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Ask HN: Adivce for Better Pooping?

by mrbirddev on 7/10/24, 7:32 AM with 18 comments

I'm heavily relying on iced coffee to poop each day. It does not feel good.

Caffine intake is what I'm trying to limit now. And sometimes drinking too much coffee excites me too much. Plus I'm sitting 8+ hrs each day. Don't call me a programmer, call me a sitter.

Old men told me, healthy gut, healthy life. But their advice does not apply to me who lives in crazy developing streaks from time to time. Any advice for you guys to regulate your pooping?

  • by atmanactive on 7/10/24, 6:22 PM

    We've all been there.

    It's all about probiotics and plant fibers.

    I found out personally that pill form probiotics don't work for me at all. But, real fermented food like kefir and sauerkraut do wonders. On the other hand, plant fibers can be used in pill form and they work great (I'm using Psyllium Husk Fibre Supplement 700mg daily).

    My personal solution to this problem: sandwich with flaxseeds (linnseeds) and peanuts in the morning every day, anything for lunch/dinner with the addition of that 700 mg plant fibers and sauerkraut as a salad, and 1/2 liter kefir for super every day. No more problems whatsoever.

    If you ask any proctologist, they will tell you that you should NEVER sit on the loo for more than 3 minutes. Everything longer than 3 minutes is slowly but surely hurting your body and will lead to all sorts of complications eventually.

    Also, get one of those Crouching Toilet Stools which help you get in the right anatomical position for offloading. Human intestines system was designed for crouching in the field, NOT for sitting. But, with the addition of this simple, cheap, plastic leg support, you can have the best of both worlds.

    Good luck!

  • by kstenerud on 7/10/24, 8:17 AM

    Make sure you get some fermented foods in your diet somewhere (actual fermentation - not just things with acid added as a substitute). A lot of our gut biome responds well to the bacteria present in fermented products.

    Yogurt that hasn't had all its bacteria killed off is a good source, and it's EXTREMELY easy to make yourself. The cold method couldn't be simpler: Add whole milk and some fermentation bacteria (I freeze some of the last batch in an ice cube tray) to a vessel that you keep at 42 degrees C for 10 hours (I use an instant pot). Then strain it if you want Greek yogurt, or just eat it like it is.

    Quark cheese is also easy: 1 part buttermilk to 4 parts whole milk. Keep at 42 degrees C for 20 hours, then strain it for 5+ hours (I just leave it overnight).

  • by Kon-Peki on 7/10/24, 4:58 PM

    Seriously though, make an appointment with a gastro doctor. They can review things with you. There's a few blood tests they can do, maybe an ultrasound. And then maybe a colonoscopy. These things are all pretty cheap from an American medical perspective.

    If it's bothering you enough to tell the internet about it, go see the doctor.

  • by Juliate on 7/10/24, 7:46 AM

    Also helps:

    - taking a 30min walk in a break (before work, on lunch break, or after work).

    - drinking water (tea or tap flavoured with mint or lemon or other if it helps - 2l a day is a minimum target, preferably drink 1l in the early morning).

  • by fragmede on 7/12/24, 8:17 AM

  • by theGeatZhopa on 7/10/24, 8:13 AM

    There's one thing that is may be, well, shitty. Do you drink your iced coffee that makes you want poop always around the same time? .. because, our guts are a brain for themselves. It can be trained to "empty" at certain times of the day. May be you trained your guts to empty at certain times (when you get to your iced coffee) with a very strong argument (the iced coffee) unintentionally?

    Then, you need to eat more of things that have more dietary fibers.

    And then, it takes some time. I would try to make a sugar free diet and reduce sugar and fruit sugar wherever is possible - also it's replacements, artificial sugars. Better drink water with just a drop of Sirup or water mixed fruit juice instead of a coke/sprite/gatorade... Better not that pastries.. prefer less sugar.

    Sugar is actually "bad" for our guts bacteria composition. Reduce it for half a year and see the effects.

    And then, you may start to train your gut by just sitting on the toilet - but, put a small footstool beneath your feet. That simulates the most natural way of sitting down for a shit in the wild. Relax.

    One is set sure every day: Shit happens.

  • by verdverm on 7/10/24, 7:36 AM

    prunes and squatty potty