Dr. Thomas Bige discusses some misconceptions about our bowels and clarifies how often we should be “going” each day.
It’s actually normal, by nature, to experience the urge to go within 30 minutes of having a main meal.
Most people believe if they visit the bathroom once a day for No. 2, it’s all good. Some may turn up at our clinic for a colonic because their regular bowel movement per week did not happen for three weeks. Others get concerned if they have the urge to go to the toilet after each meal.
You know what? It’s absolutely okay to go to the toilet after each meal.
Normal Process of Elimination
The stomach, followed by the liver, should start the peristaltic waves, which moves ingested food down the track, causing the valve between the small and large intestine to open, initiating the urge to release. This normal process of elimination is a well-designed and functional system, if we assist it correctly!
However, the sad truth is our modern sedentary lifestyle and restricted choices has prevented us from releasing our waste after every meal. This failure to release waste from our large intestine results in a pile-up and compression of waste. It is only logical that if something enters into a tube, something should exit at the other end of the tube.
The large intestine is more compressed and harder to move if it is:
- Full of starchy glue (man-made carbs);
- Lacking hydration;
- Full of chunky food, due to poor chewing habits. Instead of being focused on assimilating food, our minds are pre-occupied with daily duties, deadlines, appointments, etc. which robs us of spending quality time on ourselves.
I suggest you do a priority check, and list what is more important!
To Every Action, There is a Consequence
It is a well-researched finding that “all diseases start in the gut!” This page would not be enough to list what can go wrong and has gone wrong when you do not empty your “rubbish-bin.”
Would you leave your kitchen waste in 36+C (96.8F) heat, more than a day, lying around – never mind for days – and watch how it rots and gets infested by parasites? There’s no difference in the gut!
Here is the scientific study on poo; pick and choose which one you have and wish to have:
As you may have guessed!
- Types 1-3 are forms of constipation;
- Types 5-7 are forms of diarrhea;
- Type 4 is the easiest stool to pass and demonstrates a healthy colon.
Stools should glide through and out smoothly with no discomfort. When you sit down to release your bowel, there should not be any delay. In fact, you should not have much time for reading at all.
All poo should float, not sink, and should not be seen emerging from the water.
- Sinking poo? Indicates too much starchy food.
- Surfacing poo? Indicates undigested fat in your waste, which is a digestive disorder (liver, gallbladder, pancreatic enzymes) or too much fat or meat eaten, without necessary fibres.
How to fix it?
- Simply eat less starchy food if you have sinking poo, and add more fat, vegetables, and fruit.
- If you have surfacing poo, it is advisable to seek a well-trained naturopath, who has the tools to test your digestive functions and formulate a person-specific program to rectify dysfunctions and prevent further deterioration.
Constipation
If you fit into the Type 1-3 category you have a form of constipation.
Causes of constipation
- Lifestyle Factors: Scattered eating; Lack of fiber; Stress; Travelling or change in routine, Ignoring urges for bowel movement; Lack of exercise.
- Health Conditions: Acute/chronic inflammation in Digestive System and in other organs; Hypo/hyper Thyroid Functions, Monthly Period, Pregnancy.
- Medication Side Effects: Pain killers, Antidepressants, Allergy medications, Diuretics, Iron supplements (medical), Weight loss medications, Antacids.
Tips to prevent constipation:
- Start the day with a glass of warm water with a dash of lemon;
- Eat solid animal protein with your favorite carb or veggie-juice for breakfast, minimum 500 grams in total, in the first hour after getting up and get used to trying for No. 2, after breakfast. It is a good habit!
- Eat every three hours during the day, but stop eating a minimum of two hours before bed.
- Drink every two hours at least 200 ml of water and sip when you are thirsty.
- Be sure to add plenty of dietary fibers to your diet, including vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. That will help to transport waste in time.
- If you eat dry food, add soup as the first course or sip on tea or veggie-juice when you eat to support your stomach making “mud” (chyme) from ingested food.
- Do not eat vegetables or meat with fruit to avoid gas formation.
- Make this dish as a sweet after dinner: Grounded Chia seeds (½ cup) cooked in 300 ml of water with gelatin. Add honey (up to 1 flat tablespoon) to sweeten. Eat the sweet-treat minimally two hours before bed.
Remove compacted waste
The most advanced procedure is colon irrigation (colonics), but one colonic won’t fix the problem. To clean the full length of the colon (as long as your height) and reactivate natural functions, you need at least 4-6 colonics (not more than one week apart or less) and the number of colonics depends upon the level of compaction, bowel muscle tone, and the level of yeast overgrowth.
In our clinic, we use oxygenated water, coffee, and oil infusion (when needed): massaged onto the colon to support elimination and infused ozonized coconut oil, at the end of each session to target yeast and other harmful parasites. Between colonics, we suggest the use of a specific Probiotic strain (S/Boulardi) to protect the colon from harmful yeast activities. To maintain the gut flora after the needed colonic sessions, we suggest the use of another Probiotic (UF Restore), which helps rebuild beneficial bacteria flora.
