How often should your bowels move?

Question

I have been 4 times so far today - stools not overly loose and I havent been over-eating. Dont feel unwell. Sometimes I dont go for a day and then the next day I'm never off the loo. Is that normal? I've been eating much more fruit and veg lately and very very rarely have any processed foods or takeaways.

Answer 1

I really don't think we should have to have this sort of thing in the \Food and Drink/ section, no matter how tenuous the link!

Answer 2

Some fruits help make you move your bowels more frequently. Try eating some bananas, which will make your stool a little formed. Also, you might have had something that is making you go to the loo frequently. If it continues, have some coke or any cola drinks.

Answer 3

good for you! You have finally become regular! Most people only go once a day, as their bodies are stopped up with preservatives, chemicals, and artificial stuff. You should, like a baby, go to the bathroom within 30 minutes of eating a meal. I was worried when I turned vegetarian that I was going too much. Now I realize thats how its meant to be. I feel so much better for it, and usually go 5 or 6 times a day. Congrats on making better health choices

Answer 4

It should be a bit more regular than that, however it is not uncommon. You should try to get at least 20 to 25 grams of dietary fiber with the fruit and vegetables and drink a bare minimum of 64 ounces of water every day. This should make it more regular and most likely a little less often.

Answer 5

most fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber, so maybe that's why. Everyone has a different answer for this question--some "experts" will tell you you MUST go at least twice per day. Others say once or twice per WEEK is normal. As long as you're not having any odd symptoms along with your frequent bowel movements (stomach cramping, vomiting, fever, blood in your stool, pasty-white colored stool, etc.) I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 6

You should go at least once a day. Since you don't have an other problems your body is obviously playing catchup. Do you eat wholemeal bread, muesli or porridge? These contain fibre and might make you more "regular" as do wholemeal pasta and brown rice. Also do you drink enough water, if your dehydrating you could find yourself with constipation.

Answer 7

Well 4 times a day is a bit extreme I think you need to eat the regular amount of all your foods and put flax seed on your food that should regulate your bowels a day!

Answer 8

What's Normal?
Many people think that normal means having one bowel movement every day, but that's not always true. People are different, and so are their bowels. Normal for one person might be three bowel movements a day, and normal for another might be three bowel movements a week. If your bowel movements fit somewhere in that range, then you're on a normal schedule.

Answer 9

It is going to very from person to person.
It also depends on your diet, one thing you eat will make you go more than another thing! And you've added a lot of fiber to your diet and that makes a difference.
Calm down and worry about something else. Most people don't put so much thought into their bowel movements.
When ya gotta go, ya gott go.

Answer 10

Probably once a day is the norm I think.

You have obviously increased your fibre intake so maybe thats why you are going to the loo more often than usual!

Answer 11

As a veggie I was about 3 times a day. Since I started eating fish its decreased to once. It can vary from person to person. I don't think you have a problem, once you get used to the diet, it'll settle down.