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Stool comprises digested food, proteins, bacteria, salts, and other substances produced and released by your intestines. What your poop looks like can be important. Unexpected changes could be a sign of an underlying condition.
We all do it. For some, it’s a necessary inconvenience. For others, it’s a pleasant and satisfying part of the digestive process. It has fascinated toddlers since time immemorial, and there’s a reason for that.
Going number two might not be the prettiest topic for a dinner party, but there’s much to learn from this mundane yet mysterious process. In the end (no pun intended), it’s simply a part of our functioning body.
So, what exactly is poop? Although everyone is unique in the size, shape, and smell of their poop, there are a few things that indicate a healthy (or unhealthy) poop.
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Healthy poop can be as varied and as unique as the individuals who make it. But there are a few general rules to follow if you want to assess your poo artistry for optimum health.
The poop emoji has one thing right: the brown coloring. The combination of stomach bile and bilirubin, which is a pigment compound formed from the breakdown of red blood cells in the body, gets the credit for this oh-so-lovely shade of brown.
A somewhat log-like shape is how most poop should come out due to its formation within the intestines. However, as we’ll get to later, there are a variety of shapes that poop can have.
When they differentiate from the log shape, that’s when your poop is trying to tell you something’s up.
Poops shouldn’t come out in small pellets — something else we’ll get to later — but instead should be a couple of inches in length and comfortable and easy to pass.
Anywhere between a firm and soft consistency is pretty much normal. If it sways too much one way or another, it could suggest some digestion or fiber issues.
A commonly heard joke is that when someone takes too long in the bathroom, it must mean they’re pooping. A healthy poop, however, should be easy to pass and take only a minute or so to push out.
That said, some people do spend a bit more time on the toilet, so as a general rule, a poop should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes.
Fun fact: Did you know most people poop around the same time every day?
On average, a person with healthy digestion will poop anywhere between every other day to three times a day. Any less could suggest possible constipation. This means you need some more water to move the “boat.”
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The Bristol stool chart is an overarching indicator of how and why different types of poops look or feel a certain way.
It’s broken up into seven categories based on a 2,000-person study published back in 1992, and it makes poop knowledge basic and easy to understand.
Appearance: Hard and separate little lumps that look like nuts and are hard to pass.
Indicates: These little pellets typically mean you’re constipated. It shouldn’t happen frequently.
Appearance: Log-shaped but lumpy.
Indicates: Here we have another sign of constipation that, again, shouldn’t happen frequently.
Appearance: Log-shaped with some cracks on the surface.
Indicates: This is the gold standard of poop, especially if it’s somewhat soft and easy to pass.
Appearance: Smooth and snake-like.
Indicates: Doctors also consider this a normal poop that should happen every 1–3 days.
Appearance: Small, like the first ones, but soft and easy to pass; the blobs also have clear-cut edges.
Indicates: This type of poop means you’re lacking fiber and should find ways to add some to your diet through cereal or vegetables.
Appearance: Fluffy and mushy with ragged edges.
Indicates: This too-soft consistency could be a sign of mild diarrhea. Try drinking more water and electrolyte-infused beverages to help improve this.
Appearance: Completely watery with no solid pieces.
Indicates: In other words, you’ve got the runs or diarrhea. This means your stool moved through your bowels very quickly and didn’t form into a healthy poop.
Now and again, when you take a look in the toilet bowl, you’ll see poop bobbing like a toy sailboat in the bathtub. As alarming as this seems, it means that the stool is less dense than the others that sink.
One potential reason for this lack of density can come from an increased amount of gas or water or even a high fiber diet.
It’s also possible that malabsorption is, once again, the reason for a floating stool. If this is the case, the other abnormalities previously mentioned, like slight constipation, might also be present.
A green poop here or hard poop there happens to the best of us. When this type of irregularity carries on for more than a day or two, you should take action and talk with a doctor. The same goes for changes in color or consistency or constipation.
Chronic constipation can obstruct the bowels, while chronic diarrhea can make it difficult for a person to absorb necessary nutrients from food. Both chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea could even be a sign of more serious conditions.
Again, the first sign of either of these should not be immediate cause for concern, but keep an eye on it and see if it lasts more than a few days.
That said, pay attention to any signs of blood. If you haven’t eaten any of the foods mentioned above that could turn your poop into this color, consult with a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
As quick as we are to write it off, our poop can provide a wealth of knowledge about our health and ourselves. So, next time you pop a squat, take note of what’s going on. The toilet bowl is a window into your health and you.
Unhealthy bowel movements can vary but may include diarrhea (loose, watery stools), constipation (hard, difficult-to-pass stools), or changes in frequency or texture that persist.
Stool type can indicate digestive health. Type 1 indicates severe constipation, while type 7 suggests diarrhea. Types 3 and 4 are considered typical, with 4 being the ideal “sausage” shape and smooth texture.
Type 4–6 stool refers to the Bristol Stool Scale, a tool for classifying stool types. Type 4 is smooth and soft, like a sausage or snake. Type 6 is fluffy with ragged edges, indicating mild diarrhea.
Type 5 stool is soft blobs with clear-cut edges, considered a borderline typical stool consistency on the Bristol Stool Scale.
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Emily Rekstis is a New York City-based beauty and lifestyle writer who writes for many publications, including Greatist, Racked, and Self. If she’s not writing at her computer, you can probably find her watching a mob movie, eating a burger, or reading an NYC history book. See more of her work on her website, or follow her on Twitter.
One of the best ways for you and your doctors to gain a better understanding of your symptoms/illness is to keep a stool diary, which involves making notes regarding different aspects of your toilet habits. Your doctor will ask you to keep a record of stool frequency, volume, whether you strained during the bowel movement or felt like you had not fully emptied your bowel at the end, and to describe the stool itself using the Bristol stool scale, shown below.
How your stool compares to these different types can be a good indicator of your general bowel health.
It is also important to observe the colour of your stool.
The records kept in your stool diary can help your doctor understand your symptoms, and by identifying any patterns can both diagnose the problem, and identify potential triggers for your disease. In some cases it may be necessary to also provide a sample of your stool for testing in a specialised laboratory. This can help to identify other potential conditions such as inflammation, or infection with bacteria or parasites.
Based on your symptoms, your doctor may want to send you for further testing, most commonly to have a direct look into your digestive system using techniques such as endoscopy, colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.
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