Everyone does it, but everyone avoids talking about it. Sorry if this grosses you out, but your poop can tell you a lot about what’s going on in your body and identify problems early.
Ideally, a healthy poop should be easy to pass and only take a minute. While it is common that people spend more time on the toilet, it shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes. It is particularly important to spend little time on the latrine, to help avoid the onset of piles.
A “healthy” frequency can vary quite a lot between different people, ranging from once every other day to up to 3 times a day.
If there are any problems, it only takes a glance to identify them.
Does it float?
Poop should not float. If you find that your poop floats quite often, it could be a sign that your body isn’t digesting fat properly.
Bits of food?
It’s normal to find food in your poop as a lot of vegetables contain cellulose, which our bodies can’t digest. The appearance of it is determined by how we chew our food, so if you find that there are large bits coming out, try chewing more.
The Poop Chart
There is a handy chart to easily identify the appearance of poop developed by Ken Heaton, MD, who is an expert in bowel function and nutrition at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
This chart is known as the “Bristol Stool Chart”.
It was designed to prevent embarrassing discussions with your doctor, but it is also helpful for yourself as a simple guideline to check that everything is ok in your digestive tract.
There are 7 types of poop that range from “constipated” to “diarrhea”. You want to aim for type 4, and there are things you can do to help you achieve this goal no matter where you are on the chart.
What colour is your poop?
Brown is the “normal” colour, thanks to a chemical known as “stercoblin”, which is formed from the breakdown of red blood cells in your body and the byproduct of bile. A hint of green is also considered healthy.
You shouldn’t be too alarmed if your poop comes out in a weird colour as it can often just be the result of what you’ve eaten, too much spinach, beetroots, cranberries, liquorice or certain supplements/medications/antibiotics can affect the colour of your poop and that is perfectly normal.
If you’ve not been ingesting foods/medications of a certain colour, then keep an eye out for these colours and make sure to consult your doctor if any of these colours persist.
Could be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Could be a sign of blocked bile ducts. Bile is a digestive fluid that comes from your liver and gallbladder.
Could be a sign of infection.
Could be a sign of bleeding in the lower intestinal tract.
Could be a sign of too much fat or malabsorption.
Having trouble with pooping can be because of many reasons ranging from blockages in the colon or rectum, issues with pelvic muscles, hormonal conditions like pregnancy or diabetes, magnesium deficiency and even stress.
Drink more water
Constipation can happen when you are dehydrated, as your large intestine and colon has nowhere else to draw liquid from so it is important to stay hydrated
Exercising improves muscle strength, which can help with constipation if the cause is muscle-related. Plus it’ll make you thirsty, which reminds you to drink more water!
- Consider supplementing your diet with magnesium.
It helps your body function more optimally, and you may also be magnesium deficient.
- Eat foods that are a good source of fibre and are natural laxatives, for example apples, pears, figs, sweet potato, beans and prunes.
Apple Cider Vinegar is said to be helpful as well when it comes to fixing constipation.
Too much wet poop?
- Eat more foods that are high in fibre, such as whole grains, beans, peas, berries, broccoli, carrots, nuts and seeds. This will slow down the food going through your intestines so that you can absorb more nutrients.
- Strengthen your gut health with foods that are rich in prebiotics and probiotics. Take a look at Bulletproof's Innerfuel if you need to diversify your gut biome.
- If your poop is greasy or like tar, it might be due to a diet that contains too much fat.
- If you find a noticeable amount of mucus in your poop, you should go talk to your doctor about it.
You can learn so much about your body and your diet from your poop, it’s a great way of monitoring your own health and the improvements you’ve been making to your diet.
As always, if any problems persist, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.