Irregular bowel movements -- either constipation or diarrhea that goes on beyond 14 days -- is a sign that something is wrong and that your body may not be disease-free, says Cleveland Clinic.
Regular passing of stools is important because it reflects a healthy lifestyle, with sufficient exercise in your life and enough water and health-giving fibre in your diet, advises Healthline.
Your gut is a microbiome, that zillions of viruses, bacteria, fungi call home. This little community has a large and critical role to play in digestion, immunity, and even mental health. Irregular bowel movements can disrupt the stability of your personal little biome, causing digestive problems, poor immunity, suggests WebMD.
Regular bowel movements help rid the body of undigested food, toxins, harmful bacteria. When waste accumulates in the intestines for too long, it can lead to issues like bloating, gas, discomfort. That can eventually bring on the risk of infections and gastrointestinal issues, states Medical News Today.
When your digestive system functions smoothly, your body effectively breaks down food, absorb essential nutrients, eliminates waste without delays. Keeping active helps the movement of wastes through your system. Without enough physical movement, food may take longer to move through the intestines causing inefficient digestion, reports Healthline.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum and anus, that results from excessive straining due to constipation. Timely bowel movements reduce the need for straining, lowering the chance of developing hemorrhoids, which can be painful and may require medical treatment, according to WebMD.
Chronic constipation and too much straining may weaken the pelvic floor muscles, increasing the risk of rectal prolapse -- a condition where part of the intestinal lining protrudes from the anus. Having regular, soft stools stops too much straining, cautions Johns Hopkins Medicine.
While consistently-timed bowel movements, obviously, don’t directly cause weight loss, they help prevent bloating or water retention, making you feel lighter and more comfortable, which indirectly contributes to maintaining a healthy weight, says Medical News Today.
Trying to train your body to have bowel movements at the same time each day -- with enough exercise, water, fibre, vegetable/fruit intake -- promotes consistency. This predictability can help prevent constipation, ensure better gut function, and even improve digestive and overall health, recommends Healthline.