The idea of examining your poop may find you squirming with disgust, but before you flush the toilet take some time to find out what your poop says about you and your health.
So what is the normal composition of poo?
It consists of water, fiber, bile from gall bladder, dead and live bacteria, other cells and mucous.
And looks like… well formed, one piece, the size and shape of a sausage or having an S shape. It is easy to pass and chocolate/brown in colour.
What is the normal frequency of a bowel motion?
It ranges from 1-3 per day and most days. Less than 3 times per week is classed as constipation.
So what isn’t normal?
- Loose poo or diarrhoea may be indicative of IBS, stress/nerve tension, chronic infection such as a parasitic overgrowth, food intolerance or allergy, malabsorption syndrome and inflammatory conditions. This can cause other symptoms such as pain, bloating and wind.
- Pebbles alongside straining or constipation. These are dry and hard stools with a delayed transit time. This can cause other symptoms such as pain, bloating and wind.
- Floaty poo may be indicative of malabsorption, particularly an inability to digest fats, Coeliac disease or gluten intolerance.
- Smelly poo like a foul egg smell accompanied with lots of cramping and diarrhoea could be indicative of an infection.
- Mucousy poo The mucous can be clear, white or yellow which is produced by the mucous membrane of the large intestine. It could be indicative of Crohn’s disease, ulcers or IBS.
- Seeds, corn and other foods found in poo is simply indicative of poor digestion, beginning with poor chewing and an imbalanced production of acids and enzymes. Try this stomach acid/digestive test at home: Mix one teaspoon of aluminium free bicarbonate of soda in 200mls water and drink on an empty stomach. There should be significant burping within 5-10 mins, in which case there is enough stomach acid to break down your food. The gas is caused by the acid in your tummy acting to break up the molecule of bicarbonate, which splits off the carbonate as a gas. If stomach acid is low, the food “bolus” going down to your intestine may be too alkaline to signal your pancreas or small intestine to secrete enzymes to digest your food adequately and result in discomfort or bloating, constipation and sometimes even undigested food particles in the stool (Reference).
- Red or orangey poos could be due to eating red or orangey foods such as beetroot, or due to a lack of bile acids (liver or gall issues), rapid transit time through the gut, fresh blood from a haemorrhoid or fissure, or more serious issues such as colon polyps, colon cancer, diverticulitis bleeding or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Green poo could be due to eating green colored foods such a chlorophyll, spirulina or taking iron supplements.
- Pale or clay-colored poo may be due to a lack of bile salts and antacid medications.
- Yellow poo could be indicative of an infection or fat malabsorption.
- Black poo could be from taking iron supplements or bluish coloured foods such as blueberries, beetroot, black licorice. It could also be indicative of internal bleeding high up in the intestinal tract.
The following are lifestyle factors that influence the health, colour, consistency and frequency of your poo:
- Diet high in processed ingredients: vegetable oils, refined salt, sugar, gluten, soy and additives
- Processed and dead foods devoid of live nutrients and enzymes
- Intake of recreational drugs including cigarettes and alcohol
- Excessive caffeine consumption from cola drinks, coffee, cocoa, chocolate and energy drinks
- Untreated intolerances/allergies and thyroid, liver and hormonal imbalances
- Poor circadian rhythm, night shift work, excessive travelling and general stress
- Lack of exercise and poor hydration
- Genetic predisposition to digestive diseases
- Too many alkaline fluids and food, which disrupt the necessary acid pH of your stomach
- History of taking laxatives, magnesium and iron supplements, fibre supplements and antibiotics. Excessive use of ant acids or pain medications, vitamin C, cultured and fermented foods and drinks and probiotics (you can have too much of a good thing)
Paul Chek’s illustration (from the Chek Institute) called the Poopie line up is a descriptive and fun reference to what different poos mean. He accompanies this with a poem, called the “The joy of pooping”. Check it out here.
Next week I will share my naturopathic tips on creating a healthy digestive system and further investigation with a comprehensive stool analysis test.
Image credit: Healthy Holistic Living