POOR BOWEL HABITS (PART 3)- PROLONGED TOILET SITTING

I know I said that straining on toilet is probably the most common poor bowel movement but actually this one probably takes the cake! Maybe it’s a close tie between this and straining. I’ll let y’all decide! I think more often that not though, straining goes hand in hand with sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods of time. 

Friends, I know this one will be a hard pill for many to swallow but unfortunately it’s true🫣
If your gut is healthy, it should only take 1-2 minutes to open up your bowels and only a few minutes (5-10) to empty it. If you spending a lot of time in the bathroom, it’s either because you’re too distracted while there (hello phone use) or  struggling with some sort of bowel movement problem, some of which I discussed in previous posts.
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Well Ivy, if I wanna sit on the throne for extended periods, what’s the big deal?!
Glad you asked.

If it’s a result of distraction, you’re missing important sensations and urges from your body that ease bowel movement. (Sharing more on that in a future post)
💡You’re also  missing out on the important window when your body is primed and ready to release bowels easily and quickly.
💡This can lead to you then having to strain to release bowels which we already discussed the problems with straining in previous reels
💡Spending too long on the toilet can also put a lot of pressure on your rectal veins. This can lead to hemorrhoids.
💡Not to mention all the pressure you’re putting on your pelvic floor muscles which can lead to incontinence at best or even something as serious as prolapse of your organs.
💡Other dangers of prolonged sitting on toilet can include nerve damage, UTIs and other infections. With regard to constipation it can be a vicious cycle where constipation can be not only a cause of prolonged sitting but also result from it!

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What if you’re not part of the Royals club above by choice but find yourself spending too long in the throne room against your will? Here are some things to consider if you’re in this category:

It’s important to understand how bowel movements happen. Refer to my previous posts-PART 1 and PART 2, as well as the post on constipation vs diarrhea, where I go into great details explaining the mechanisms of what’s happening in these situations and nourishing remedies to try. I also share tips on how to have easy, efficient and quick bowel movements.

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That said, there's another aspect to bowel movement which is the crucial role the Enteric Nervous System plays in all of this. I'll be sharing all about that in a future post.

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If you  think you could have a lazy bowel, struggle with chronic constipation, diarrhea, bowel movement issues of any sort, gut health problems, inflammation, skin conditions etc and could benefit from professional support from a gut health specialist, I strongly recommend checking out our Gut Rehab Program. Feel free to reach out to me and I would love to come alongside you to provide the expertise and guidance you need to conquer these challenges in a nourishing way. I’m currently offering a complimentary 15 minutes call with me where we can discuss your symptoms and discover what the path to healing may look like for you. Book your free call here.