Our neighbours across the ditch are noticing a strange phenomenon every time they head into a Bunnings store… The sudden urge to take a shit.
And sure, feeling the need to drop the kids off at the pool while out in public isn’t an uncommon experience, but a bunch of people have agreed that walking down the aisles of Bunnings weirdly triggers the need to go.
An Aussie bloke recently took to social media to ask the big question… Why does the popular hardware store feel like “the strongest laxative” for him every time he takes a step inside?
The comments of his video are filled with people sharing the same sentiment, with one user writing, “I’m laughing because this happens to my husband every time he goes there.”
In fact, so many people have wondered why Bunnings and sudden bowel movements seem to go hand in hand, that a Sydney medical practitioner has explained what causes it.
Dr. Zac Turner says this whole thing comes down to the fascinating - and sometimes inconvenient - connection between your brain and your gut.
“The enteric nervous system (ENS), often called the ‘second brain’, governs digestive processes and chats constantly with the brain via the vagus nerve,” he told news.com.au.
“This gut-brain banter can lead to surprising outcomes, including sudden bowel movements triggered by sensory or psychological cues.”
Previous studies have discovered that factors like smells, exercise, lighting and stress can cause your gut to react - and apparently, stopping by your local Bunnings could create a sort of sensory overload of these factors.
“Bunnings is a sensory playground: timber, fertilisers, potting mix, and varnishes mingle with the unmistakable aroma of sausages sizzling outside. These smells can stimulate the vagus nerve, kicking digestion into gear and creating that all-too-familiar urgency,” Dr Zac explained.
“It’s also a place where new projects come to life, containing a maze of choices and decisions. Whether it’s excitement or low-level stress, the gut-brain connection might respond with an urgent ‘time-out’ request,” he continued.
And let’s not forget the exercise elements of heading to Bunnings. Dr Zac explained, “Wandering through aisles, bending to pick up bags of mulch, or carrying heavy items engages abdominal muscles, which can stimulate your bowels, especially if your gut is already primed.”
I can't personally confirm this theory as I'm not an avid Bunnings-goer, however a quick chat to my colleagues has confirmed that a bunch of them can relate to this interesting phenomenon.
So there you go. Next time you head into Bunnings and you suddenly feel an urge, just know that you’re not alone.
