Are you relying on outdated methods to support your regular bowel movements?
Well, odds are you’re going about it all wrong.
Sure, loading up on as much fiber as possible will make you go (eventually).
Yet, that’s only because you can’t digest insoluble fiber, so it has nowhere else to go.
That’s the way most think about their digestion.
They believe it’s just a mechanical process.
“What goes in must come out”… right?
The earth was once believed to be the center of the universe too, yet we’ve long since moved on from that false belief.
Now it’s time to let go of this false belief that supporting regular bowel movements is best done with fiber and/or copious amounts of water.
Most are completely missing the hormonal influence on digestion that really needs to be addressed.
We’ll talk about this in a minute.
First, it’s important to understand that sometimes these mechanical approaches aren’t always as helpful as they might seem.
2 Outdated Approaches to Bowel Regularity
Since I’ve already mentioned fiber, let’s start there.
1. Filling Yourself Full of Fiber
Many people turn to fiber supplements as the go-to solution for regularity.
While fiber can be supportive, not all types of fiber behave the same way in the digestive system.
Certain types of fiber are difficult to break down and instead become fuel for bacteria in the gut.
When this happens, bacteria in your gut can produce byproducts — including compounds like endotoxin — that may affect your digestive comfort and disrupt digestive balance.
So, adding more fiber can often lead to additional challenges down the road instead of solving the ones you currently face.
2. Drowning Yourself With Water
It’s one thing to drink adequate water (or liquids) to keep yourself hydrated.
It’s another thing to think that drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day is going to automatically keep everything moving smoothly.
In reality, your body’s hydration levels are influenced by many factors, including diet, stress, environment, and metabolism.
Drinking excessive water doesn’t always translate into better digestive balance, and in some cases it may leave you feeling bloated or sluggish.
True digestive comfort is about more than just hydration. It’s about supporting the body in a balanced way — so your system works with you, not against you.
Staying hydrated (but not overly hydrated) is a good start, but true digestive comfort requires more.
Next, let’s look at how your body’s own natural rhythms — especially hormonal balance — can play a surprising role in regularity.
4 Natural Ways to Help Your Digestion Flow Smoothly
Digestion isn’t just about what you eat or drink. Your whole body plays a role.
There are many other factors that influence how comfortably and consistently your system works.
Four of the biggest players in digestive regularity include:
- Ongoing stress
- Hormonal balance
- Gut bacteria and their byproducts
- A sluggish metabolism
The key takeaway?
Staying comfortable and regular isn’t about quick fixes like piling on fiber or chugging water. It’s about giving your body well-rounded support in these key areas.
Here’s how we like to approach it…
1. The Stress–Digestion Connection
Stress doesn’t just affect your mood.
It can also influence how your digestion feels.
When your body is in a constant “fight or flight” mode, it may slow down normal digestive processes and leave your digestion feeling off track.
That’s why supporting calm and balance can be an important part of maintaining regularity.
Lifestyle choices like rest, movement, and mindful eating can all make a difference.
Yet, managing stress isn’t just about relaxation techniques.
It also means supporting your digestion so your whole system works more smoothly.
Simple practices like deep breathing, gentle stretching, or spending time outdoors can help the body unwind and feel more at ease..
Minerals like magnesium can help too, since they play a role in relaxation and calm, which in turn supports healthy digestion.
Cascara sagrada is an herbal digestive aid that has been traditionally used to help maintain natural bowel regularity, providing a gentle nudge when your system needs a little extra support.
We source a properly aged cascara sagrada that reflects this traditional use and helps support everyday digestive comfort in a natural, reliable way.
2. The Hormone–Digestion Connection
Hormones play a big role in how your body feels — and that includes your digestion.
Natural shifts in hormone balance, such as those that happen throughout the month or with age, can sometimes affect how comfortable and regular you feel.
That’s why supporting overall hormonal balance can also support digestive comfort.
Simple lifestyle practices like managing stress, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and getting quality sleep can all make a difference.
Eating balanced meals with a mix of protein, healthy carbs, and easy-to-digest foods helps provide steady energy and supports your body’s natural balance.
