Fiber-packed smoothie

Being backed up quite frankly stinks (for lack of a better word). It can make you feel uncomfortably full (even if you’re hungry), sluggish, and even a little self-conscious. 

Just like you likely need an alarm to wake you up and get you out of the house in the morning, your bowels may appreciate a similar wake-up call. If that’s the case, we have the perfect smoothie recipe to both nourish your gut and promptly clear it out in a timely manner. 

Why it’s important to prioritize fiber and hydration in the morning.

Some of the most common reasons for infrequent bowel movements are a lack of fiber in the diet and poor hydration. 

You should know that it’s considered normal to have anywhere from three bowel movements1

a day to three in a week. Although that’s a broad range, less than that is very much considered infrequent. And even if you go every three days, you may feel better on a more daily schedule.

Fiber helps you poop by adding bulk to your stools (because it’s not digested) and regulating the gut transit time (aka how long it takes for food to pass). Foods rich in insoluble fiber can expedite this transit time and attract water into the gut—eventually making it easier for the stool to pass. 

Soluble fibers also add bulk to stools and support regularity. Both types of fiber are crucial to optimal digestion. Most fibrous foods contain a combination of these fibers.

But most people aren’t getting the fiber they need. Many U.S. adults only eat around 16 grams a day instead of the recommended 21 to 38 grams2

(depending on your age and sex).