No, you’re not imagining it. People are really more likely to have a bowel movement in the morning shortly after breakfast. Researchers have actually studied this.
But why morning? What if you tend to poop later in the day? Is it worth training yourself to poop in the morning?
To understand why we poop, we need to take into account a number of factors, including our body clocks, our intestinal muscles, and what we eat for breakfast.
Here’s what science says:
Is morning poop really a thing?
in British research Starting in the early 1990s, researchers questioned around 2,000 men and women in Bristol about their bowel habits.
The most common time to defecate is early morningThe peak time for men was between 7 and 8 a.m., while for women it was about an hour later, the researchers speculated, because men had to get up earlier for work.
About 10 years later, Chinese Studies A similar pattern was found: About 77% of the roughly 2,500 participants said they had a bowel movement in the morning.
But why morning?
There are a few reasons for this. The first has to do with your circadian rhythm (your internal clock that runs on a 24-hour cycle and helps regulate bodily functions like digestion).
In healthy people, the contraction of the large intestine muscles is controlled by the body clock. Unique rhythm.
Nighttime activity is minimal. The deeper and more restful your sleep, the better. few These muscle contractions make it difficult for us to defecate while we sleep.
However, activity increases during the day: colon contractions are most active in the morning after waking up and after meals.
One particular type of colon contraction that is partially controlled by the circadian clock is “Mass MovementThese are powerful contractions that push stool down into the rectum, preparing it to be expelled from the body, but do not necessarily result in a bowel movement. In healthy people, these contractions occur several times a day, more often in the morning than in the evening, and also after meals.
Breakfast also helps to trigger bowel movements. Eating and drinking stretches the stomach,Gastrocolic reflexThis reflex stimulates the colon to contract forcefully, which helps to push stool out of the body. The gastrocolic reflex is known to be strongest in the morning, which explains why breakfast is such a powerful trigger for bowel movements.
And then my morning coffee. It’s so A powerful stimulant Defecation occurs through contractions of the sigmoid colon (the last part of the colon before the rectum) and the rectum itself.
How important is a morning bowel movement?
Large-scale international investigation Most people will find that they have bowel movements between three times a day and three times a week.
However, many people have irregular bowel habits, have regular but inconsistent bowel movements, or simply don’t have morning bowel movements.
If you are healthy, it is even more important that your bowel habits are comfortable and regular. please do not It should be done once a day in the morning.
Morning flights aren’t for everyone, either. Some people People with IBS feel the urge to defecate immediately after waking up in the morning. They often feel the urge to defecate multiple times after waking up, during breakfast, or after breakfast. This can be quite distressing. This early morning urge is likely due to excessive stimulation of the large intestine’s contractions in the morning.
Can you train yourself to be regular?
Yes, for example, it can help treat constipation by taking advantage of the gastrocolic reflex, allowing constipated children or elderly people to go to the toilet immediately after eating breakfast. Relieving symptomsAlso, for adults who suffer from constipation, drinking coffee regularly, especially in the morning, can help stimulate the bowels.
Disruptions to circadian rhythms can lead to irregular bowel movements and a tendency to defecate in the morning. eveningSo, improving your sleep habits will not only help you sleep better, but it will also help you with your bowel habits.
Regular exercise and Often sitting is also important Promotes bowel movementsIt is especially effective for people who suffer from constipation.
Stress has been shown to cause constipation, so try to minimize stress and focus on relaxing. can help Bowel habits become more regular.
Dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables Helpful Makes bowel movements more regular.
Finally, staying well hydrated can help minimize the chances of constipation and make your bowel movements more regular.
Monitoring bowel habits
Most of us consider our morning bowel movements to be regular, but there is a wide variability in what is normal, so don’t worry if your bowel movements don’t follow this pattern — it’s more important that your bowel movements are comfortable and regular.
If you notice any significant changes in your bowel habits that concern you, talk to your doctor. The reason could be something as simple as a change in diet or starting a new medication.
However, sometimes this could mean a significant change in your gut health, so your doctor may need to arrange further testing, including blood tests and imaging.