Pooping Before Tests? Study Says It Might Help

A new study shows that triathletes did better on a quick decision-making test when they used the bathroom beforehand. The study was small, with only 13 participants. They took the Stroop test three times over a week, once without going to the bathroom, once after going naturally, and once after taking a laxative. The results showed that their performance improved after both types of bowel movements, but was even better with the help of a magnesium oxide laxative. This test measures how quickly someone can name the color of a word, even when the word itself is a different color. For example, saying "green" when the word "red" is printed in green. The researchers think that going to the bathroom might give the body more energy to focus on tasks like this. They also found that oxygen use in the belly area increased after going to the bathroom. This suggests that the nerves in the gut might be sending signals to the brain to help with quick decisions. The study also found that taking magnesium might help this process. More research is needed to understand how the gut and brain work together. The researchers suggest going to the bathroom about an hour before a big event to help with quick, smart decisions.