Sean Gibbons

Thanks for having me, Dana.

Thanks for having me, Dana.

There's no hard and fast ideal frequency, I would say. Currently, clinically, there's a wide range that's considered healthy. Everything from three times a week to three times a day is considered fairly normal. And that's very wide. But based on what we'll talk about here soon, I would say maybe once every other day or a couple times a day is probably where you want to be.

There's no hard and fast ideal frequency, I would say. Currently, clinically, there's a wide range that's considered healthy. Everything from three times a week to three times a day is considered fairly normal. And that's very wide. But based on what we'll talk about here soon, I would say maybe once every other day or a couple times a day is probably where you want to be.

That's kind of the Goldilocks zone.

That's kind of the Goldilocks zone.

So this was a large cohort of individuals from a scientific wellness company called Aravale. And we had approximately three to four thousand people in this cohort. We filtered down the number of people who were a part of this particular study by looking at those who were the healthiest among them. So we got down to maybe two thousand or so people who had no reported diseases.

So this was a large cohort of individuals from a scientific wellness company called Aravale. And we had approximately three to four thousand people in this cohort. We filtered down the number of people who were a part of this particular study by looking at those who were the healthiest among them. So we got down to maybe two thousand or so people who had no reported diseases.

whose clinical chemistries like their LDL cholesterol and their insulin resistance were all in the sort of healthy range. So these were as healthy as we could find.

whose clinical chemistries like their LDL cholesterol and their insulin resistance were all in the sort of healthy range. So these were as healthy as we could find.

Those who had a high bowel movement frequency, which is maybe four or more bowel movements a day, which is classified as diarrhea, they showed signatures of stress on their liver. Their liver enzymes were out of range. They also saw higher levels of inflammation. This isn't perhaps that surprising because we know that we produce bile. That's excreted into our bowel.

Those who had a high bowel movement frequency, which is maybe four or more bowel movements a day, which is classified as diarrhea, they showed signatures of stress on their liver. Their liver enzymes were out of range. They also saw higher levels of inflammation. This isn't perhaps that surprising because we know that we produce bile. That's excreted into our bowel.

And if we are experiencing diarrhea, we actually lose a lot of our bile through defecation. And our body has to work hard to produce more of it. And that puts strain on the liver. And inflammation has long been known to be associated with diarrhea as well.

And if we are experiencing diarrhea, we actually lose a lot of our bile through defecation. And our body has to work hard to produce more of it. And that puts strain on the liver. And inflammation has long been known to be associated with diarrhea as well.

So those who are on the low end, which is, you know, three or fewer times per week, kind of constipated individuals, they showed a rise in microbially derived metabolites in the bloodstream from the fermentation of proteins. So microbes fermenting proteins into these molecules like p-creosol or endoxyl or phenylacetate.

So those who are on the low end, which is, you know, three or fewer times per week, kind of constipated individuals, they showed a rise in microbially derived metabolites in the bloodstream from the fermentation of proteins. So microbes fermenting proteins into these molecules like p-creosol or endoxyl or phenylacetate.

And many of these molecules are toxins to the kidneys, the liver, and even to the brain. So these are not necessarily that good for us, and they've been linked to chronic diseases.

And many of these molecules are toxins to the kidneys, the liver, and even to the brain. So these are not necessarily that good for us, and they've been linked to chronic diseases.

One of the main reasons we embarked on this study is that there are all of these associations out there between several different chronic diseases and bowel movement frequency. So for example, those who have neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease, Oftentimes before they get diagnosed with these diseases, they have had maybe decades of chronic constipation.

One of the main reasons we embarked on this study is that there are all of these associations out there between several different chronic diseases and bowel movement frequency. So for example, those who have neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease, Oftentimes before they get diagnosed with these diseases, they have had maybe decades of chronic constipation.