Natural ways of regulating your bowel and keeping it healthy

Natural ways of regulating your bowel and keeping it healthy

While it can be extremely uncomfortable, changes in our bowel movement are not uncommon and can happen at any time of our lives for any reason. Whether it be diet, stress or a lack of exercise, bowel changes are not something to play around with and often requires attention to help get you going again. But how do you know if your bowel needs to be regulated? If you have noticed that anything in your normal bowel regime has changed and is out of your everyday routine, then chances are that your bowel and digestive system might be out of sync. Similarly, an easy way to tell if you need to regulate your bowel is if you suddenly have constipation or diarrhoea or any pain and pressure while relieving yourself. If this is something that you have been experiencing, then read below – we have some natural tips and tricks to help you regulate your bowel with ease.

So, how do you know if your bowel is happy?

A good and happy bowel movement is one that is painless and feels natural. It should also be soft to firm in texture and not be accompanied by any blood or abdominal pain. An unhappy bowel will most likely be shown if you are passing stools more than 3 times a day or when you feel like you are putting too much strain on your bowel instead of letting it pass naturally and easily. Your bowel could possibly also be unhealthy if you are excreting less than 3 times a week.

Drink up

Obviously drinking more water can help to regulate your bowel. Water is often the first step in helping to alleviate the signs of many bodily imbalances and bowel difficulties are certainly one of them. Aim for at least 2 litres of clean, clear, and filtered water per day. If you usually drink tap water and find that you are struggling with your bowel movements, then try drinking pure bottled water for a week or so and see how it goes. If you want to continue drinking tap water, then investing in a filter will be a great benefit for you and your family’s health. If a water filter is currently out of your price range and you can’t make it to the shops to buy water, then at least boil and allow your tap water to cool before drinking to ensure that it is as clear as possible.

Water is a great way to help regulate your bowel as it not only keeps you hydrated, but it ensures that everything you eat, and drink moves freely and easily through your intestines. If you are not too keen on drinking water throughout the day, then try to stay hydrated through having herbal teas and even vegetable rich soups (bonus – you’ll get some much-needed fibre too!)

Watch your meat intake

If you are a meat lover then even reducing your meat intake by half can drastically help to reduce any bowel irritation or issues. Did you know that meat takes much longer than other food types to digest? In fact, it can take up to 2 days (48 hours) to completely digest! Due to its composition of protein, fat, and minerals, eating too much meat can cause the digestive system to slow down while leaving you feeling bloated, gassy, and uncomfortable.

If you eat meat every day, then it is imperative to consider reducing the amount you eat as constipation is not the only thing that you could struggle with. According to the Geelong Medical and Health Group

“Some studies reveal that eating too much red meat can increase the chances of developing bowel cancer”. They suggest eating “red meat only in conservative amounts (100-200 g just twice a week) with lots of vegetables or grains. Try to avoid eating liver and kidneys.”

Add some exercise to your day

Even though exercising when you are constipated might make you feel uncomfortable, doing some light yoga, Pilates, jogging and walking can help to sooth your constipation and stimulate the muscles in your colon, helping to end your bout of constipation. At Avalife, we believe that prevention is better than cure, therefore, exercising regularly can help to relieve any oncoming symptoms of constipation. Exercising will also help to reduce any stress that you might be going through (consciously or unconsciously) and help put your body into a relaxing state where your bowels will feel comfortable enough to release again.

Increase fibre

Perhaps the most obvious way to help your bowels regulate is to increase natural fibres into your diet. Foods and fruits like prunes, berries, avocado, whole grains, and psyllium husks are great products to add to your diet to loosen your stools. If these are not usually the kinds of food you eat or enjoy, then add them slowly – ideally one at a time until you feel changes in your bowel movement. If this doesn’t work, then consider swallowing a teaspoon of coconut oil every day as this could prevent constipation by lubricating your intestines. Not keen on drinking coconut oil straight up? Consider adding it in your morning coffee or blending it up in your smoothie, making it easier to digest. However, if you do decide to follow this route, then be sure to consult with your GP or healthcare professional, especially if you are taking any other chronic medication.

Follow your bowel

Going to the loo to relieve yourself whenever you feel the urge is essential to maintaining a healthy bowel. Forcing yourself to go for hours without using the bathroom can cause your stool to harden and ultimately cause your bowel to slow down.

Try to put yourself in a routine that your body can get used to, especially if you feel like you are not relieving yourself often enough. Getting in the habit of using the bathroom when you wake up and before you go to bed will help get your body in a good and healthy routine, leading to a happy bowel!

Natural Supplements

If you still can’t find relief, then consider getting a natural treatment like the Avalife Bowel Clear. Keep an eye on our products page for the launch of this exciting new product and get your bowel to a happy and healthy state again!