Q. Is it important to have a bowel movement at the same time every day? My late mother-in-law used to insist this was the most important health advice.
A. No one wants to be constipated, but not all healthy people need a bowel movement daily. Some people with excellent bowel function go every other day or every third day. Others need more than one daily trip to the bathroom.
The belief in the importance of a daily BM has led many people to use harsh laxatives, such as senna. We offer more natural approaches to achieving regularity in our Guide to Constipation.
