'i'm a gastroenterologist - this is the best time for your first bowel movement'

A gastroenterologist has suggested the best time for someone to have their first bowel movement of the day as awareness of gut health skyrockets across the UK. In recent years, there has

been a massive rise in interest in gut health, its importance, impact, and the risk factors for bowel cancer across Britain. As a result, people are taking a deeper interest in what goes,

when they use the toilet, and what it all means. According to Dr Kenneth Brown, the best time to have your first bowel movement is in the morning. He told EatingWell: “In general, in the

morning, shortly after waking up, tends to be the best time to poop for most individuals.” Dr Brown says the reasons for this are threefold and include your circadian rhythms (the body’s

24-hour internal clock), the fact one tends to fast (not eat) overnight, and an phenomenon known as the gastrocolic reflex. The expert explained that factor number three, the gastrocolic

reflex occurs after the body eats something. He said: “After eating or drinking, our stomach stretches, triggering a physiological response called the gastrocolic reflex. “This reflex

stimulates the colon to contract and move its contents forward, leading to a bowel movement.” Dr Brown’s comments come as awareness around the gut, how to achieve and maintain gut health is

at an all time high with doctors and experts around the country offering guidance on how to keep the gut microbiome happy. Speaking about the issue, GP Camilla Stokholm suggested that people

don’t need to “delve into the world of trendy ferments” to achieve a healthy balance, reports the Daily Express. Camilla said that whilst kefir was a good option, that cheese could also be

termed a superfood for its impact on the gut. She explained: “It turns out, when full-fat dairy products are fermented with bacteria, they have a net beneficial effect, reducing inflammation

and obesity; boosting the microbiome is presumably one of the reasons why.” Meanwhile, another NHS physician, Dr Karan Rajan, posted on TikTok a video about the benefits of adding fibre to

one’s diet, explaining that people need three types, soluble, insoluble, and resistant starch. The video said: “Soluble fibre absorbs water and forms a biological jelly inside you. It bulks

up your poop so it’s juicy and soft, and it feeds bacteria in your large intestine so they can poop out beneficial anti-inflammatory metabolites. In fact, soluble fibres, like the ones found

in psyllium husk, can actually improve IBS symptoms.” However, before making dramatic changes to your diet it is recommended to consult with a qualified medical physician first to make sure

the move is right for your person medical situation.