We are going there. Time to talk poop — one of my favourite topics. Seriously.
My attention to poop started when most people’s attention to poop starts, when it’s not going right. When we’re all pooping it up without a care in the world, we hardly give it a second thought. It’s one of those blessed activities our bodies do that help us keep moving and shaking without feeling weighed down, without bad breath, without body odour, and without any stressing or straining. There are definitely things worth straining and stressing over in our world, but poop is not one of them.
Unfortunately, most people are simply not pooping enough. This can be due to several factors, including:
- Dehydration
- Low fibre in the diet
- Not making the time
- Stress
- Lack of movement/exercise
If we’re not pooping enough, we can’t be optimally healthy.
$700,000,000 is spent every year on laxatives!
Our favourite functional medicine specialist and clinical nutritionist Josh Gitalis is back in the kitchen with us to share his top tips on pooping. In this episode of #MeghanTV, we cover:
- How often we should be pooping
- How to know if we are constipated
- Why pooping is so fundamental to health
- Why laxatives are so dangerous
- The ideal pooping position for optimal elimination
- The key factors for good pooping
- A mineral that many of us are deficient in that can help
- Bonus: Mine and Josh’s favourite phrase, said in unison
One of my personal favourites to help get things movin’ is a little flaxseed tea.
Flax Tea
1 tbsp flax seeds
2 cups of water
1 tbsp chopped ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
- Simmer together for 20 minutes.
- Pour through a strainer and sip.
The simmered flax will create this mucilaginous effect that is incredibly soothing to the digestive tract and helps poop slip right on out.
I am pretty sure no one here is going to want to volunteer their own best remedies to reduce constipation, but if you do — go for it in the comments below.
15 responses to “7 Ways To Reduce Constipation”
This is so helpful! Thank you!
When my daughter needs to get it moving, we go for more fiber. This often happens when we’re travelling and our regular diet is impacted.
My quick fix? 2 dried apricots and more water. We prefer the not sulfured variety, but the orange apricots that are easier to find work in a pinch too.
I make a super constipation-killing cereal that my whole family, including my sister, mother and aunties are completely addicted too. It works like magic and has kept us regular for the last decade. The recipe is available here and it’s totally undiet friendly.
http://www.puritarian.com/2014/04/13/constipation-killing-cereal/
[…] 7 Ways to Reduce Constipation […]
If you are really really backed up and nothing is working, a little warm prune juice (gross, i know), will do the trick.
We’re fostering a dog and have been going on two 30 minute walks a day. Both my partner and I (sorry to overshare!) began “going” an extra time each day. So along with making fruit a habit and drinking water, my “best remedy to decrease constipation” is “WHEN YOU GET MOVING, YOU GET THINGS MOVING”! If you don’t have a dog to walk try getting off the subway one stop earlier or being dropped off a few minutes a way from your destination instead of at the door. Slowly increase your daily activity and your washroom activity will increase too :) Great article & video Meghan!
That’s awesome!
GREAT advice & so true. Movement = movement☺
I take a superdose of vitamin C (2500mg+) first thing in the morning before eating with some magnesium/calcium powder (wait at least an hour or so) & supposedly it goes straight into the small intestine & hydrates everything. So far this has worked for me because it makes everything soft enough that it doesn’t put too much strain on my fissure
Hi Meghan,
Thanks for posting this again! Question – is your flax tea recipe safe to drink when pregnant?
Thanks,
Andrea
Hi Andrea, thank you for your message! I would recommend that you speak to your natural health care practitioner to see if this is right for you during pregnancy.
Hey Meghan,
Thanks for sharing this recipe. Is this tea safe to drink every day? My mom has had problems with constipation her whole life and now even more due to cancer treatment. I’ve made it for her a few times and it has helped but now I think she might benefit from it every day.
Hi Myriam. I always recommend checking in with a health practitioner for customized advice, especially when dealing with a serious health issue like cancer. I wish your mom well!
Hello,
Drinking lots of water, eating a few kiwis, go for a jog or walk, do crunchies & have a spoonfull of olive oil first thing in the morning and before going to bed are a few of my tricks.
Really enjoy reading all your articles :)
I drink a green smoothie every morning for breakfast. One third of peeled cucumber, a handful of spinach, a bit of kale, one branch of celery, a third of mango, a peeled apple, a banana and a table spoon of coconut oil. Mix everything in the blender and it’s delicious and healthy.