How Your Lifestyle Affects Bowel Function

After passing through your top floor digestive tract, the large intestine takes the heat off the small intestine, pancreas and liver, a last minute stop on the extraction trail. If the large intestine or colon, as it’s also called, can’t process the remaining waste the way it’s supposed to, blockages and other complications will occur. Anything from constipation, to irritable bowel syndrome or more dramatically, bowel cancer.

Defecation is a vital facet of gastro intestinal and pelvic floor health; your lifestyle could be directly responsible for bloating, constipation, gas build up and unpredictable bowel movements. Are you taking care of your bowels?

Exercise

The human body is an organic machine; exercising stimulates movement, muscle tension and release, chemical reactions and finally, colon activity. Getting a move on will help motivate a stubborn bowel into pushing food waste down the right channels, reducing food travel time down the large intestine. Go for a swim, get outside or go for a short walk at lunchtime; relieving your mind will also maintain a healthy digestive, respiratory and emotional state.

Tip: Don’t head straight to the gym, park or pool after a big meal. Chill out for an hour before burning into the calories.

Stress

When was the last time you relaxed? Let the worries of the day float away, reclining with slip of scotch, watching the sun sink over the horizon and work, unsaddled from your mind. It’s probably been a long time. Emotions influence the chemical reactions of the body on the brain-gut axis; digestive tract nerve endings are triggered by nerves, fear, anger, anxiety and fatigue. Emotions can manifest, speeding food through the digestive tract, prompting abdominal contractions and diarrhoea. Conversely, digestive enzymes can instead take their time, secreting minute amounts and causing constipation. Stress and anxiety are the natural enemies of the human body, exacerbating a myriad of physical symptoms and promoting the hold of toxic conditions. Manage stress by enrolling in an afternoon yoga course, unwinding twice a week and making new friends; taking a bubble bath after a particularly horrible day or meditating, accepting the events of the day and releasing them.

The In-Tray

A well-oiled, organic machine needs fibre, water and oxygen to function, day in day out. A low fibre or limited diet is starving your body of essential nutrients and mitigating its ability to produce waste. High-fibre devotees are less likely to become constipated or suffer from bloating, relying on laxatives less to prompt the healthy passage of waste. If you’re lacking fibre, load up on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and minimise cheese, eggs, dairy and meats. Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins and regulate your system – H20 encourages pipe flow, thickening stools and building a healthier you.

As our national diet continues to decline and weight associated health problems threaten lives, bowel health is becoming increasingly important. If you need a quick fix cause the feeling is beyond uncomfortable try Dulcolax for relief of constipation. Every lifestyle choice has a consequence. Make sure your choices are helping you get the best out of life.

Author Bio: John is a health consultant and has been for the past 2 years. In his spare time he likes to write blogs about health, fitness and all round well-being.