You get up and you poop. After doing the deed, you carry on with your day and the cycle repeats the next day. But have you ever noticed how often you go to the washroom to empty your bowels? Apparently, the number of times you poop could reveal a lot about your long-term health.
A new study has found that the frequency impacts your gut microbiome and risk of chronic disease. Let’s take a look. How was the study conducted? The study published Tuesday in the journal Cell Reports Medicine analysed health and lifestyle data of over 1,400 healthy American adults.
Researchers examined the bowel movements of participants and how the frequency could have a link to gut bacteria and chronic disease. Of the participants, 83 per cent were white aged between 19 to 89 years old. About 65 per cent of participants were female.
They self-reported their bowel movement and were divided into four groups – constipation (one or two bowel movements per week), low-normal (three to six bowel movements per week), high-normal (one to three daily) and diarrhoea (four or more times per day), reported CNN. Researchers collected participants’ stool and blood samples and surveyed their dietary habits, exercise and stress levels. What did the study find? The study found reduced organ function in those who had abnormal bowel movements.
It revealed there were health risks for those who had constipation and regular diarrhoea. While chronic constipation was associated with decreased kidney function, diarrh.