Am I still healthy when I don't poop everyday?

Question

Sometimes I poop everyday, but usually I do it 3-5 times a week. Sometimes I go for about two days without going to toilet and then on the third day I sh*t loads. Is it normal to not poop everyday? If it's not is there any remedy I can use?

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

When I was a teen, I wouldn't poop for 3 or 4 days. One guy in high school didn't believe me, so the young scientist that I was, I started recording each day that I pooped. I kept recording data for about 2 years. At first, my poops were, on average, about every 3.5 days, but as the months went by, the average got shorter and shorter. What I didn't compute was a moving average because, back then, I didn't know what a moving average was...

Anyway, there were two hypothetical reasons why the cumulative average got shorter:
First, my body was still changing.
Second, my lifestyle was changing - I no longer was just eating whatever my mother maid, but, once in college, I ate what the school gave me or what I made for myself. This was significant because, when I was young, I was a VERY finicky eater - just meat, corn, fruits, breads. I never ate vegetables and the bulk of the mass of what I was eating was meat - probably more red meat than white meat. Red meat has a tendency to stay in your intestines longer... So, in short, what I really didn't have was much fiber which is what poop is made out of. So, this is why I didn't poop much.

Bottom line, while it's not unhealthy, per se, to not poop for days, you really ought to poop more by getting more fiber in your diet. This means eating whole grains. So, for instance, instead of eating white bread products, eat whole wheat or rye. Instead of peeling an apple, eat the who apple, skin and all. That sort of thing.

The reason high fiber is good for you is that it DOES cause you to poop more and that's a good thing because anything bad that you eat that might cause cancer will not be in your body as long. For instance, here's an article from the Harvard Medical School about the relationship between red meat consumption and colon cancer. (Keep in mind that red meat lasts longer in the colon...)
www.health.harvard.edu/.../red-meat-and-colon-cancer

zeitgeist057 · Accepted Answer

Optimal pooping health is once per day, and ideally around the same time every day.

To get this "regularity", you can easily ingest some extra fiber. My recommendation would be natural fiber either in the form of fruit or some psyllium husk fiber.

I put psyllium husk fiber in my smoothies (about 4g-5g). This is probably the easiest and most simple method.

But you can also get proper fiber from fruits and veg. Eating around:

12oz-16oz of : raspberries, blackberries, acai, strawberries, peaches, apricots, avocado, pear, spinach, and many others. Here is an article with a list of high fiber foods.

You may be surprised at the efficacy of some of these foods, so be careful! I know I have had occasions where I ate a ton of fruit (like 2 lbs of fresh blackberries, for example) and then I had a lot of loose poop within 24 hours. The other thing is you might start to develop a slight toleration. 5g of psyllium husk fiber might give you diarrhea the first time you use that much, but then a month later it's just the right amount. My suggestion is to start slow with smaller amounts then increase a little more at a time until you find the right amount for you.

Luminair3 · Accepted Answer

Some people have this problem. I can't go a day without doing it. In case if I can't poop for one day I feel uncomfortable. The best is to make yourself go everyday or at least 5-6 times a week. Try eating fruits or drinking fruit juice, helps me. Especially bananas, avocado and mangos make me go. Also drink enough water.

On_cloud_wine · Accepted Answer

eat an apple every day.. that’ll help your bowel movements

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

There are certain food types that pretty much go through your system without much hassle, eating these will make you more frequent.

eating food types that need your gut to work, means it can be longer before your poop.

Also the amount of water that you drink greatly impacts how often you pass poops.

https://www.bbuk.org.uk/blog/how-to-keep-your-bowels-healthy-in-2020/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/

in addition to your actual diet and liquid in take, there is exercise and mastication.

I was in hospital back in 2012 with some serious trauma damage including stomach, which ended up in staples from sternum to groin lol.

I then had to go through rehabilitation which was getting my stomach to work again lol.

the key bit is chewing to make your brain start sending signals and starting your gut working and then walking as this also gets your Bowels and guts etc working.

https://www.mcht.nhs.uk/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=23298&type=full&servicetype=Attachment

Random I had a couple of weeks of inspecting my poo lol and taking in random samples 🤦‍♂️

Kakecups · Answer

I’ve got one in me per day. If I don’t poop once a day I actually get anxious. Sometimes stool softeners are the cure. Happy pooping 😬

DrVain7 · Answer

You are most likely fine, but it creates long term risks (starting with intestines and the immune system as a whole). Remedy is simple: eat more vegetables and fruits, choose whole grains, minimize protein-rich foods (meat, eggs, dairy, white flour products), drink plenty of water, avoid coffee and sweet drinks (they make you loose water and make you thirsty).

CasuallySamsonite · Answer

There could be lots of reasons, but regular bowel movements are generally better for overall health. Look at your Diet and exercise. Are you eating well? Do you get regular daily exercise? Fiber is always good, and walking stimulates bowels. Hope that helps~

Nik1hil · Answer

WTF I poop like 3 times in one day!..  I don't think you are eating right kind of food with enough fibers and also not drinking enough water..

YOLOIFIC · Answer

IIRC you should have a bowel movement at least once every three days.

I’m not a doctor though, so this is something you’d want to talk with to a doctor. Since even generalized advice isn’t specific to your medical history.

muscularbumblebee · Answer

I'd just add more fiber to the diet (but gradually not at once) unless you want to live in the bathroom. Wouldn't worry too much but it's probably a sign of a lack of fiber in your diet

FloridaWeatherDude · Answer

Maybe I'm weird but I just couldn't care less how often I pooped or how frequent my mate pooped. Clearly you seem a tad preoccupied by it but for me... it's somewhere around #147 on my list to worry or think about. Now, if it was an issue resulting in pain then of course I could understand one's concern. Best thing would be to go see a doctor. I'll say this much... my EX was very LAX about that shit (pun intended)

Mr_Peterson · Answer

I go twice a day, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. I can't imagine not having a poo for more than a day, I would be desperate.

Hendrix930 · Answer

It’s normal. It happens to me sometimes too. When I gotta go and it’s been a couple days, I’m shitting bricks. LMAO I’d be more concerned if you’re constipated/having a hard time pushing it out.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't either and never have. I don't think it's uncommon at all. I think very few poop every single day? I mean, if you do all the things they say you should, eat "recommended" foods, exercise, etc, but how many people do all the things you're "supposed" to do? lol

JennBITx · Answer

You can be. There may be certain things lacking in your diet that is causing this. Having a fiber bar daily could help this.

sponge-bob · Answer

its not normal to have glitter in your poop unless your a unicorn

realDonaldTrumpJr · Answer

I poop roughly every 3 hours because I'm extremely healthy

Luckycharms12 · Answer

Yes it is normal some people go everyday others don't nothing to worry about

monstertruckgamer393 · Answer

your doing it wrong poop while squating than u will have max poop 1 or 2 per day tank me later.

hahahmm · Answer

It's fine. Some people freak out if they don't go every day tho.

Paris13 · Answer

Normal. Just the Way your Body works. However, If you have real Problems, Get a Colonoscopy. xx

MCheetah · Answer

Wait. Women poop? NO, THEY DON'T!

I go every day and a half or so. So like, every 36 hours. That's how I've always been. I hear vegans poor twice a day. I couldn't handle that. So I think it's all based on your diet.

Adam_West · Answer

you know, I have exactly the same situation and I've thought about it many times. but it never occurred to me that one day someone would actually ask that.

Hanrej · Answer

Consult a doctor or a pharmacist. I don't think it's anything to worry too much about but if you feel discomfort try telling a pharmacist you need somthing to regulate your bowel movements.

Anonymous · Answer

ok but there is glitter on your poop when it does cvome out?

bamesjond0069 · Answer

Im guessing either your fat and eat lots of junk food. Or skinny like vegan girl and lives on a diet of wheat grass juice.

Yourfriend2021 · Answer

Try eating raisin bran, and cabbage soup with lots of cabbage everyday.

Kontrvnote · Answer

I need to go everyday. Try eating some fruits and vegetables.

Quidthonian · Answer

It depends on your diet: you are probably eating very little fibre like bread. I think it is OK.

OnTheLevel · Answer

It's best to go every day. Try fiber supplements... they come in gummies!

MudRucker · Answer

What goes in must come out. So what comes out is a function of what and how much you eat.

Twalli · Answer

You could try laxatives

Anonymous · Answer

Fruit smoothies (no dairy added) help me poo

Anonymous · Answer

Everybody poops, but not everyone poops everyday. That seems like a good amount of bowel movements. I am similar in my pooping.

lycanthrope3 · Answer

Ask your dr, does it glitter

exitseven · Answer

Add fiber to your diet or use Metamucil.

Anonymous · Answer

Low fiber level buy fiber supplement

Iron_Man · Answer

I reckon so poo poo girl

JesseJayNeak · Answer

Try a laxative. Or prunes. Or kiwis

RickVienna · Answer

You have to do a coloscopy

45Fstraight · Answer

Eat more veggies!

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

It would be a bad thing if you do poop everyday

Pterodon · Answer

It’s normal for some

rebeliouse · Answer

lovely pic where on net did u dig that up from lol

Jmmmfi4 · Answer

Girls don't poop

Anonymous · Answer

Your full of shit.

Am I still healthy when I don't poop everyday?

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