What can you drink on an empty stomach to get your bowels moving?

What can you drink on an empty stomach to get your bowels moving?

The most effective mechanism in the morning is the gastrocolic reflex: when the stomach fills, colon motility increases. So routine matters more than a single magic drink. Still, practical options include warm water (helps some people), coffee or tea (watch caffeine sensitivity), plain water, and kefir/yogurt-based drinks if tolerated. Trends like “drink olive oil” may help some, but they are not standardized medical solutions and can worsen reflux. A strong morning protocol is: hydrate on waking, do 10–15 minutes of light movement, then eat a fiber-plus-protein breakfast (e.g., oats + yogurt/kefir + fruit) and allow time for toileting. For constipation-prone individuals, soluble fiber such as psyllium taken with water can be useful—titrate slowly if gas occurs. If you have diabetes, reflux, IBS, or kidney disease, certain options (sugary mixes, excessive magnesium) may be inappropriate. If irregularity has persisted for weeks, fix the whole plan rather than relying on a single drink.