The ideal morning routine for digestion, according to Gastroenterology

Who doesn’t love the idea of ​​the perfect morning routine, whether that’s a 10-step skincare regimen, an elaborate matcha ritual, or a thoughtful journaling practice. But for many of us, the reality is less Instagram-friendly: holdingBathroom anxiety, and other real digestive problems affect many women even before they brush their teeth. The good news: You don’t need to completely change your lifestyle to support digestion and start your day right. In fact, a few smart morning habits can move the needle in meaningful ways.

“Your gut has its own circadian rhythm, and the signals it sends out in that first hour or two set the tone for the entire day.” Will Bulsiewicz, MDboard-certified gastroenterologist and author Plant powered plussays the self. It turns out that your morning routine has a big impact on how your digestion performs throughout the next day.

Here, he shares four game-changing habits and tweaks to help you and your stomach achieve success. (Whether you choose to document this for the fans or not is entirely up to you.)

1. Hydrate yourself before consuming caffeine.

If you’re like me, you probably consider coffee the best part of waking up. However, instead of heading straight to your Nespresso machine, make sure to sip on some H₂Oh first. According to Dr. Bolsiewicz, this is one of the simplest and most effective digestive regularity habits that most people skip. “After six to eight hours without water, your colon absorbs moisture from your stool overnight while your kidneys expel it, leaving things sluggish,” he explains.

It is suggested to drink 16 ounces of water Above all else in order to rehydrate your digestive system and stimulate the gastrocolic reflex, also known as your body’s natural signal to let you know it’s time for step two. Trust that your morning coffee can last a few minutes, especially if a better bowel movement is waiting for you.

2. Focus on eating fiber – not just coffee – when you go to the bathroom.

Many people rely on their morning coffee to stimulate bowel movements. After all, Caffeine It doesn’t just activate your mind; It also stimulates gastrointestinal motility, or how quickly food moves through the digestive tract. While Dr. Bolsiewicz points out that coffee can certainly be a component of a healthy morning meal, it shouldn’t be the holy grail you throw away. Here he emphasizes the importance of A A breakfast rich in fiber “To give the microbes what they need to produce short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which nourish the cells lining the colon.” This is especially crucial for anyone prone to digestive discomfort, as a healthy gut lining will be better suited to managing inflammation and keeping digestion running smoothly.