POOR BOWEL HABITS (PART 2)- DEPENDING ON LAXATIVES

If you’ve been using laxatives as if they were vitamin supplements, well you definitely wanna read and save this one. There are certain bowel movement habits that are very common, but far from normal. Not only are they not normal but many have serious consequences and can cause damage to your gut. Let’s discuss another notorious habit- dependence on  Laxatives.
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What are laxatives?
A group of drugs that are meant to facilitate bowel movements. Typically used for those who suffer from chronic constipation. Be sure to refer to my previous 2 reels where I discuss constipation as well as ways to improve bowel movement.

💡How do they work?
I share the mechanism of laxatives to make the point that they are not magic pills and that generally speaking, there’s a better way to achieve these same effects minus the side effects and risks that can accompany use of laxatives.

There are different kinds of laxatives and they typically work as follows:

🌊Osmotics: work basically by pulling water into your colon to make it easier to pass stool
Stimulants: Trigger contractions if your intestinal muscles to encourage bowel movement
🍥Bulk formers: as the name implies, absorbs water to form bulky stool.
💩Stool softeners: make stool softer and easier to pass.
💊Rectal suppositories soften stool and trigger contractions of intestinal muscles.
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If you read PART 1 on straining, you probably realize that the tips I shared addresses all of these effects.

You’re likely taking laxatives due to chronic constipation, so first understand that laxatives aren’t healing the root of the issues. It’s just a band-aid method that creates dependency and in many cases exacerbates the problem you’re trying to fix.
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THIS or THAT: A NOURISHING APPROACH🌱
🌿Osmotics: Think hydration. Before rushing to of popping meds such as Miralax, improve your water and fluid intake. So getting adequate water daily, consuming Whole Foods (lots of fruits have high water content), soups and broths.
Also make sure your electrolytes are balanced.
🌿Bulk formers: Think fiber. If you depend on Benefiber, Citrucel, Metamucil etc, work on consuming more fiber in your diet. Fiber literally adds bulk to your stool. Eating whole foods versus processed will naturally increase your fiber intake. As always be careful to increase fiber gradually to avoid it backfiring and make sure to be drinking enough water. Make sure your gut is healthy enough to handle the load of fiber.

🌿Stool softeners: Think hydration, fiber and healthy fats. I already discussed the first two above. Healthy fats lubricate your gut lining thus making it easier to pass stool. A high quality probiotic with the proper strains may offer additional benefits as well as prebiotics that the probiotics feed on. Dietary fiber doubles as a good source of prebiotics as well.

• Rectal suppositories/Stimulants: Think movement. We already discussed how to soften stool but additionally, we want to think of ways to naturally keep the gut active. Before resorting to Ducolax, Pedialax and co, make sure you're getting enough movement/exercise. The more we move, the better the muscles of the gut perform.

  Also refer to my previous reel for tips on how to position yourself to improve ease of bowel passage.

  If any of the ff applies to you, it is wise to reach out to a gut health specialist such as myself:

  • you need professional support in putting the above into practice,
  • struggle with constipation despite already trying all the above,
  • have underlying health conditions such as underactive thyroid, autoimmune disorders, IBS and other underlying conditions that affect bowel movement.

Please note: I do not recommended nontargeted use of probiotic supplements as they can contribute to dysbiosis or exercebate pre-existing dysbiosis. If you’ve been dependent on laxatives for whatever reason and would like to discover what the path to healing your gut and improving your bowel movements could look like, you may take advantage of a complimentary 15 minutes call with me to  discuss your symptoms. Book your free call here. Many people resort to laxatives and other medication in an attempt to resolves these and other motility issues on their own. Unfortunately many of these approaches cause more serious harm than If you’ve been struggling with motility issues or other gut health problems, I strongly recommend checking out our Gut Rehab Program.