and you have the perfect recipe for disaster when it comes to constipation. A diet rich in soluble fibre is necessary to have regular, healthy bowel habits.
Fibre can be supplemented in a capsule or drink powder, but it’s easiest to simply eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to gain the power of fibre.
Some of the best fibre-filled foods to eat are also the most delicious! Consider starting your day with a bowl of oatmeal. I don’t mean the sugary packet kind; old fashioned or steel-cut oats are the best.
Sprinkle your cooked oats with a little bit of ground flaxseed and top with a handful of bright, colourful, delicious berries and you have easily added more fibre in one meal than you may have been getting in an entire day.
Being mindful of the foods that we eat will help our digestion and our overall health. Eliminating properly is important.
We don’t want to suffer through a toxic build-up of digested food sitting in our bodies. It is important to do all that we can to help keep our bodies running smoothly and efficiently.
If you’re not pooping every day it is likely you are constipated and need a probiotic. Probiotics are supplements that are as easy to take as your daily multivitamin and they provide a wealth of benefits. Here are some of the benefits that can happen when you start taking a probiotic regularly:
- More regular bowel movements
- Clearer skin
- Less bloating and gas after eating
- Enhanced immune system response to colds and flu
Once you’ve decided to use a probiotic, you’ll start to see results quickly. Probiotics work by boosting all of the good flora in the gut. Once they get to work, you’ll see a drastic improvement in your trips to the restroom.
While probiotics can be found in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut, supplements (in pill or powder form) are often easier and more convenient to take.
Probiotics are like a miracle cure for constipation and are recommended by many medical professionals when their patients are suffering from constipation.
Another great way to ensure that you’re pooping every day is to watch your hydration levels. Keeping adequately hydrated is a great way to keep the digestive system happy and working well.
Water is easy to drink, delicious and free! If water isn’t your favourite, try adding cut-up fresh fruit or a splash of lemon juice and ice to make it more palatable.
There are many great reusable bottles on the market today to help keep you motivated to drink your water each and every day. There are even apps that you can install on your phone to help keep you accountable for your water intake goals.
Herbal teas are also great to keep the body nourished and hydrated. You can also consider adding a smoothie into your daily food plan.
If drinking smoothies, make sure to pack them full of whole fruits, fresh vegetables and a healthy liquid. Consider using unsweetened almond milk, coconut water or a little bit of fresh fruit juice to make the ultimate hydrating smoothie.
Overall, if you’re not pooping every day you’re probably feeling tired, bloated, uncomfortable and defeated.
These easy fixes such as taking a probiotic, eating more fibre-filled fruits, vegetables and whole grains, moving your body and keeping hydrated can all help to remediate the situation quickly.
Before you know it, you’ll be feeling light, healthy and energized. Using the bathroom regularly and conquering constipation will leave you with a lighter, flatter belly and a spring in your step. Start taking some of these steps today and you’ll be feeling better in no time.