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What your poop says about your health
The digestion process takes out all the nutrients the body needs and throws away the waste through poop and urination. You might be sick if you don’t have any bowel movement for more than a couple of days after last going. So, let us examine your bathroom behavior.
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You might be sick if you don’t have any bowel movement for more than a couple days since last going. (Shutterstock/-)
I
t might not be a popular conversation topic. Maybe, you never want to discuss it. Some people even feel sick when they hear the word. But, do you know that your poop tells a lot about your health?
Poop, or as we call in medical terms feces, is all the waste and toxin from your body after it has absorbed all the nutrients from the food you digest.
Foods with less fiber are more difficult for your body to digest that is why such foods look relatively unchanged when it arrives in your toilet bowl. Nuts, fruits, beans, seeds, vegetables and whole grains are high in fiber, while meat and processed foods have more calories and less fiber.
About 25 percent of your poop contains a stinky combination of fiber, dead and live bacteria, while water makes up the most of your poop. It can also reveal signs when someone has an infection, has a gastrointestinal problem or even cancer.
The digestion process takes out all the nutrients the body needs and throws away the waste through poop and urination. You might be sick if you don’t have any bowel movement for more than a couple of days after last going. So, let us examine your bathroom behavior.
Frequency
Check how many times you poop every day. There is actually no specific number to be considered normal, however “at least three times a week at a minimum”, an expert says.
Generally, going to the bathroom twice a day is normal. Well, the word “normal” is relative. It depends on your regular schedule and your fiber intake. Some may find themselves pooping less regularly on weekends or vacation, when they eat less fiber or working out less often. It is also considered normal to do a “number two” only every other day, as long as this is what your regular schedule looks like.
Texture, size and shape
It is icky, but not all people pay attention to their toilet bowl before flushing. What do you think your poop looks like? Your output represents what you eat and what goes through your colon. People with a healthy lifestyle who eat enough fiber and drink plenty of water ideally have log-like poop that is not broken into pieces.
Texture, size, and shape is actually irrelevant as long as you feel comfort and if there is nothing happening that is outside of your regular. Just go check with your doctor if you find any problems or discomfort during toilet time.
Color
Poop has different colors; red, yellow, black, gray, green, brown, depending on your fiber intake. Black, red, or purple poops usually contain blood. This is a bad sign.
Colors can point to possible serious conditions, but you should check this with your doctor before jumping to conclusions.
- Black is related to digestion problems such as internal bleeding. But, it could also be something harmless such as iron supplements, active charcoal or black licorice that you consumed. It should be disappear after two or three bowel movements.
- Red or purple poop can be somewhat common if you eat a lot of deep-colored vegetables like beets.
- Yellow can indicate liver disease.
- Green for vegetarians who consume a lot of fiber.
- Very-light color, silver, or white poop can indicate problems in the flow of the bile duct. A white or clay-color may come from certain medicines.
(Read also: Painful bowel movement may be a sign of a bigger problem)
Smell
Everyone agrees that poop has an unpleasant smell. However, if you consistently have poop with extra foul gas, you need an appointment with you doctor. Terrible-smelling poop is usually caused by Giardia parasites that often start a stomach bug. It also indicates a serious digestive problem such as ulcerative colitis.
Floating or not
Listen to the sound! Poop that sinks means it contains less fat. Floating poop is often an indication that you are not absorbing enough fat and nutrients—we call it mal-absorption. It is also associated with chronic pancreatitis.
Tips for healthy pooping:
- Achieve regular bowel movements by having a high-fiber diet, watch your fiber intake and see how your body reacts.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid constipation.
- Virus and bacteria can cause diarrhea. So, pay attention to the hygiene and sanitation of your toilet.
- Do not stay too long in the bathroom, no reading and playing games on your smartphone.
- Do not make a habit of holding your poop. Your profession may not let you leave for pooping time, but do note that it can lead to constipation and digestive problems. (kes)
