Health: How many bowel movements a day?
- Posted on 06/09/2024 16:45
- Film
- By abelozih@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: Selon certains chercheurs, la fréquence des selles est un indicateur précis de l’état de santé global et il existe effectivement un nombre optimal de selles par jour.
According
to some researchers, the frequency of bowel movements is a precise indicator of
overall health, and there is indeed an optimal number of bowel movements per
day.
Science
has spoken out on a subject that affects all individuals without exception. It
seems that the frequency of bowel movements has an impact on a person's overall
health, and there is indeed an optimal number of bowel movements required: once
or twice a day. These are the findings of research published in the journal
Cell Reports Medicine.
The
impact of stool frequency on the intestinal ecosystem
Researchers
at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) in Seattle, USA, studied the
clinical and lifestyle data of over 1,400 healthy adults: blood tests, genetic
data, gut microbiome in order to reach such a number. Their self-reported
average stool frequency was divided into four groups: constipation (once or
twice a week); low normal (three to six times a week); high normal (one to
three times a day); diarrhea. The aim is to identify any links between the
number of bowel movements and health status.
Stool
frequency can have a significant impact on the function of the intestinal
ecosystem, as previous research has shown. When stools remain in the intestine
for too long, in fact, microbes absorb all available dietary fiber and ferment
proteins, generating toxins that can spread into the bloodstream. According to
them, chronic constipation is linked to high blood levels of toxins that can
cause organ damage, prior to any diagnosis of neurodegenerative or kidney
disease.
Once
or twice a day, the ideal rhythm for big commissions
The
composition of the participants' gut microbiomes was also identified by the
researchers as an indicator of stool frequency. In this way, the useful
intestinal bacteria known as anaerobes, those that ferment fibre, seemed to
thrive when required once or twice daily. Undoubtedly, volunteers who had
mentioned “a high-fiber diet, improved hydration and regular exercise” tended
to adopt this ideal rate of ramping up.
While
irregular bowel movements are all too often perceived as a mere « nuisance » by
healthcare professionals, the team of scientists hopes that this study will
shed more light on « the dangers of poor frequency management », which can be
at the root of many chronic diseases, even in healthy populations.
Jean
ELI