Ask HN: Adivce for Better Pooping? I'm heavily relying on iced coffee to poop each day. It does not feel good. Caffine intake is what I'm trying to limit now. And sometimes drinking too much coffee excites me too much. Plus I'm sitting 8+ hrs each day. Don't call me a programmer, call me a sitter. Old men told me, healthy gut, healthy life. But their advice does not apply to me who lives in crazy developing streaks from time to time. Any advice for you guys to regulate your pooping? |
It's all about probiotics and plant fibers.
I found out personally that pill form probiotics don't work for me at all. But, real fermented food like kefir and sauerkraut do wonders. On the other hand, plant fibers can be used in pill form and they work great (I'm using Psyllium Husk Fibre Supplement 700mg daily).
My personal solution to this problem: sandwich with flaxseeds (linnseeds) and peanuts in the morning every day, anything for lunch/dinner with the addition of that 700 mg plant fibers and sauerkraut as a salad, and 1/2 liter kefir for super every day. No more problems whatsoever.
If you ask any proctologist, they will tell you that you should NEVER sit on the loo for more than 3 minutes. Everything longer than 3 minutes is slowly but surely hurting your body and will lead to all sorts of complications eventually.
Also, get one of those Crouching Toilet Stools which help you get in the right anatomical position for offloading. Human intestines system was designed for crouching in the field, NOT for sitting. But, with the addition of this simple, cheap, plastic leg support, you can have the best of both worlds.
Good luck!
Yes same for me. I've had those powders and they do not work for me at all.
> If you ask any proctologist, they will tell you that you should NEVER sit on the loo for more than 3 minutes.
Do those doctors actually listen to themselves lol?
> Crouching Toilet Stools
I actually have one!! No much difference spotted tho.
> Good luck!
Thank you for your kindness!
For me, it makes all the difference about the speed of offloading. Without it, I needed about 10 minutes of getting ready, just sitting there. With it, I'm ready as soon as I climb up the throne. Also, the whole procedure is much faster.
There is one thing I forgot to mention: right after the breakfast I usually drink a liter of water every day. Fifteen minutes later, and I have to go. I read somewhere that number one ingredient for bowel movement is water. I also never ever go to the loo if I don't feel like it.
Some life situations have this phenomenon where one minute you feel like you need to go, the other you don't. Do not trust that second feeling! As soon as you get to the loo and relax, the body will do it's thing. So, counting that one call as a real call is important, and not going after the "maybe not now" feeling.
Yogurt that hasn't had all its bacteria killed off is a good source, and it's EXTREMELY easy to make yourself. The cold method couldn't be simpler: Add whole milk and some fermentation bacteria (I freeze some of the last batch in an ice cube tray) to a vessel that you keep at 42 degrees C for 10 hours (I use an instant pot). Then strain it if you want Greek yogurt, or just eat it like it is.
Quark cheese is also easy: 1 part buttermilk to 4 parts whole milk. Keep at 42 degrees C for 20 hours, then strain it for 5+ hours (I just leave it overnight).
If it's bothering you enough to tell the internet about it, go see the doctor.
It was my mistake that I didn't describe clearly. I've done a colonoscopy recently and it shows nothing bad organically. So I guess it was my lifestyle
- taking a 30min walk in a break (before work, on lunch break, or after work).
- drinking water (tea or tap flavoured with mint or lemon or other if it helps - 2l a day is a minimum target, preferably drink 1l in the early morning).
The exercising part and water part is exactly what I'm missing now. Will definitely try!
And 2L is crazy man. I guess I'm having like 0.7-0.8 per day.
Then, you need to eat more of things that have more dietary fibers.
And then, it takes some time. I would try to make a sugar free diet and reduce sugar and fruit sugar wherever is possible - also it's replacements, artificial sugars. Better drink water with just a drop of Sirup or water mixed fruit juice instead of a coke/sprite/gatorade... Better not that pastries.. prefer less sugar.
Sugar is actually "bad" for our guts bacteria composition. Reduce it for half a year and see the effects.
And then, you may start to train your gut by just sitting on the toilet - but, put a small footstool beneath your feet. That simulates the most natural way of sitting down for a shit in the wild. Relax.
One is set sure every day: Shit happens.
This is actually what my dad has told me. I feel he's crazy because there's just no way to shit if you are empty. I guess I have to reconsider it...
> Sugar is actually "bad" for our guts bacteria composition. Reduce it for half a year and see the effects.
Do you have sources? I actually watched some doctors saying when you are having a stomachache go get some sweetened (but not too sweentend lol) water. So I've always assumed that sugar is good for our guts.
The microbiom consists of different bacteria stems and fungi that fight for food as a question of live-or-die. If you have a high intake of sugar, you give the ones of the fungii and bac.stems an advantage, that specialized on splitting raw sugar for energy. Sugar is the most easiest shape of energy for the foes. So, they will grow faster than the other bacteria/fungi, eventually pushing out competition. But all of them gut's contents have a purpose and having one competitor being pushed out would mean, some purpose is not fulfilled.
So.. eat more of dietary fibers, less sugar and more of things like bread, milk products, rice and noodles, potatos. Less fat-fried and sweetened things. You'll see a difference after a few weeks. Beetroot somehow has a good effect on shitting too xD
I guess it differs from person to person, but for me, I actually still feel thirsty after I'm done with the loo, even though I just drank a liter of water previously. Never in my life did I have a feeling where drinking water would slow down my digestion. In my personal experience it is quite the opposite: the more water I drink, the faster my metabolism goes. On the other hand, the more sugar I eat, the slower my metabolism goes.