Mailbag! Embarrassing Bathroom Issue SOLVED
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted October 12, 2021
I suffer from constipation and it’s really embarrassing. Is there anything that can help?
–Joe from Omaha, NE
********
Joe,
Yes, you’re right—constipation can definitely be embarrassing. It’s also painful and not good for your health.
Most mainstream doctors think it’s normal if you move your bowels only once or twice a week.
I most certainly do not.
In nature, most animals go to the bathroom much more than we do (often after every meal).
That is because most animals are eating a high number of foods that keep their digestive tracks moving along. We, on the other hand, eat a bunch of junk.
After all, you don’t see too many horses passing up their oats for a bag of Cheetos.
If you’re one of the folks who struggle every time they sit down on the toilet, there are easy ways to fix the problem.
Dr. Scott’s Path to Better Pooping
- Start with water. Your stool should be about 70 percent water, but many of us don’t get enough water every day. My best trick for getting enough water is to grab a tall one-liter bottle and drain it twice a day.
- Diet. You probably already know this, but most Americans are woefully low on fiber. On average, most adults only get about 8g of fiber each day. In comparison, you should be getting around 22g of fiber every day. The most popular way to increase fiber is through products like bran fiber or psyllium. These work, but I recommend simply eating more vegetables. In case you didn’t know, always introduce ANY fiber slowly to your diet. If you go too fast, you can get gassy.
- Probiotics. It might surprise you, but somewhere between 50 to 80 percent of your stool is bacteria. That means the bacteria that live in your gut are extremely important to how often you move your bowels. Try eating more fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, real sauerkraut, and miso, as well as take a quality probiotic supplement.
- Exercise. I see people walking outside everyday with their dogs waiting for them to go to the bathroom. Take a page from their book, and get moving to help your bowels get moving… activity causes things to move around in your digestive track. Exercise after dinner, or first thing in the morning. Both are great ways to keep things moving smoothly.
- Drug check. Many drugs increase constipation, including antidepressants, antihistamines, some blood pressure medications, and cholesterol-lowering medication. The worst offenders, however, are prescription pain killers. Go over your medication list with your doctor to rule out any constipation-causers.
- Laxatives. It might surprise you, but many of these can be addictive. I prefer using laxatives for occasional constipation and not as a daily habit. I also recommend taking magnesium or vitamin C as a laxative. Try 500mg of magnesium or 1000 to 2000mg of vitamin C.
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click here to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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