Are you pooing properly?

Is something as simple as HOW you sit on the toilet really capable of impacting your digestion, elimination and bowel habits?

Yes. Absolutely!

There isn’t really a day that goes by that I don’t raise this topic with a patient.

Most of us don’t have the best poo posture, and this can make it harder to pass a bowel movement or properly empty your bowels (without straining).

It’s estimated that up to 1 in 3 Aussies have chronic constipation.

It’s also estimated that IBS affects 1 in 10 Aussies.

A few of the simplest things you can do to support proper digestion and elimination

🚽 Consider your poo posture - sit on the toilet in a way that supports natural elimination - it’s best to lean forward with your elbows on your knees and try to have your knees above your hips (this is where stealing one of your kids steps or buying a small stool is helpful) or even put a couple of toilet rolls under your feet for elevation.

📝 Keep a poo diary - track when you do a poo and scribble down the details such as any trigger foods, the stool formation, how long it took to do a poo, the stool type (soft, hard or well formed), as well as if it sinks or floats

👀 Look at your poo. Refer to the Bristol stool chart to see the 7 stool types and identify which one is most similar and then you can track changes

Image from Bladder and Bowel Community.