What to eat for healthy poop may not be a “polite” topic for the dinner table. But, as we’ve discovered, it should be, especially when you consider your bowel movements are an indicator of your health.
What are the signs of a healthy bowel?
Being regular is not so much about frequency, as having bowel motions that are easy to pass. On the Bristol Stool Chart, you’re looking for a three or four. Usually, the bowel wants to empty 30 minutes after a meal, and for many people this happens after breakfast. Once you get the urge to go, you should also be able to hold on, and then pass a bowel motion within a minute of sitting down.
How to score your poop
The Bristol Stool Chart is an illustrated medical tool that classifies bowel motions into seven types. What your poo looks like (and how it scores) depends on how long it’s been in your intestine. It’s a result of what you eat, how much fluid you get, and how active you are.
Straining to go?
Constipation can occur for a number of reasons, including travel, changes in routine, not not enough fluid, and not enough exercise. And not enough fibre in the diet. One high-fibre way to prime your bowel for regularity is to eat a teaspoon of linseed with a little yoghurt each morning and evening with a couple of glasses of water.
What are the best foods for bowel health?
When it comes to good bowel health, you want to include plenty of fibre-rich foods. You’re aiming to have between 25 grams and 30 grams of fibre each day. See below for some recommendations of fibre-rich foods and recipes with them.
Text: The Australian Women’s Weekly / Additional Reporting: Sean Tan
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