Can constipation slow down one's metabolism?

It’s usually the other way around. If you have a slow metabolism for some reason, you can suffer from constipation. Constipation is a symptom of a slow metabolism. Any other symptoms?

Oh i see thats what i was wondering,if you got all this build-up in you that might result in a slow metabolism.

You get the build up in you as a result of a slow metabolism. Are you getting enough exercise? Eating right? or are you tired all the time and not very hungry? You should be pooing at least once a day and it shouldn’t be uncomfortable.

Here’s some general info on digestion from NIH. They state that constipation is fewer than 4 bm’s a week. Web MD says you only need 3 a week. What I suspect is more relevant, however, is this excellent article by medical debunker Stephen Barrett, MD.: Gastrointestinal Quackery: Colonics, Laxatives, and More.

@Illuminat3d: An actual link causing constipation to slow metabolism ( @cazzie already pointed out it’s usually other way around). I did, however, find some interesting tidbits of mis-information along these lines at a number of website sselling colonic cleansing products. Here’s one:

“If you don’t have at least 1 bowel movement per day, you are already walking your way toward disease… With a sluggish, toxic digestive system, nutrient absorption is decreased, metabolism slows down, your energy level drops and you’re simply not strong enough”

Put plainly: You’re being flim-flammed.

Meant to say: “An actual link…is unknown to medical science.” Over-edited.

Less than once every 3 days and your constipated.

Also you should aim for stool that us the consistency of toothpaste.

I think of constipation as when you don’t go for days and feel completely bunged up and when you do go, it’s hard and packed up. I’d say 3 a week would be ok, as long as you didn’t feel ‘backed up’ and they weren’t hard.

I have to go once a day (or more) because my metabolism is sped up from a thyroid disease, so I guess I’m not ‘normal’ either.

Make sure you check out only proper, medical websites about this stuff. Like @gasman there is a lot of rubbish out there from so-called Drs of Nutrition (there really IS no such thing). So, use only qualified advice when you find it.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/constipation.html

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/digestive/basics/037.html

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/yrdd/

You may need to increase the fibre content of your diet.

By the way there are legitimate PhD level scientists in Dietetics and Nutrition. Some of those are also physicians. Most of the rest work with physicians.

@Dr_Lawrence I was talking about the ones in the UK, like ‘Dr’ Jillian. I know there are people who attend proper medical schools and learn about digestion, but I’m referring to some of the 2 or 3 year schools that are not credited in the UK.

it may be a thyroid problem – hypoactive thyroid. google it. the solution is usually Synthroid or other synthetic thyroid medication. Not a big deal.