Why you shouldn't worry about pooping once a day | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | TED

You may have heard that you should be pooping once a day -- but that's a load of crap, says Dr. Jen Gunter. From the enzymes in your mouth to the nutrient-absorbing power of your large intestine, she journeys through the digestive tract to explain why it's okay to poop at your own pace -- and shares the many regulating benefits of a fiber-rich diet.

Think you know how your body works? Think again! Dr. Jen Gunter is here to shake up everything you thought you knew -- from how much water you need to drink to how often you need to poop and everything in between. This TED original series will tell you the truth about what's *really* going on inside you.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

[ajaykandhari]

She doesn't mention Apple in her list of fibre foods because she is a doctor.

[FlatKitten]

Why does my brain think 5 minutes away from work is socially acceptable

[CommanderCodey]

“When it’s socially acceptable”
Me: Taking a test at school

[zywvyxz]

I just adore Dr. Jen's whole vibe: her reassuring demeanor, her intelligence, her whole look. She's exactly the kind of person who should be a doctor.

[kkbisco]

Fiber foods (3:55)

-Pears
-Raspberries
-Blackberries
-Avocados
-Artichokes
-Whole grains
-High fiber cereals
-Lentils
-Kidney beans
-Chickpeas
-Almonds
-Pistachios
-Sunflower seeds

[shadcovert]

Back When I was a homeless heroin junkie, I would go literally weeks without pooping. When I did, it was almost always bloody and very painful. Now that I've been clean for over 4 years, I poo every morning and life is much better. Lol.

[e.miller]

Although pooping every day is not necessary, it is a good indication of how well you are doing gut wise. The human intestinal track will normally take 36 hours to process food, but eating the recommended amount of fiber, drinking enough water, avoiding extra doughy foods such as pizza dough, white bread and cheese etc. will help. Going when the urge happens is important because waiting will allow the colon to extract too much water, making the stool hard and difficult to pass. I was never able to be regular until retirement made it much easier.

[OfoeNelson]

YouTube is obsessed with keeping you on the site when they should be focused more on quality user experience. The last 10-20 seconds of the video still contained information through animation none of which is visible because of Youtube's recommendations that appear right in the video.

[dukepande]

She's a wonderful narrator! Would love to hear more from her.

[imfromdowntown]

*”and...Happy pooping.”*
You don’t hear that every day. 😆

[vice.nor.virtue]

Dr Gunter you are absolutely fantastic. Highly educated people who can talk about a socially awkward / embarassing subject in a way that makes us feel like " why are we even embarassed inthe first place?" is absolutely amazing and I endorse your attitude whole heartedly.

[cherie]

When I was younger I sometimes pooped once a week because I had constipation issues. Family told me it runs in the family, hmm. I ate a balanced diet so I can't figure out what's wrong. Nowadays I am pooping once a day, a significant improvement, and a lot of it is thanks to drinking a cup of coffee.

[rickardjones]

Now its official! YouTube can read my mind!

[Kirsten_is_cursed]

Every morning after my fist sip of coffee on time like a Swiss train thank you very much for asking. 😅

[canwelook]

I had painful constipation until I tried stonecut oats. Problem solved 100%. I make a big batch for the fridge and freezer, and have it every morning - with nuts, seeds, berries, etc mixed in. My favourite meal of the day.

[Benjumanjo]

Why do gut doctors always have a sense of humor? Is it a pre-requisite?

[Weird_Beard_]

In the german hospital realms, we call "anxiety about pooping" - "Kackneurose".. and I think that's beautiful <3

[adrianschrader]

I really like her clear explanation and the message about a healthy fibre intake. Unfortunately the animation is misleading. The biliary and pancreatic duct *excrete* bile and enzymes. There is no food travelling upward towards the liver or pancreas.
I think this misconception in animation came from the line after in the script where she says the liver absorbs the nutrients. The transport goes from the intestine into the blood stream, through the liver into the rest of your system. The script is accurate, the animation is beautiful but needs work.

[timjamboula]

Can we admire how she is narrating this video about a socially awkward topic in a very professional and lovely way? 👏🏾

[dellamarie]

I can’t imagine how uncomfortable I would be if I only pooped three times per week. Yikes 😳