Today, we’re going to get down and dirty. We’re going to talk about… you guessed it! Poo. Much easier and more fun to say than “bowel movement.” This subject is so important that you’ll notice that I refer to it often in my writings. And, the one-and-only Dr. Bernard Jensen wrote a whole book about it, called Dr. Jensen’s Guide to Better Bowel Care. A highly recommended read.

Now, stop focusing on the actual act (caught ya!), and instead think about the whole process of digestion, right from eating to elimination. We eat food to fuel and nourish us, and whatever’s left over after absorbing all of the delicious nutrients gets expelled as waste. But wait! It’s more than just the extras; it’s bacteria, toxins, and chemicals, including hormones (which are toxic in the high amounts that are all too often lurking in our bodies). Huh?

Let me explain. Our liver is responsible for filtering our blood and detoxifying our bodies. After this process, the toxins and hormones are dumped into the small intestine along with bile. From there, all of this is meant to be excreted in our, um, poo. Key word: meant (no, not poo). 🙂 However, without adequate fibre and regular bowel movements, that bile (along with those toxins) is reabsorbed right back into our bloodstream. And where does it go? Back to our poor liver! That’s where! In fact, according to Udo Erasmus in his amazing book Fats That Heal Fats That Kill, without enough fibre and proper regularity, about 94% of bile is reabsorbed! Think about that for a second. All of that hard work done by Livey (our liver), only to be brought right back to him so he has to do it all over again! Would you be mad if your boss kept tearing up your project the minute it was done, demanding that you do it again, from scratch? I think so! And do we seem to care if our liver is mad at us for doing the same thing? I think not!

Well, I demand that we start caring. And how can we do this? By making sure that our digestion is working properly and we are excreting what is meant to be excreted. If any kind of digestive symptoms are present (acid reflux, gas, bloating, general indigestion), taking digestive enzymes in supplemental form can help to reduce these symptoms. Also, apple cider vinegar in water helps our own digestive juices to be secreted. (Swedish Bitters are also excellent for this purpose.) Further, probiotics are good bacteria that reside in the gut and ensure proper digestion as well as absorption of nutrients. Taking them in supplemental form can also help to improve digestion. Finally, we must ensure that we are getting adequate fibre everyday. Fruits and vegetables contain it, as do whole grains and legumes (lentils, beans, and peas). Adding extra fibre, such as psyllium, ground flaxseeds, and oat bran, promotes regularity and allows the body to excrete more toxins.

How much is enough (BMs, that is)? Well, there should be at least one happening everyday. And don’t think constipation is limited to those who strain during elimination; if your BMs happen once every few days, you’re constipated. And, if it’s thin and/or in small pieces, you’re also constipated. It should be full and bulky, and pass through easily.

Okay, enough poo talk! I apologize for the graphic descriptions to those who are cringing at this very moment (I tried to keep it light), but I felt them necessary to really explain what I mean. Bottom line (pun intended) is that elimination is just as important and healthy as the act of eating itself; we must ensure that it is happening frequently and properly.

Sing it with me now… poo, poo, poo poo peedoo!