Why bowel problems are so common

Dr. Trisha Pasricha is a gastroenterologist, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, and the Ask a Doctor columnist for The Washington Post. Her new book gets deep into the stigmatized, taboo, rarely discussed topics of our bowel movements and farts, no less the science that backs that up, with lucid explainers for the mechanisms (such as the gut-brain axis). Her research is on the gut origin of Parkinson’s disease.

Here’s a quote from Trisha early in the book:

“I’m not a wellness guru. I’m a scientist.”

Another quote from a Vanderbilt professor:

“An effortless, socially appropriately timed bowel movement is the second greatest bodily pleasure known to man.”

The proportion of people with bowel issues is remarkable, a brief summary:

Some of the topics covered in our lively, fun and highly informative conversation:

—The 3 P’s Propulsion, Pliability, Pelvic Floor

—Ten Myths

—99% of farts have no odor; the 1% that do are from hydrogen sulfide, Pepto-Bismol substantially reduces the latter (and an incredible experiment of people with rectal tubes and judges smelling their gas)

—What is the normal frequency of pooping?

—the Bristol Scale of poop appearance and what it means

—Transit time

—The uselessness and danger of bowel cleanses

—Fibermaxxing

—5 minutes max on the toilet and positions to help propulsion

—Psyllium and laxatives

—The art of wiping and bidets

—Fecal incontinence

—Not to miss urges and the TRPV1 and PIEZO2 receptors

—Impact of coffee, alcohol, NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, etc), and hydration

—What are the different definitions of constipation?

—What gives poop its color?

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