Judging by the sea of laxatives that can easily be found on the shelves of every pharmacy in the world, I think it’s safe to say that constipation is a common digestive issue.

Whether it’s chronic and ongoing or occasional, most people at one time or another have needed a little assistance in getting Nature to call.

But what about if you are the complete opposite of that?

In other words, is it possible that you could be pooping too MUCH? 

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

How many times does Nature call you?

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

Fewer than one BM a day means constipation, and even though that may be “normal” for you, it isn’t healthy.  

Wastes that stay in your colon for too long create an environment that favors harmful bacteria, which can irritate your gut wall and make it too porous (called leaky gut), as well as weaken your immune system functioning.

Plus straining to have a BM can “blow out” your intestinal wall, creating the little pockets known as diverticulosis.  It’s also a great way to develop hemorrhoids.

On the flip side, some people have two, three or more BMs every single day. 

As long as that has been your poop pattern for quite some time and your stools are well-formed (not loose or diarrhea), chances are excellent that you’re merely enjoying tip-top 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 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 carried out properly.

So if you’ve been under a lot of stress lately, that could have you sprinting to the toilet more than usual.

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.  Keep in mind that regular exercise is the #1 best stress reducer.

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 can constipate you, for many people it does just the opposite and has a laxative effect!

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

You’ve made a recent visit to the pharmacy

Three of the most commonly used drugs 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’s 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 the 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 can be 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 to consider

If in addition to greater poop volume you also experience pain, vomiting or have blood in your stool, it’s time to see a doctor.

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

Vomiting may mean 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 colonoscopy or other testing.

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 Great Taste No Pain health system, I show you how to put together meals that are not only delicious (thanks to my outstanding recipes), 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-strain probiotic 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 and even cancer prevention!

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.

Here’s to your healthy BMs 365 days a year!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia