Is My Poop Healthy? What Your Stool Is Telling You About Your Diet

Poop is something no one likes to talk about, but everyone does. I get it; poop sucks. But it is one of the greatest indicators of your health. Paying attention to your bowel movements can help you keep track of your health. find a food intolerance I may have missed it.

Differences in size, shape and smell are normal. Poop changes depending on what you eat and how much water you drink. Experience different types over time. It only matters if the unwanted color or shape persists for more than a few days. The shape and color of poop can tell you about your health.

What is the Bristol Stool Form Scale?

Before we begin, let’s take a look at the Bristol Stool Form Scale, a medical tool that helps sort stool into seven buckets. This is the measure by which you should think about bowel movements.

Everyone’s poop is slightly different. However, the ideal stool is smooth, easy to pass, and brown. It shouldn’t take long for the healthy poop to pass. Being on the toilet for more than 15 minutes can cause constipation. The average person has bowel movements every other day or up to 3 times a day.

Call your doctor right away if you have any significant changes in bowel movements, bloody stools, or abdominal pain.

What is the shape of the stool trying to convey?

hard lump

BSFS types 1 and 2 are usually difficult to pass and indicate constipation. This occurs when stool moves slowly through the digestive system and remains in the intestines for a long time. The stress hormones your body releases affect bodily processes, including bowel movements.

If you have this type of bowel movement frequently, adding more fiber to your diet can help make it easier. The recommended fiber intake for a woman is 21 to 25 grams per day for a woman and 30 to 38 grams for a man, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most people don’t get enough fiber in their diet. You can try fiber supplements to help things out.

It’s also important to make sure you’re drinking enough water to soften the stool and allow it to pass. pass without strainingYou can also add foods rich in magnesium. probiotics For meals to relieve constipation.

soft blob

Stools characterized as loose stools (type 5) indicate insufficiency Soluble dietary fiber with your meal. Focus on adding fiber-rich foods such as beans, avocados, and whole grains. I will help.

However, too much dietary fiber can cause constipation. Generally, it happens when you consume more than 70 grams daily.

diarrhea

BSFS types 6 and 7 are forms of diarrhea. This is not an ideal form of stool. If it passes through the body too quickly, it will be difficult to get the nutrients from the food.

We have all experienced diarrhea and will continue to do so in the future. Acute cases of diarrhea can be caused by illness or food poisoning. Prolonged diarrhea lasting several weeks may indicate a food intolerance or an underlying gastrointestinal disorder. please. irritable bowel syndrome Or food sensitivities.

read more: Tips for traveling with IBS

What the color of your stool tells you about your diet

Brown is the normal poop color, but with a slightly different shade. However, your stool color may vary depending on your diet and medications you are taking.

white or pale

Your stool should not be chalky or white. It can also occur as a side effect of the medicines you take. However, it may indicate a more serious health condition. White or pale stools may indicate that your body is not making enough bile, that your bile ducts are blocked, or that you have infection or inflammation in your liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.

Red

Red stools can be surprising, but they can also be caused by mundane causes such as diet. It can also be caused by taking too much red food dye or red-colored medicine. Red stool can appear in two ways: a red coating or spots.

More seriously, red stools can indicate bleeding in the colon or rectum and can be a symptom of diseases such as diverticulosis, Crohn’s disease, and colon cancer. If you haven’t eaten anything, call your doctor right away.

green

Green poop is okay once in a while! There are several reasons why green stools occur. First, eat lots of leafy greens. This is the number one reason. Maybe it’s because I ate a lot of food with green food coloring in it. Finally, it may indicate the fact that food is moving through your body too quickly.

yellow

For most people, yellowish, oily stools indicate too much fat in the diet. M. Celiac disease is a malabsorption disorder that often causes yellow stools.

black

Black poop is another color that no one wants to see. However, the stool may become black under the influence of the medicine. For example, iron supplements and over-the-counter medications such as Peptohis Bismol can produce black coloration.

If you haven’t experienced any of these, black stools can also be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. If you notice that your stools are extremely dark or black and you’re not taking supplements, talk to your doctor to find out what’s causing it.

Other flight characteristics

change in smell

Let me be clear, it doesn’t smell good. You usually know what to expect from your body when it comes to smell. There is a possibility

It could point to Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or ulcerative colitis. Alternatively, it may mean that you have inflammation in your pancreas or intestines.

floating

Poop may float because it is less dense than other bowel movements. This can be caused by a high fiber diet or a lot of gas.It can also mean that your body isn’t absorbing nutrients properly. The occasional appearance of loose stool is not immediately cause for concern. Consistent floating stools are worth seeing a doctor.

Tips for Keeping Digestion Healthy

We all want healthy digestion. After all, our gut is where our bodies absorb the nutrients they need from food. Here are some tips you can incorporate into your diet to keep your gut healthy.

• Drink water: The most common reason BSFS has Type 1 or 2 flights is that they don’t. drink enough waterWater helps loosen stools and move stools. If you tend to be constipated, make sure to drink plenty of water.
• eat gut health foods: a balanced diet It does more than just give your body the nutrients it needs. It helps you poop. Get enough fruits, vegetables, fiber and magnesium.
• regular exercise: Merging exercise into your daily life One of the best things you can do to stay regularly. Reduces the time it takes food to pass through the intestines. Exercise makes everything move on time.

of TL;DR the version is: Everyone poops. Variation in bowel movements is normal. The best form of stool is long, smooth, and brown. Permanent changes in poop are worth seeing a doctor trying to rule out a medical condition.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified physician if you have questions about your medical condition or health objectives. Talk to your health care provider.