Optimal bowel frequency revealed: One or two daily movements boost health

A new study has uncovered how bowel movement frequency affects long-term health. Published in Cell Reports Medicine, the research shows that passing stools once or twice a day leads to the best health outcomes. Meanwhile, irregular habits—whether too frequent or too infrequent—are tied to higher risks of disease. The study analysed data from over 1,400 healthy adults. It found that constipation, defined as one or two bowel movements per week, raises toxin levels in the blood. These toxins have been linked in earlier research to higher infection risks. On the other end, diarrhoea is associated with markers of inflammation and liver damage.

Participants with one or two daily bowel movements hosted more fibre-fermenting gut bacteria. These microbes are known to support good health. The research also noted that younger people, women, and those with a lower BMI tended to have less frequent bowel movements. Lifestyle factors played a key role in maintaining regularity. Eating more fruit and vegetables, staying hydrated, exercising, and following a plant-heavy diet all helped achieve the ideal frequency. However, the study acknowledged that irregular bowel habits could both cause and result from illness in unwell individuals. A future clinical trial is planned to test whether managing bowel movements could help prevent disease.

The findings highlight the importance of bowel regularity for overall health. One or two daily movements appear optimal, while extremes—constipation or diarrhoea—are linked to negative effects. Researchers now aim to explore whether targeted interventions could reduce disease risk by improving gut function.