Scientists in the United States have found the number of times you go to poop every week can predict your future overall health and well-being. Even though everyone’s body is different, experts say regularity of bowel movements is what you need.

However, the ideal amount - or the "Goldilocks Zone" as the researchers from the Institute for Systems Biology call it - is at least once a day. The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine - both frequent and infrequent bowel movements have long-term health implications. Researchers said they evaluated 1,400 healthy adults and discovered that those who pooped less frequently exhibited signs of decreased kidney function.

Also, those who pooped more often than average showed signs of impaired liver function.

Based on their bowel movement patterns, researchers categorized the participants into four groups – those who suffered from:

• Constipation with one or two bowel movements per week
• Low to normal with three to six bowel movements per week
• High to normal with one to three bowel movements per day
• Diarrhoea

The scientists then investigated the relationship between the frequency of bowel movements and various factors like demographics, genetics, gut microbiome composition, blood metabolites, and plasma chemistries "The study showed that age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with bowel movement frequency. Specifically, younger people, women, and those with a lower BMI tended to have less frequent bowel movements," the researchers said in a news release.

The optimal frequency of bowel movements – that occur approximately once or twice a day are referred to as the "Goldilocks zone" and according to experts, those within this range have fibre-fermenting gut bacteria, which are commonly associated with good health.

A sign of fibre-fermenting gut bacteria means that those who are pooping often share a similar gut microbiome.

A few ways to bulk up your stools and get rid of constipation, include bringing a few changes in your:

It is important to eat more high-fibre foods that add bulk to stools and help them move through the colon. Indulge more in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables.

According to experts, drinking plenty of water and other liquids, like prune juice, warm juices, decaffeinated teas, and hot lemonade can help stimulate bowel movement. Avoid carbonated drinks and chewing gum, and try not to talk much at meals to reduce the amount of air you swallow.

Regular physical activity, like walking, cycling, jogging, or even working out at the gym can help improve stool movement through the colon.

Try to have a bowel movement at the same time each day and don't avoid the urge to pass stool.