Slow bowel movements can lead to constipation and hard stools. Dependence on laxatives or lack of fiber in the diet can cause this condition. It can also occur with certain health conditions.
Lazy bowel syndrome, also known as sluggish or slow bowel, is a condition with symptoms of constipation and painful bowel movements.
Some people use “lazy gut syndrome” to describe the condition of the intestines, especially after frequent use of laxatives. When you have this condition, your colon is slower at moving waste through your body’s digestive tract.
Lazy gut syndrome can be chronic, with symptoms appearing quite often, if not always. However, lifestyle changes and dietary modifications can help improve symptoms.
In cases of lazy bowel syndrome, medical monitoring and diagnosis may be required. If you want to learn more about lazy or slow bowel movements and when you should see a doctor, keep reading.
Every time you eat, your nerves send signals to your digestive tract to initiate a series of actions.
The muscles of the digestive system move food forward in wave motions called peristalsis. However, this movement can be blocked, slower than it should be, or the contractions may not be strong enough to propel the food forward.
Gut-related reflexes may become weaker or less effective due to the following reasons:
There may be other causes of muscle weakness. In some cases, the cause can be as simple as not having enough fiber or water in your diet.
Treatments vary depending on the cause of slow bowel movements. Here are some solutions you can try to help you poop more often.
dietary changes
Slow or slow bowel movements can be caused by a lack of fiber in the diet. A diet centered on natural, unprocessed fruits and vegetables can help improve digestion and promote regularity unless you have irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis, or other chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
Good sources of fiber include:
Also consider adding 2 to 4 glasses of water to your daily routine.
Limiting dairy products that are difficult to digest and avoiding baked goods that have been bleached, processed, or preserved may also help. Ice cream, potato chips, and frozen foods contain little or no fiber and should be avoided.
Limiting your intake of coffee, which dehydrates your digestive system, may also be a way to balance your bowel movements.
Additionally, adding commercial fiber supplements containing psyllium has been shown.
natural laxative
Artificial laxatives can worsen or cause symptoms of lazy bowels. However, there are natural laxatives that can reactivate digestion.
Adding 3 to 4 cups of green tea to your daily routine may improve your digestion.
According to some researchers, using agarwood leaves as a mild natural laxative is less likely to cause the side effects of other chemical laxatives.
probiotics
Take probiotic supplements
Eating probiotic foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and yogurt is also a way to consume live probiotic bacteria.
exercise
Light exercise increases blood circulation to the abdomen. For some people, this will boot the system. Continuous exercise can affect lazy gut symptoms by keeping your digestive system “on” and active. Some yoga poses can help relieve constipation.
Adjust your toilet behavior
There are products on the market that claim that changing your position while defecating improves the consistency and ease of use of the toilet. As an aside, this seems to work for some people.
If you’re experiencing lazy gut symptoms, it might be worth checking out one of these products that change the angle of your legs to more of a “squat” than a sitting position when you go to the bathroom. I don’t know. Here’s our take on whether Squatty Potty really works:
If the problem of constipation recurs repeatedly despite changes in diet and lifestyle, you should consult a doctor. In rare cases, a lazy gut can indicate a more serious health condition. You should also contact your doctor if:
- Blood in stool or toilet paper
- pain when defecating
- Pain or pressure in the rectum with or without defecation
- severe abdominal pain
- Diarrhea with high fever (101 degrees or higher), chills, vomiting, and dizziness
- Diarrhea or constipation lasting more than 2 weeks