3 Good-For-You Habits That Might Actually Mess With A Healthy Poop Routine

Number 2 may come as a surprise (no pun intended!)

Aug 16, 2022 - 21:02

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3 Good-For-You Habits That Might Actually Mess With A Healthy Poop Routine

Abstract minimal shot of toilet paper rolls on blue-purple seamless

August 16, 2022 — 10:16 AM

If you’re working to create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for yourself then you likely have a collection of habits that you’ve integrated into your daily routine to help reach your goals. And what’s healthier than a regular, consistent bathroom schedule?

Pooping each day is important for overall health and generally feeling great in your body, but what if we told you that some of the positive habits you’re engaging in may actually mess with that restroom routine? Eating highly processed foods, failing to drink enough water, and generally avoiding exercise are some of the better known belly bullies to ditch—but there are also some seemingly healthy habits that may lead to bathroom woes.

3 healthy habits that might mess with digestion.

Don’t get us wrong, bananas are great. Not only are they packed with fiber, but they offer a great source of potassium to help you work towards your daily nutrition goals. However, if you’re eating bananas that fall on the green end of the scale, you may be doing your body a disservice.

While they do contain pectin and resistant starch, which act as a prebiotic and feed the good bacteria in your gut, they may also be more difficult to digest. So if you're already experiencing trouble with regularity, this may not be the best fruit to nosh.

Exercise is generally considered positive for getting things moving, but the intensity of your HIIT workout may actually make things worse. “One client of mine was doing high-intensity interval training almost every day, and it was actually overly stressing her body,” Robin Berzin, M.D., an mbg Collective member and Functional Nutrition Program instructor previously told mbg. “What we know is that for the gut to move, it has to relax. And when you’re in a state of stress all day, and then you do high-intensity interval training over and over again, sometimes it never gives the gut that time to relax, digest, and move.”

3. Eating more veggies (kind of…)

A diet packed with veggies is certainly going to help provide your gut with the fiber it needs for regular bowel movements, but if you’re already having trouble using the restroom, quickly integrating loads of greens may not be the best course of action.

"If you start adding more plants to your diet, you'll often feel gassy and bloated and have worsening abdominal discomfort. Instead, focus first on restoring rhythm," gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., MSCI, author of The Fiber-Fueled Cookbook previously shared.

Registered dietitian and gut health expert Heather Finley, D.C.N., M.S., R.D., shares her strategy here for incorporating more veggies, without the unwanted effects.

One healthy habit that won’t backfire on your gut health? A targeted probiotic like mbg’s probiotic+. Formulated with four targeted strains that have been clinically shown to support gut health and maintain key, daily functions of the digestive system such as abdominal comfort and regularity, this probiotic is ideal for keeping your gut health in check.*

It's only natural to be frustrated if the habits you've intentionally added to your day are backfiring on your gut health, but if you want to support regularity, consider taking a look at your existing practices. Making small tweaks towards a less intensive form of exercise daily, eating riper bananas, and integrating more veggies at a manageable pace could help improve your well-being and keep things regular, for ultimate comfort. And the cherry on top? A good probiotic.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/healthy-habits-impact-digestion