Are you pooping enough? Do you feel weighed down by the waste in your intestines? Are you feeling groggy? Bloated? Full of shit? Okay, sorry, I’m done.
Everyone has a different bowel movement pattern, but on average, you should be pooping at least three times a week. Me? I poop almost every day, and I find that when my bowel movements are regular, I am more likely to be cheerful and energized. In order to have regular bowel movements, you have to support your digestive system.
There’s a lot of science behind the relationship between digestive health and mood. With 95% of the body’s serotonin receptors housed there, your bowels have a significant impact on not just how you feel physically, but emotionally as well.
Check out all the products below that will help you better absorb nutrients, pass that stool, and feel good about yourself.
Nutrition Now PB 8 Pro-Biotic Vegetarian Supplement, 120 Count
Fill that gut with good bacteria
Your gut and bowels need good bacteria to break down food and fight disease. If you eat a lot of fermented foods, you might not need to add this as a supplement. But if you're like me and love fried things, a probiotic is always good to have on deck.
Lily of The Desert Aloe Vera Juice Whole Leaf, 16 Fluid Ounce
Good bacteria need a safe home
Aloe vera juice is what the health gurus like to call an "alkaline" drink. Meaning, it fights acidity in your body. That all sounds great and everything but the thing I like the most about aloe vera juice is it acts as a prebiotic, which means it creates a healthy environment in your digestive system for probiotics to flourish! It's best to ingest both prebiotics and probiotics from food, but aloe vera juice is a good thing to have in your fridge if you need a quick reset.
Health-Ade Kombucha, Ginger-Lemon, 16 Ounce
It's bubbly and won't give you bubble guts
Every time I drink kombucha I'm almost guaranteed to have a smooth and happy poop. It has all the good stuff: bubbles, probiotics, more bubbles.
American Health Papaya Enzyme with Chlorophyll
Help your body suck up all those nutrients
Digestive enzymes help your body better absorb nutrients. Before your food turns into the brown stuff (or, during, rather; I'm not sure, I'm not a doctor) your digestive system sucks up all those nutrients and gets rid of the waste. I like these enzymes because you can chew them and they're a tasty treat after a meal.
Hikari Organic Miso Paste, White
Delicious, savory, and good for your gut
Miso soup is a yummy way to get some warm probiotics straight to your belly. Probiotic supplements take a little while to break down in your body, but sipping some soup can give your gut an instant boost. I like to buy miso paste and make the soup at home as a quick appetizer before a meal.
Metamucil Daily Fiber Powder Supplement, 100% Natural Psyllium Husk
FIBER, FIBER, AND MORE FIBER!
The best place to get your fiber is from leafy greens and vegetables. But if you're ever slacking and haven't dropped any kids off in the pool in some time, Metamucil is a reliable alternative. Don't rely on it, though, because you should be eating more veggies anyway.