Do you feel bloated all the time? Gas and bloating are really common, and learning more about your digestive system is key to solving the issue.
A registered nutritionist has shared oneeasy gut test which you can do at home that will help you find out whether your bowel is working properly.
Easy gut test you can do at home
“Have you ever wondered what your digestive system is doing? Because there’s a little at home test that you and your whole family can do and it can give you huge insight into your digestion,” Lisa Kilgour said on TikTok.
She explained that you need to test your “motility,” which is how long it takes for food to go through your digestive system, all the way from the throat to excretion from the body.
You can do this by eating a cup of corn or beets, which are two foods that can be seen in your poop, and writing down the time you ate it. Then, you note down the time you see it again in your excrement and work out how long it took.
It sounds a bit disgusting, but this one simple test will show exactly how fast food is moving through your body. Ideally, Kilgour said you should be seeing the food in your excretion within 18 to 24 hours. Anything under 12 is a sign of fast motility, which could mean you’re not be absorbing nutrients as well.
Anything longer than 48 hours is also an issue, meaning you have a “backup” in your colon which can cause negative symptoms.
If the food is taking a really long time to pass through your body, this can create gas and bloating in the abdomen, causing that full and tight feeling in your stomach. It can also cause constipation, which contributes to abdominal pain and bloating.
How to fix slow digestion
You can usually speed up your digestion through diet changes as it’s often caused by low fiber. The carbohydrate helps food move through your digestive system, promoting regularity and helping prevent constipation.
MedlinePlus recommends eating high-fiber foods such as whole-wheat grains, fresh vegetables, and beans. You should also try and drink two to three liters of fluid per day to aid digestion, as fiber needs to absorb water to help pass waste. Regular exercise is a great way to get your gut moving too.
In some cases, the slow motility could be caused by Gastroparesis, a condition that reduces the ability of the stomach to empty its contents. Its exact cause is not know, but it may be due to a disruption of nerve signals to the stomach.
If you are concerned about your digestion, you should seek help from your medical professional.
Lisa Kilgour is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and is a leading expert in gut health and healthy eating.
