India, Dec. 19 -- Bowel movement is an important metabolic function that greatly affects not just our overall health but also our mood and comfort throughout the course of the day.

While the activity finds none other than infants lacking in experience, it is the nature of the act itself that concerns Dr Saurabh Sethi, California-based gastroenterologist trained at AIIMS, Harvard and Stanford Universities.

Taking to Instagram on December 19, Dr Sethi shared eight things to look out for while doing our business to better maintain our gut health.

Straining too hard while on the toilet seat increases pressure on the rectum. This leads to a greater risk of haemorrhoids, fissures and prolapse, warned Dr Sethi.

An average person should not b...