Expert shares what you need to know about your poop
When it comes to our health, our body has a few ways of talking to us. Zing Wellbeing Nutritionist Mel, says if we can learn how to listen and speak the same language this can be our most powerful tool in preventative medicine.
Understanding what constitutes a "healthy poo" can provide valuable insights into our digestive health and overall well-being. No matter how many times a patient see me, I am still checking on bowel movements each consult.
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What is a Healthy Poo?
Our Nutritionist shared below what you need to look out for in a "healthy poop"
A healthy bowel movement is one that is:
• Regular: Your poop should be regular. Ideally, you should be having a bowel movement each day or at least every second day. Regularity is key to digestive health.
• Well-Formed: Smooth, sausage like. The ideal stool is soft, well-formed, and easy to pass. It should resemble a smooth, sausage-like shape (Type 3 or 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart).
• No pain and No Strain: It should slide out after you have the urge to go without even having to push. It should be clean to wipe up and not too smelly and not sticky.
• Brown in Color: A healthy stool is typically medium to dark brown, due to the bile produced in your liver. A green stool may indicate diet changes, sickness or liver involvement.
• Free of Undigested Food: While some food particles may be visible, large amounts of undigested food could indicate poor digestion or an underlying issue.
All the things that should not happen tell us something about the gut that needs fixing or in some cases point to other issues that need follow up.
Smearing or hard to clean poos or poo on the bum in between poos sometimes indicates a possible prolapse in women for example.
There should never be pain with pooping and ideally no urgency, diarrhoea or constipation.
Constipation in particular can cause all kinds of issues but will affect mental health and sometimes even quality of life.
Signs of Unhealthy Bowel Movements:
• Constipation: Hard, dry, and difficult-to-pass stools, or infrequent bowel movements, may indicate constipation. Common causes include low fiber intake –fibre from fruit and veg in particular not bulking agents like psyllium – dehydration, lack of physical activity or possible medication side effects.
• Diarrhea: Frequent, loose, or watery stools could signal an infection, food intolerance, or digestive disorders as well as other chronic disease states that need assessment.
• Unusual Colors: Stools that are red, black, or pale may indicate internal bleeding, liver issues, or malabsorption of nutrients.
• Foul Odor: While poop naturally has an odor, extremely foul-smelling stools could be a sign of poor digestion, infection, or an imbalance in gut bacteria. If you poops have an iron-like smell this may also indicate bleeding.
When to See a Doctor
If you experience persistent changes in your bowel habits, such as unexplained constipation, diarrhea, or changes in stool color, it's important to consult a healthcare provider. These could be signs of an underlying health condition that requires attention.
Really, if you have any concerns it is never too soon to see your GP and chat to them.
The Australian Bowel Kit
The bowel kit in Australia is available for free over a certain age however this may give people the idea that they do not need to do the kit until that specified age.
Education around the kit is important as you can do it at any age in the comfort of your own home.
Bowel Cancer Australia has an informative website where you can order the kit for a small fee and get it delivered to your door.
This test looks for small amount of blood in the stool which can not be seen with the naked eye. If it is positive please head to your GP to get a referral for a colonoscopy.
Blood does not always mean bowel cancer but it does need to be checked out. In the same vein, a clear bowel screen does not always mean there are no issues.
This is just another tool that we can use to gather information about what is going on. Check out www.bowelcanceraustralia.org for more info and to order a kit.
I recommend this for all my patients over 30 years old now, especially if there are any bowel complaints.
Tips for Maintaining Healthy Poops
1. Eat a High-Fibre Diet: Fibre is essential for healthy digestion. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes in your diet to help keep your stools soft and regular. If you have a history of constipation you may need further assistance in the form of dietary supplements from a qualified Naturopath to rectify the issue.
2. Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water is crucial for preventing constipation and ensuring smooth bowel movements. As women, we should aim for at least 2.5L of water a day.
3. Exercise Regularly: Physical activity helps stimulate intestinal activity, reducing the risk of constipation. It does not have to be big and hard, any movement will help.
4. Listen to Your Body: Don't ignore the urge to go to the bathroom. Holding in a bowel movement can lead to constipation and other digestive issues as well as put pressure on what may already be an over worked reproductive system in those of us who have had bubs.
5. Probiotics: Incorporating probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, pickles and fermented foods can help keep those little bugs in your gut happy. They will help regulate bowel movements, ensure you are absorbing nutrients and release metabolites that help with inflammation throughout the body. For specific complaints, it is a good idea to get a probiotic prescribed that is specific to your needs rather than an off the shelf, generic probiotic.
You can do this by seeing a qualified Naturopath or chatting to one in a health food shop.
Your bowel movements are a key indicator of both your digestive and overall health.
By paying attention to your stool, you can improve your digestive function and hopefully prevent any chronic issues from arising.
Remember, your poop is your body's way of communicating with you—so don't ignore it!
How to improve your gut health
What we eat has a huge impact on our gut health, overall health, our digestion and poo.
This is why we have such a BIG focus on gut health and we have recipes and meal plans that focus on this and if you join our membership you will get access to our gut health menus and recipes that will have a hugely positive affect on your gut health
About Mel
Mel Gearings Medical Herbalist, Naturopath, Nutritionist, Iridologist, Trainer, Author and Presenter
MHlthSc(D&A), BHlthSc(Comp Med), AdvDip WHM, AdvDip Nat, AdvDip NutMed, Dip Iridology
Mel has extensive clinical experience with a range of hormonal conditions and transitions including menopause, PMDD, PMS, PCOS and the changes females with ADHD may experience with hormonal changes.
She has a special interest in both endometriosis and adenomyosis having personal and professional experience with these conditions.
Melissa takes traditional home recipes and transforms them into nutritionally dense super-meals.
NOTE: The advice shared via our experts is general advice and is never a replacement for speaking to a health care professional.
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