5 tips to help you poop better

Bowel health is often overlooked, yet optimizing daily habits can significantly enhance digestive comfort and overall well-being. Gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha emphasizes that ignoring the urge to defecate leads to harder, more difficult stools, making it essential to prioritize responding to the body's natural signals. Incorporating specific foods like kiwis, dried plums, and psyllium husk provides natural, effective support for regularity. Physical positioning also plays a critical role; elevating the knees above the waist—using a stool or leaning forward into the "thinker pose"—straightens the colon and facilitates easier passage. Furthermore, reducing intake of ultra-processed foods minimizes gut inflammation, while consistently monitoring stool patterns allows for the early identification of potential health issues. Adopting these simple, evidence-based adjustments transforms bathroom routines from sources of stress into manageable, healthy daily functions.