How to empty bowels before a hike?

pasta_paul

They say prevention is better than cure, so for beginner hikes, especially dayhikes, how can one try to ensure that their bowels are empty and they won't suddenly need to poo? Are there proven ways? Is taking medication and relying on it bad?

Originally asked by user19652 on Stack Exchange (outdoors) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

uphilltech

Great question — answering as the UphillTech team:

Okay, we a all adults here (I hope) and our bodies have a regular internal rhythm which they are accustomed to deal with. This point is well brought out in James Jenkin's answer . Recommending medications or even laxatives is a bad solution to this hygienic problem. I would hate to have someone get sick or ill at my recommending something of this nature. Leave that option to professionals such as one's general practitioner (doctor). All said and done, I like Aravona's comment: try taking "orange juice, coffee, etc..." Here is why I am saying that this comment is bang on. I do landscaping for a living and I get up at 4:00 AM every morning. I do not have the luxury of just going to the...

Full answer by Ken Graham: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/15251 (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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