Ep. 576 "You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong!” – The Shocking Reason For Chronic Constipation & Bloating with Dr. Trisha Pasricha

In this insightful episode of Everyday Wellness, nurse practitioner Cynthia Thurlow sits down with Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a Harvard-trained gastroenterologist and neurogastroenterologist, to tackle the taboo topic of bowel health with scientific rigor and compassionate accessibility. The conversation dismantles myths around 'normal' pooping frequency, emphasizing that comfort and consistency matter more than a rigid daily schedule. Dr. Pasricha reveals that bowel movements can range from three times a day to once every three days and still be perfectly normal, challenging the outdated 'one bowel movement per day' myth. The episode dives into the gut-brain axis, explaining how stress can simultaneously slow the stomach and speed up the colon—leading to both constipation and diarrhea. A major highlight is the discussion on pelvic floor dyssynergia, a condition where the anal sphincter contracts instead of relaxes during a bowel movement, often misdiagnosed as simple constipation. This under-recognized issue affects up to one-third of chronic constipation patients and is treatable with biofeedback physical therapy. The conversation also addresses alarming trends in early-onset colorectal cancer, attributing it to environmental and dietary factors like ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and low fiber intake—especially in younger populations. Dr. Pasricha stresses the importance of recognizing red flags such as new morning bloating, exertion-related heartburn, and changes in stool caliber. The episode concludes with empowering takeaways on the transformative power of fiber, not just for digestion but for hormone regulation, brain health, and cancer prevention.