The Poop on Poop

August 6, 2018

Poop isn't an everyday topic of conversation at the office (well, in my office it is), but it IS one of your body's many ways of having a conversation with YOU. Different types of poop can mean different things. If we become attuned to what our poop might be telling us, we can use that information to identify any potential issues and adjust our diet and lifestyle accordingly.

You should poop 1-3 times per day. Your poop should be medium brown, easy to pass, easy to wipe (meaning one swipe with the toilet paper) and either shaped like a sausage with smooth surface, or in separate soft blobs. If yours doesn't look like this, if you only go a couple of times per week, or if you find yourself running to the bathroom and almost having accidents, here's what could be going on:

- Separate, hard, little lumps - this indicates constipation and/or dehydration. Make sure to avoid refined carbohydrates and try to curb your stress by taking 5 minutes per day to meditate. Go for a nice walk -- exercise helps get things moving. See the next section for more ideas.

- Sausage-shaped, but lumpy - same as above. Eat your green leafy veggies and drink plenty of water! Try a Squatty Potty for easier pooping. Add some fermented foods like raw sauerkraut or kimchi to your diet.

- A big, mushy mass - tending towards diarrhea. Try leaving out gluten for a week or two and see if you see any improvement. If you don't, leave out dairy as well and see if THAT helps. Overuse of NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) antacids and PPIs can damage the gut and cause long-lasting stool problems.

- Watery, loose stool - obviously, diarrhea. Same instructions as above, and make sure to drink plenty of water so you don't become dehydrated.

- White, grey or yellowish poops - could be too much fat in your stool, meaning your pancreas or gall bladder could use a little support. Or it could be sign of an infection, especially if there is mucus in the poop too.

- Blood in your poop - a little might just mean you have a hemorrhoid or you strained a little too hard. A lot (dark red blood in your poop) could be something more serious and is definitely something to see a doctor about.

This is just a brief overview and there are tons of other things that can cause -- and things that can be done to help -- any imperfect poops, but my point is this: rather than thinking of poop as simply an odorous bodily emission, think of it as a window into the state of your digestion. Take a quick glance into your bowl each time you go and make an assessment!