If you must, then you must. Toilet chats remain a difficult topic, while a healthy intestinal flora and smooth defecation are just so important.
It remains – for some – crazy to talk about, while we all do it:pooping. How often and how smoothly, that differs per person. But according to one expert, in principle we are all not doing it right.
Also read:'This is what your intestines do for you'
On average, we defecate once a day. That can mean that you 'have to' twice a day, while your neighbor only goes once every two days. You will not immediately suffer from constipation if, for example, you only poop once every two or three days. That rhythm can simply vary greatly from person to person. Of course, it is important to maintain your fiber intake. Fibers propel the mass in your intestines towards the exit in a healthy way. Do you have the idea that something has to come out that doesn't want to come out now? Try eating a yellow kiwi. In addition, it is also good for a cold.
Often heard in relation to childbirth and yoga classes. But your pelvic floor is also the key to good pooping. You can see your pelvic floor as a kind of muscle, with connective tissue around it, on which your organs rest, as it were. To be able to defecate properly, you must also be able to let the muscle relax properly.
And therein lies the crux, says gastroenterologist Daniel Keszthelyi. The toilets in the western world are actually too high to achieve optimal relaxation of your pelvic floor. In less developed countries, pooping is often done in a squatting position, which prevents many pooping problems. Precisely because in a squatting position you automatically relax the muscle sufficiently.
He recommends just going if you feel the urge. Don't put off until home because you feel uncomfortable at work. Or holding on until the next gas station, on the way to your holiday destination. Furthermore, it is best to keep an eye on your fiber intake. And do you prefer to keep moving – even when you are on holiday. That stimulates a healthy bowel function.
