I am the mom of two young boys, so let’s just say, we do a lot of “POOP” talk at my house.  I can’t fully wrap my head around it, but for the under-seven crowd, nothing is more hysterical than calling someone a “poop butt”.

So, do you see where I am going with this? Oh yes, poop.  As you may have noticed in the food journal, I have started drinking 2 tablespoons of psyllium husks mixed with a little coconut milk as part of my morning routine.  This was a recommendation from another trainer as part of a detox program.  Psyllium husks are a fiber supplement (my 2 tablespoons provides 12 grams of fiber), and it seems to be exactly what I needed to get everything “back on track.”
Proper elimination is incredibly important for maintaining optimal health.  This means “keeping your pipes clean”.  Imagine a trashcan  full of rotting food garbage;  no one wants this hanging around inside them.  Not only is it just gross, but it creates a toxic environment in our body, placing incredible strain  on our whole system (particularly the  liver and kidneys).
Bowel movements should be daily (“morning glory”), solid, medium-brown in color, shaped kind of like a banana, and easy to pass.  Any variations involving diarrhea, constipation, undigested food particles, bloating or burning are signs that something is not quite right and should be addressed.  Poor digestion is often caused by food allergies or intolerances, inadequate fiber in-take, dehydration and stress.
Transit time, as they call it, should be 18 to 24 hours. This means you should be eliminating 18-24 hours after each meal. This is why it’s good if you go 2-3 times a days… If you’re not, you could be toxic (I mean that in the nicest way possible).
There are some really simple things we can do to keep everything moving smoothly:

• Drink plenty of water, (at least half your body weight in ounces).
• Get enough fiber (at least 25 grams daily).  If you are going to try psyllium husks, make sure it is an all-natural, organic variety.  So far, I have been very happy with the Organic India-Fiber Harmony.  Always follow it with another glass of water, as it can be dehydrating.
• Include probiotics in your diet (both foods and supplements).
• Get moving- exercise will usually get the bowels in-gear.
• Consider an elimination diet.  Food allergies and intolerances will cause poor digestion, and poor digestion can spur on allergies and intolerances.  (it can turn into an ugly cycle).
• Limit  highly processed foods and sugar.  Among other things, sugar feeds an unhealthy gut environment.

If you have any sudden change in your digestive health, or ongoing  issues with pain, diarrhea or constipation that are not easily resolved with the above strategies-please seek consult with a doctor or holistic practitioner:)

xoAngela