Constipation and Your Brain
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and includes the opinion of the author. Information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease. It is simply information found through experience and/or research. Always follow the directives of a licensed health professional. Neither Anita Bastian or the publisher of the information takes any responsibility for actions readers take in regards to how they use or perceive the information. Readers are encouraged to do their own research.
Is it necessary to poop every day? Let’s explore the facts.
It is extremely common for people not to poop every day. In some circles this is seen as acceptable. In others it is not. Generally speaking, people poop between once every 3 days and 3 times per day. Please always keep in mind that what is common is not always good or healthy.
Given the fact that many people don’t go #2 every day or even every other day, it is commonly thought that We don’t need to poop every day. Let’s explore facts related to this statement. Then you can decide for yourself. Perhaps the best place to start is to understand why we poop. Why can’t we leave the hospital until we are pooping and peeing? Why don’t we feel well when we are constipated?
FACT 1: Pooping is absolutely essential to our health. When we poop our body gets rid of waste products. If these waste products are left inside the colon, they can really cause problems. Perhaps that is why we can’t be released from a hospital stay without this happening.
FACT 2: Poop contains broken down byproducts of unabsorbed food. When left in the body it can ferment and create gas. Not only is this uncomfortable and perhaps embarrassing at times, but it can be harmful. Poop also contains toxins the body has prepared for removal. If we don’t poop, waste matter can begin to coat the lining of the colon, leading to bowel obstruction, pain, and more discomfort. If this continually happens, it narrows the opening of the descending colon leaving a smaller opening for the waste to flow through and exit.
FACT 3: The liver plays a critical role in waste removal. The liver produces bile. Bile is a substance designed to break down waste products to prepare them for removal. It also plays a role in supporting the pancreas to metabolize glucose, converting fats into usable fatty acids, and converting cholesterol into Vitamin D and other hormones. Head to this article to learn more about cholesterol. When the liver is overburdened with toxins, it isn’t as able to break down glucose and fats. Supporting proper liver function can be a key to supporting bowel motility.
FACT 4: Unremoved waste causes inflammation in the lining of the colon. Prolonged inflammation can lead to deeper levels of inflammation or colitis that weaken the walls of the colon and develop into toxic colon or toxic megacolon. When the walls of the intestine or colon are weakened, toxins can leak through into our bloodstream. This leads to systemic toxicity. TOXINS circulating EVERYWHERE the blood flows. Not good! No wonder we feel lousy when we are constipated.
FACT 5: There is a correlation between neurological issues and constipation. Likely because of the leakage of toxins that get into the bloodstream and reach the brain. It can become of vicious cycle if the problem isn’t resolved. So if you’re experiencing brain fog or other cognitive issues, then constipation needs to be addressed. Clearing your bowels is a great place to start in clearing the way to better brain function. (You may laugh, but it’s true!) Optimal brain function goes hand in hand with optimal bowel movements.
Let’s return to the garbage disposal analogy. We know what happens when a garbage disposal isn’t working. It becomes clogged. Nastiness backs up into the sink. If the root cause of the garbage disposal problem isn’t resolved, stagnation of the wastes will set in. Would you continue to put more trash down the sink with a dysfunctional garbage disposal? NO! Of course not. Well, when we aren’t pooping regularly this is what we are doing. Piling more trash on the already stagnant, fermenting stack of accumulated waste in our colon. NOT GOOD!
Back to the question: Do you need to poop every day? While we can get by without pooping every day. I think you can see how not going #2 can lead to much greater problems over time. These problems can impact any organ of the body including your precious brain. Alongside fatigue, constipation is an issue nearly all clients have when they first see me. Fatigue and constipation are the body’s “check engine” lights warning us of a deeper problem. It’s good to get comfortable talking about poop. It’s a natural, and vital part of our health and well-being.
Most experts feel that it is best if we poop at least once per day. Two times is more ideal. I know this varies from what traditional health professionals state. After seeing the negative and rather serious effects constipation can lead to, I think you can see how important regular bowel movements are. That said, I definitely wouldn’t start taking laxatives. Laxatives are a band-aid fix that can lead to other health problems. Handling the root causes to me is the way to go. But you decide what is best for you.
Some may be asking, what causes constipation? This is not a simple question. There are multiple contributors to constipation. Here are a few: dehydration, pesticides, herbicides, toxic metals, parasites, and mold mycotoxins. As with most issues, there isn’t just one cause. We need to take a look at the whole picture. That’s what I love about wholistic wellness. We take a deep dive into the whole picture with as much detail as possible.
If you feel like your internal garbage disposal isn’t working and you’re ready to take steps to prevent bigger problems from happening request an assessment today. We can take a comprehensive look at what your underlying causes are, and create a personalized plan to naturally support your elimination system.
Blessings as you keep things moving! 😊
Anita