Do you poop too much?

While constipation is a problem for many people, can the opposite be true and you’re pooping too much?

Let’s take a look and see how your BMs measure up, and whether there is such a thing as too much poop.

How many times does Nature call you?

Ideally, you should be having at least one bowel movement per day. 

Fewer BMs is indicative of constipation, and even though that may be the norm for you, it’s not healthy.   Wastes that stay in the colon for too long create an environment that favors harmful bacteria, which can irritate the gut wall and make it too porous (called leaky gut) as well as impair your immune system functioning.

Some people have two, three or more BMs every single day.  As long as that has been your MO for quite some time or all your life and your stools are well-formed (not diarrhea), chances are excellent that you’re just enjoying sound digestion and are getting your share of fiber to boot.

However, if Nature ringing your phone off the hook is something new for you, then that warrants some investigation.  

Here are some things to consider:

Dietary changes

If your poop volume suddenly shoots up, take a look at your diet.  If you’ve recently started eating healthier (more fruits and vegetables, fewer refined carbs and junk), that’s likely the reason why.  

Things will probably settle down once your body adjusts to the higher water and fiber content of healthy foods.

Stress

Digestion is a parasympathetic process, meaning your body must be in a relaxed state for it to be accomplished properly.

So if you’ve been under a lot of stress lately, that could be manifesting itself as a change in your bowel habits.

If your stress is temporary, that’s one thing.  But if you’re under chronic stress day in and day out, it’s time get help and do what you can to de-stress.

You’ve developed a new love for Joe

If you’ve recently become a coffee lover, know this: While coffee has a diuretic effect and as a result can constipate you, for many people it can do just the opposite and have a laxative effect.

So if your morning Joe sends you to the John, you know what’s up.

You’ve made a visit to the pharmacy

Three of the most commonly used drugs in existence have a side effect of causing diarrhea.

I’m referring to the “ants”—antidepressants, antacids and antibiotics.

If you’re taking a round of antibiotics for an infection, things will probably calm down once the medication is gone.  But if you’re on long-term medication like antidepressants or antacids, it may be time to talk to your doctor about alternatives.

Or better yet, live a healthier lifestyle and see if you can wean off them altogether (with your doctor’s approval).  A healthy diet and regular exercise have been shown to help both acid reflux and depression!

Food has become your enemy

If you notice increased bowel output after eating certain foods, you may have developed an allergy or sensitivity to them.

Although this can happen with potentially any food, especially guilty here are gluten (the protein found in wheat, barley and rye), lactose (a sugar found in dairy products), shellfish, corn, soy, beef, pork and eggs. 

Your doctor can do testing to determine allergies, but testing for sensitivities is less clear-cut. 

Many times a diagnosis is made by simply avoiding the suspected food for a month, seeing how you feel, then reintroducing the food back into your diet.  If your symptoms disappear when you’re avoiding the food and then return when you start eating it again, you’ll have your answer.

Other symptoms

If in addition to increased bowel output you experience pain, vomiting or have blood in your stool, it’s imperative to see a doctor.

Pain can suggest Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, IBS or even just gas.

Vomiting may indicate a stomach bug or food poisoning is affecting you.  Note that many medications can cause nausea and vomiting too—including antibiotics.

And if there’s blood in your stool, generally speaking if the blood is bright red, then that usually indicates hemorrhoids or an anal fissure.  Dark blood, however, suggests a problem further up in the GI tract and your doctor may wish to do a GI series and colonoscopy.

Make sure it’s healthy—no matter how many times you go!

Each of us is different, and what matters more than the number of times you sit on the throne each day is whether you are eating a healthy diet and enjoying sound digestion!

Eating meals that are easier on your system to break down and that have a good balance of healthy foods that are natural sources of fiber and nutrients is the best way to encourage normal, regular BMs.

In my health systems, Great Taste No Pain and for gluten-sensitive people, Great Taste No Gluten, I show you how to put together meals that are not only delicious (thanks to the recipes in both systems), but are MUCH easier for your body to break down.

This can help things “move along” more like they should...and a much better-feeling YOU as a result!

In addition, your friendly gut bacteria help break down certain foods and fiber, so having a proper population of them is crucial for proper digestion.

Trouble is, thanks to our typical processed and fast food diets as well as medications like antacids and antibiotics, many people are walking around with harmful bacteria overgrowth (also known as dysbiosis).  When the "good guys" are overrun by the "bad guys," they can't do their job properly.

And your bowel movements (as well as your immune system functioning) can suffer as a result!

But Super Shield multi-strainprobiotic formula can help turn that around for you.

Super Shield can help you achieve and maintain the ideal balance of at least 85 percent beneficial bacteria and 15 percent or less harmful bacteria.  This is critical to digestive health as well as a strong immune system.

Super Shield's 13 strains of high-quality, potent probiotic bacteria will help repopulate your supply of helpful bacteria, support sound digestion and help your gut recover from the harmful effects of a poor diet or medications.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia