Is your poo normal? 10 things it can reveal about your health

What we do in the bathroom is a taboo subject, but let’s talk about it. Everyone poops. In fact, your bowel movements are one of the most important health indicators you have. I’m not saying you have to follow every saddle. However, paying attention to what is going on can help you monitor your health and identify food intolerances you may have missed.

A variation in size, shape and odor is normal. Your poo will change depending on what you ate and how much water you drank. You will experience different types over time; it only becomes a problem when the unwanted colors and shapes last for more than a few days. Here’s what the shape and color of your poop is trying to tell you about your health.

For more advice on your health, discover how to identify your blood type and simple ways to improve your gut.

What is the Bristol Stool Form Scale?

Before we begin, let’s level up on the Bristol Stool Shape Scale, a medical tool that helps classify stool into seven buckets, allowing doctors to gauge how long stool was in the bowel. . This is the scale you should think about for your saddles.

Everyone’s poop will vary slightly. However, ideal stools are smooth, easy to pass, and brown. Healthy poop should be on its way soon. So if you stay more than fifteen minutes in the bathroom, you are constipated. The average person will poop between every other day or up to three times a day.

Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any significant changes in stool, blood in your stool, or abdominal pain.

What the shape of your stool is trying to tell you

hard bits

Types one and two on the BSFS are usually difficult to pass, indicating constipation. This happens when stool slowly passes through the digestive system, resulting in a long period in your intestine. Constipation can be caused by diet, but it can also be related to stress. The stress hormones the body releases influence our bodily processes, including bowel movements.

If you have this type of stool often, adding more fiber to your diet may help. According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended fiber intake for women is 21 to 25 grams and 30 to 38 grams per day for men. The vast majority of people do not get enough fiber in their diet. You can try fiber supplements to help things along.

It is also important to make sure that you drink enough water to soften your stools and leave them pass without constraint. You can also add more foods rich in magnesium and probiotics to your diet to reduce constipation.

soft drops

Stools characterized by soft spots (type five) indicate insufficiency soluble fiber in your diet. Focus on adding fiber-rich foods like beans, avocados, and whole grains. Or, add a fiber supplement to your diet that will regulate digestion and help get your bowel movements back on track.

However, taking too much fiber can cause constipation. Usually this happens when you take an excess of 70 grams per day. Still, it’s important to monitor your bowel movements when taking fiber supplements to make sure you’re helping your digestion as intended.

Diarrhea

BSFS types six and seven are forms of diarrhea. This is not the ideal form of stool because it is difficult for the body to get nutrients from food if it passes through the body too quickly.

We have all had diarrhea and will have it in the future. An acute case of diarrhea can be triggered by illness or food poisoning. Long-term diarrhea that lasts several weeks may indicate underlying food intolerances or digestive disorders. Make an appointment with your doctor if you have frequent diarrhea to treat if you have chronic inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome or food sensitivities.

Read more: Tips for traveling with IBS

What your stool color says about your diet

Brown is the normal color of poop, with slight variations in hue. However, stool color can vary depending on your diet and the medications you take.

White or pale

Your stools should not be chalky or white. Sometimes it happens as a side effect of medications you are taking. However, it may indicate more serious health issues. White or pale stools may indicate that your body is not producing enough bile, that a common bile duct is blocked, or that you have an infection or inflammation of the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.

Red

Red stools can be alarming, but can occur from mundane sources like your diet. If you eat a lot of cranberries or beets, you may notice that your stools have a red tint. It can also happen because you have consumed a lot of red food coloring or red-colored medications. Red stools can present in two ways: a red coating or spotting.

More seriously, red stools can indicate bleeding in the large intestine or rectum, which can be symptoms of conditions like diverticulosis, Crohn’s disease, or conditions like colon cancer. If you haven’t eaten anything that could turn your poop red, contact your doctor immediately for a visit.

Green

Green poo is good sometimes! There are several reasons why green stools may occur. First of all, you’re eating a ton of leafy green vegetables – that’s the best reason. It could also be because you ate a lot of things with green food coloring. Lastly, it could be a sign that your food is passing through your body too quickly.

Yellow

For most people, yellowish, greasy stools tell you that your diet is too high in fat. Alternatively, it’s an indicator of malabsorption, or your body isn’t extracting nutrients from your food. Celiac disease is a malabsorption disease often responsible for yellow stools.

Black

Black poo is another color no one wants to see. However, your stools may be black because of your medications. For example, iron supplements or over-the-counter medications like Pepto Bismol can create a black color.

If you haven’t had any of these things, black stools can also be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Any internal bleeding is something to check out. If you notice that your stools are extremely dark or black and you haven’t taken any supplements, schedule an appointment with your GP to find the source.

Other Saddle Features

Change in smell

Let’s be clear: it will never smell good. Although generally you know what to expect from your body when it comes to smell. If you suddenly experience stools that are particularly smelly or unique to your body, it could be a sign that something is going on.

It may indicate Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or ulcerative colitis. Alternatively, it may mean that you have inflammation of the pancreas or intestine.

Floating

Sometimes poop floats because it is less dense than other stools. This can happen due to a high fiber diet or a lot of gas. It can also mean that your body is not absorbing nutrients as it should. Floating stools from time to time are not an immediate sign of concern. Constant floating stools are worth mentioning to your doctor.

Tips to keep your digestion healthy

We all want healthy digestion. After all, our intestines are where our bodies absorb the nutrients we need from our diet. Here are some tips you can implement in your diet to keep your gut healthy.

• Drink water: The most common reason people have type one or two stools on the BSFS is that they are not drink enough water. Water helps loosen stools and move them forward. If you are prone to constipation, be sure to drink plenty of water.
• Eat colon-healthy foods: A well-balanced diet does more than just give your body the nutrients it needs; it helps to poop. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, fiber and magnesium.
• Regular exercise: Integrating make exercise part of your daily routine is one of the best things you can do to stay regular. It decreases the time it takes for food to move through the intestine. Exercise keeps everything moving in time.

The The TL;DR version of this is: Everyone poops, and it’s normal for there to be some variation in bowel movements. The best form of stool is long, smooth and brown. Lasting changes in your poop are worth meeting with your doctor about to rule out medical conditions.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical or health advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.