Aiming for consistent, high-quality sleep gives your body the chance to recharge and helps maintain balanced hormone function.
We take a whole-body approach — combining nourishing foods, supportive supplements (like vitamin E), and gentle lifestyle practices — to promote hormonal balance and digestive comfort.
3. The Bacteria–Digestion Connection
As we touched on earlier, fiber can play different roles in digestion depending on the type.
You often hear about the benefits of fiber for gut health, and it’s true that some sources can be helpful.
But not all fibers behave the same way in the digestive system.
Certain types of fiber are easily fermented by gut bacteria.
When this happens, it can lead to the production of byproducts that may cause gas, bloating, or other digestive discomforts.
This is why we don’t recommend common fermentable fibers, including:
- Pectin
- Bran
- Carrageenan
- Agar
- Guar Gum
- Alfafa
On the other hand, some fibers are naturally resistant to fermentation and don’t provide as much fuel for bacteria.
Instead, they move through the digestive tract more smoothly and help support a more balanced environment in the gut.
Two great examples are raw carrots and bamboo shoots.
Both provide fiber that tends to move through the digestive tract more smoothly and also help support balance in the gut.
That’s why we often recommend them as part of a digestion-friendly approach.
Choosing the right type of fiber can make a big difference in how comfortable and regular you feel, while also helping to keep your gut environment in balance.
4. The Metabolism-Digestion Connection
Your metabolism is closely tied to how your whole body feels, including your digestion.
When your body has steady energy, your digestive system tends to work more smoothly and comfortably.
On the other hand, when metabolism slows down, digestion can sometimes feel sluggish too.
A slower metabolism means your cells aren’t making as much energy, and when that happens, digestion can also move more slowly.
That extra time in the gut allows bacteria to ferment food, which is one reason you may notice occasional bloating or digestive discomfort.
Supporting healthy energy production is an important part of promoting digestive comfort.
Simple habits like getting natural sunlight, enjoying nutrient-rich foods, and including supportive nutrients — such as B-vitamins or even a daily cup of coffee — can all help keep your metabolism and digestion in sync.
Cascara Sagrada: An Old-World Secret for Modern Digestion
Now that we’ve laid out four natural ways to help your digestion flow smoothly, there’s an ancient herbal tradition we often recommend for supporting all four pieces of this gut connection puzzle.
It’s a little-known herbal aid called cascara sagrada — often referred to as “Sacred Bark.”
Cascara sagrada has a long history of traditional use, dating back centuries, where it was valued for its ability to help support natural regularity.
Today, it’s still appreciated as a gentle way to promote digestive balance.
But not all cascara is created equal. Properly aged cascara bark is known to be milder and more reliable, which is why we carefully source and use only properly aged cascara for our products.
So how does cascara sagrada fit into the bigger picture?
Cascara is traditionally valued for its gentle effect on the digestive tract, helping to keep things moving naturally. By supporting regularity, it also helps maintain a comfortable and balanced gut environment.
This means it can play a role in:
- Promoting smooth, natural bowel movements
- Supporting digestive comfort by keeping things flowing regularly
- Encouraging balance in the gut environment so bacteria don’t have as much opportunity to produce unwanted byproducts
- Helping your digestive system feel more energized and at ease
It’s a simple, natural way to give your digestion a little extra support — and when your digestion is comfortable, your whole body feels more in balance.
KEY IDEA
Most people think of digestion as a simple in-and-out process, solved by adding more fiber or drinking extra water. But true digestive comfort is influenced by much more — including stress, hormones, gut bacteria, and metabolism. This article explores how each of these factors can influence regularity, and why quick fixes don’t always provide lasting comfort. You’ll also discover simple lifestyle habits, like balanced meals, quality sleep, and mindful movement, that can help keep your system in sync. Finally, we introduce cascara sagrada, a time-honored herb known as “Sacred Bark,” traditionally valued for supporting natural regularity and digestive balance. With the right whole-body approach, you can help support smoother digestion and feel more at ease every day.
