Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week, Dr Zac Turner explains why doing a poo can make you feel good.
Question: Hi Dr Zac, asking for a friend, but what is it about doing a poo that makes you feel so much happier/healthier immediately after? Am I crazy for thinking this? Is it the same reason my cat always starts bolting around the house in glee after it does a poo? Surely there is a medical reason behind this!? – Anon
Answer: This question made me laugh! I am happy to say that you are not crazy. You are speaking the truth we are all afraid to admit.
I believe we should all be poo-positive, and not be afraid to discuss our bowel movements. There’s the famous saying ‘even the queen poos’, and we need to be wearing it on our sleeve. Well, maybe not our sleeve, but you get the idea.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty of poo-science and discover why going number two feels so good.
When you sit down and attend to business, you are stimulating the enteric nervous system. This is also called the ‘second brain’ of the body. It is a complex network of neurons within the gastrointestinal tract. When you activate this system, you trigger a cascade of neural signals that promote feelings of relaxation and wellbeing. Your body is thanking you for taking out the trash!
Believe it or not, bowel movements can also stimulate the release of endorphins which lead to a sense of happiness or euphoria. It is believed that defecation can activate reward pathways in the brain.
You need to realise that poo is the stuff your body does not want at all. When it is ready to leave your body, it is crammed in your gastrointestinal tract. This creates a lot of pressure within your body, producing feelings of discomfort. This is why constipation can cause so much grief for people. When you go to the bathroom you are releasing this pressure, leading to an immediate sense of physical and physiological wellbeing.
Got a question? Email askdrzac@conciergedoctors.com.au
Dr Zac Turner has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is both a medical practitioner and a co-owner of telehealth service, Concierge Doctors. He was also a registered nurse and is a qualified and experienced biomedical scientist along with being a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering.