Let's remove the requirement to be delicate.
You're finding it hard to poop.
All that downtown effort? Zero return on investment.
You're not alone.
Almost everyone experiences constipation at some point in their lives.
(Note: constipation is defined as having three or fewer bowel movements in one week.)
In USA, chronic constipation affects 16% of the general population and one third of adults over the age of 60.
The good news is that a little push from nature may be enough to relieve the strain.
The better news is that tea can help!
Of course, eating more fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains, is a great way to lighten the load, as is exercise, drinking water, and listening to John Farnham's greatest hit "Pressure Down" (only Aussies will get that one).
So how does tea help you poop?
Professor of gastroenterology and nutrition sciences at Michigan Medicine, William Chey, MD, cites caffeine in tea as the magic behind what helps you go.
"Caffeine serves as a stimulant for bowel contractions or motility," Dr. Chey says. "That's why a lot of people say that they move their bowels after having their cup of coffee or cup of tea in the morning."
Some time ago, I noticed this phenomenon, quite unintentionally, and to be perfectly honest, I was not impressed.
You see, every morning, before the world awakes and invades my space, I spend one blissfully uninterrupted hour over a cup of Lady Betty black tea.
After a while, I started to notice a pattern. Not long after I finished a cup of my favourite black tea, it happened. And again. And again.
I had to go.
Ugh!
My sacred hour was interrupted.
My black tea bestie Betty was to blame.
I have to admit, I had to wonder if this "effect" was part of the reason Lady Betty sold so well (apart from the fact it tastes amazing).
Teas That Help You Poop
If your morning poop is a welcome event and not a terrible interruption, here's a couple of teas to activate the giant within.
Remember, caffeine in tea is your pooping friend.
Herbal teas don't contain caffeine, so let's leave them to do other important tasks, like support sleep.
Black tea is the tea that tends to have the highest level caffeine, with 47 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup.
Green tea, not far behind, has a caffeine kick too. The fresher the harvest, the more potent the kick (that's a story for another day).
And both with a healthy dose of caffeine, it can be all that's needed to activate systems and help you go.