Study Finds How Often You Poop Could Predict Health Risks

Time to up your fiber intake.

Going to the bathroom is considered by many to be no more than a simple body waste removal function. But it turns out how often you end up sitting on the toilet might be able to tell you something about health problems you could face in the future.

A new study published in the Cell Reports Medicine journal outlines researchers’ findings on the apparent correlation between bowel movement frequency and potential chronic diseases. To understand the connection, the team examined stool samples from 1,400 American adults and recorded how often they had bowel movements, as well as their dietary habits and exercise and stress levels.

“Bowel movement abnormalities, such as constipation or diarrhea, have been linked to diseases ranging from enteric infections to many chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease and irritable bowel disease and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease,” the authors wrote in the study. The scientists then set out to see if just how often one uses the bathroom could help play a role in making these predictions.

The team found indicators of reduced organ function in participants who had abnormal bowel movement frequencies. They also found possible health risks from both constipation and diarrhea. Having a hard time keeping a regular bowel movement schedule, they believe, could end up being a risk factor for developing chronic disease.

The study found the ideal number of bowel movements for a healthy lifestyle and possibly reducing chronic disease risk was one to two times per day, with a healthy range being anywhere between three times a day and three times a week. Still, it isn’t clear which comes first: if people with chronic disease just have bowel abnormalities, or if things like constipation and diarrhea that cause infrequent bowel movements are risk factors for developing chronic disease years later.

If you aren’t getting enough fiber in your diet, now might be the time to incorporate more.