Everybody poops, ideally every day (or at least every other day). But is there a best time of day to poop? While having consistent, healthy bowel movements is likely the most important thing, experts say that if you poop at a certain time of day, your body may thank you.
Meet the experts: Rudolph Bedford, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Stephanie Crabtree, M.S., R.D., a registered dietitian based in Sarasota, FL.
Here, a gastroenterologist and dietitian explain the best time of day to poop, plus the simple tweaks you can make to your routine in the morning and at night to help get your body on the optimal schedule.
When is the best time of day to poop?
The experts we spoke to agree that the morning is the best time of day to do your business, for both practical and health reasons. “We choose the morning because we’re usually getting up to start our day,” says Rudolph Bedford, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. “It’s more of a social constraint that we have on ourselves.” In other words, it’s often easier to poop in the morning simply because you’re home getting ready and you likely have a few extra minutes to spend in the bathroom that you may not have at other times of the day.
But there are biological reasons that most people tend to go in the morning as well. “Morning is typically the ideal time to have a bowel movement because your colon is naturally more active after you wake up,” explains Stephanie Crabtree, M.S., R.D., a registered dietitian based in Sarasota, FL. “Your body’s circadian rhythm, combined with the first meal of the day, helps stimulate the gastrocolic reflex, which encourages contractions in the colon and helps move stool toward the rectum. That’s why many people feel the urge to go after a meal.”
The fact that most people have a morning routine that they follow each day can also help promote regular bowel movements. “Your body works on a clock. It likes things to be organized and coordinated,” Dr. Bedford explains. “The reason we pick the morning is that you’re consistently waking up, having breakfast, and maybe drinking coffee. You’ll have time to deal with any discomfort or irregularity you’re experiencing.” Speaking of coffee, Dr. Bedford adds that the caffeine in this morning sip can certainly help get things moving too.
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Simple strategies that support a consistent bowel movement schedule
“Consistent bowel movements come down to a few key habits: eating enough fiber, drinking adequate fluids, and staying physically active,” says Crabtree. “If you’re struggling with constipation, take a look at those three areas first. Small improvements can make a big difference.” Beyond that, there are some simple tweaks you can make to your evening and morning habits to encourage morning bowel movements. Crabtree and Dr. Bedford recommend the following strategies:
The bottom line
While morning is the best time to poop for both biological and practical reasons, Dr. Bedford says you’re not doing anything wrong if you aren’t pooping in the morning. “Consistency is the most important thing,” he says. Crabtree agrees. “Rather than focusing on what time you go, pay attention to whether your bowel movements are predictable, comfortable, and complete,” she says. “Those are better indicators of healthy bowel function than the time of day.”
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