“runner’s diarrhea,” possibly caused by
alterations in intestinal hormone levels
and blood flow, and the bouncing of
internal organs? Avoid ibuprofen,
energy bars and coffee before running,
and wear loose clothing that doesn’t
constrict your abdomen.
Stay Calm
Anxiety and stress have an impact on
your bowel movements. The gut
literally has a mind of its own—it’s
lined with millions of nerve cells that
make up what’s known as the enteric
nervous system—and it sends signals
to the brain, and vice-versa. That’s
why your feelings of anxiety can
produce cramping and diarrhea.
Conversely, research has found that
psychological strategies to reduce
stress can improve these bowel
symptoms in people who have
functional disorders like irritable
bowel syndrome. Their brains are
more sensitive to gut discomfort, and
it’s heightened under stress.
Our Bodies’ Chemistry
Hormone fluctuations also seem
to affect your gut. About half of
premenopausal women who aren’t
on birth control report constipation
or diarrhea depending on where
they are in their monthly cycle.
Hormones during pregnancy serve
to relax muscle contractions. “It may
be a factor in why a lot of women get
constipation in their third trimester,”
says Turnbull. Both men and women
experience hormonal shifts as we get
older, and these are thought to be a
potential influence on the decreasing
divers ity and robustness of our
microbiome as we age.Try To Keep It Natural
If you are having trouble with
bowel movements, try using natural
laxatives to get back on track. Before
resorting to drugstore laxatives
to relieve constipation, consider
lifestyle improvements such as
increasing your fluid and fibre intake,
getting more exercise and avoiding
foods that plug you up.
“If this doesn’t work, laxatives
may be necessary, such as psyllium
supplementation, stool softeners orWHAT GOES IN MUST COME OUT
44 • AUGUST 2019
HORMONAL SHIFTS
CAN AFFECT YOUR
BOWELS AS YOU AGE