Are you going enough?
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How often should you poop? It’s one of those questions that doesn’t come up in polite conversation, but everyone secretly wonders about it. From once a day to a few times a week, everyone’s pooping habits can be different. While some of us are regular “clockwork” poopers, others might skip a day or two. But how often should you actually go? Ahead, we break down the healthy range and what different pooping patterns can mean for your gut health (including when your bathroom rhythms might warrant a trip to your healthcare provider).
Howmanybowelmovementsareconsidered‘normal’?
Well,itdependsonwhat’snormalforyou.Infact,there’squiteaspectrumwhenitcomestopoopfrequency.“Anormalnumberofbowelmovementscanrangefromonetothreetimesperdaytothreetofourtimesperweek,”saysPeytonBerookim,MD,FACG,aboard-certifiedgastroenterologistattheGastroenterologyInstituteofSouthernCalifornia.Whereveryoufallintothisspectrum,whetherit’sthreetimesadayorthreetimesaweek,ishowoftenyoushouldbepooping.Butpoopingmoreorlessthanthisrangemaybeasignofanunderlyinghealthconc
