A new study has discovered that triathletes performed better on a test designed to simulate quick decision-making in sports when they used the bathroom beforehand. The research says that taking a moment to relieve oneself can help improve focus and boost performance during important events.

The study involved 13 participants who took the Stroop test three times, one week apart. The first test was taken without using the bathroom beforehand, the second test was taken an hour after going to the bathroom, and the third test was taken after using a magnesium oxide laxative.

The researchers found that all 13 participants performed better on the Stroop test after using a magnesium laxative to help them go to the bathroom. Most of the participants (9 out of 13) also did better after going to the bathroom without the laxatives.

In the Stroop test, participants saw colour words printed in different colours of ink (like the word "red" written in green ink) and had to quickly say the colour of the ink. In the study, the authors used the results to measure participants' ability to focus and make quick decisions.

Earlier, research by the team found that going to the bathroom improved cycling performance and increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making. They used these findings to say that relieving yourself gives your body more energy to focus on thinking and physical effort.

The researchers found that better performance on the Stroop test was linked to an increase in oxygen consumption in the area below the belly button after using the bathroom.

However, there was less effect on the prefrontal brain. They theorized that the enteric nervous system, which surrounds the rectum, might play a role in cognitive tasks by sending signals to the brain based on gut conditions, explaining what’s commonly referred to as a "gut feeling."

The most surprising result was the clear improvement in participants who took the magnesium supplement to help them go to the bathroom. As mentioned earlier, the study found that going to the bathroom helped with focus. Magnesium oxide, which can be bought as tablets or powder, draws water into the intestines to soften stool and relieve constipation, leading to better performance on the test.

The study says that magnesium may influence the interaction between the rectum and the brain, potentially improving decision-making. This aligns with previous research showing that magnesium can help alleviate depressive symptoms. 

The researchers recommend using the bathroom 60 to 90 minutes before an important event for better focus and faster decision-making. They also call for larger studies to confirm these findings and further explore how gut bacteria, hunger, and meal timing affect mental clarity.