How To Have Healthy Bowel Movements

How to have healthy bowel movements is a common question for most people. In today’s society of fast food, high stress levels, not enough sleep and too little exercise, colon health is at an all time low. Digestion and elimination are critical to overall health and well-being. Healthy bowel movements are the result of a good diet, a functioning colon, exercise and regular elimination. Keeping your intestinal tract healthy is a key factor in creating good bowel movements. Common sense and the following few tips will help you have better health.

1. Cut down on processed food. Fast food, pre-packaged food, junk food, white sugar and flour all act as ‘glue’ in your intestinal tract that builds up over time.   
2. Increase consumption of fresh fruits, vegetable and fiber. Eat foods as close to their natural state as possible. Fruits and vegetables contain enzymes that help aid in digestion and fiber that helps to scrub the intestines as it goes through the elimination process.
3. Increase water intake. Drink at least eight to ten glasses of water throughout the day, eight ounces per glass. Coffee, tea and soda act as diuretics causing the body to eliminate too much water. 
4. Add fiber. Adding fiber to your diet is essential in having healthy bowel movements. Fruits and vegetables like apples, berries, broccoli, kale, celery and carrots have fiber. Whole grains and oat or wheat bran are good choices to up your fiber intake.
5. Exercise. Keeping your body moving will help keep your colon moving as well. Exercise for twenty minutes at least three times per week. Walking is a great way to get your exercise while helping the planet by not driving a car everywhere.
6. Sleep at least six to eight hours each night. Enough sleep is critical to your overall health and is considered a luxury, by most, not a necessity. Sleep resets your entire body mentally, physically and emotionally each night. 
7. Make time to have bowel movements. Set a time each day, either after a meal or after exercise to poop. Seriously, holding off when nature calls allows toxins to be absorbed into your body. Let it out.
8. Breathe. In this stressful world, we forget to simply stop, take a breath and really breathe. Having more oxygen in your body helps it and you function better, and lessens stress too.
9. Relax. Stress in this society has become a normal way of being. Take time to ‘be’. How can your colon be healthy and relaxed if you are not?

Healthy bowel movements are possible with these few changes. Remember, your colon is your friend; feed it, hydrate it, massage it, exercise it, and it will treat you well. If your bowel movements change, or your stools are black and tarry, consult your doctor or naturopath.