Bathroom humor. Potty mouth. Why is it we associate important bodily functions with poor behavior and juvenile jokes, and why are these topics taboo in polite conversation? Regardless of what we have been taught about what is private or dirty or just plain gross about the natural process of elimination, let’s get right to the bottom line (pun intended): poop is kind of a big deal. At the very least, your bathroom habits and problems can affect how you feel daily, and more seriously, it literally can end up being a life or death matter.
Poop, stool, feces- all names for what our body produces in order to remove toxins and waste and keep us healthy. Not only should we pay attention to our body’s critical processes, we should be educated about what it means when things go from normal to abnormal. And how do we know what’s “normal” anyway?
Many doctors and health professionals hesitate to narrowly define “normal” when it comes to individual pooping patterns because they don’t want us getting unnecessarily worried, and it is true that normal can look different to different people. A widely accepted chart of common types of poop are represented on the Bristol Stool Chart, which has been illustrated numerous times but always features the same 7 kinds of poop ranging from constipation to diarrhea. When your stools resemble the poop at either extreme of the chart, it may indicate health problems.
According to The Bristol Stool Scale and shared by Dr. Josh Axe, the seven types of stool are:
Type 1: Separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass)
Type 2: Sausage-shaped, but lumpy
Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface
Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft
Type 5: Soft blobs with clear cut edges (passed easily)
Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool
Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid
Types 1–2: indicate constipation
Types 3-5: considered to be ideal (especially 4), normal poops
Type 6-7: considered abnormal and indicate diarrhea
Paying attention to the appearance and frequency of your poop is one of the ways you can take charge of your well-being. If you are going once a day or even once every other day, you are probably fine because you are consistent. If your poop is smooth, brown, and comes out easily and in one piece, things are probably looking good and you are likely feeling good. If you suffer from diarrhea or constipation, make sure to pay closer attention.
Paying attention to the appearance and frequency of your poop is one of the ways you can take charge of your well-being. If you are going once a day or even once every other day, you are probably fine because you are consistent. If your poop is smooth, brown, and comes out easily and in one piece, things are probably looking good and you are likely feeling good. If you suffer from diarrhea or constipation, make sure to pay closer attention.
There are many causes of constipation, some more threatening to your good health than others, but common causes are:
•Stress
•Not drinking enough water
•Not having enough fiber in your diet
•Certain medications
•Too much sugar or other inflammatory foods
•Not moving your body enough
•Illnesses or disease
Diarrhea can be caused by:
•Stress or excess nervousness
•Foods that create a sensitivity (gluten, dairy, etc.)
•Spicy foods
•Certain medications
•Illnesses or disease such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s
The more informed you are, the more empowered you are to take action to improve your health and well-being. Don’t worry about talking about anything having to do with your body and your health- embrace your self-care- poop and all!
At Lavage Wellness Center, one of the most common reasons people visit us is constipation. What do poop and colonics have in common? They are the two best ways to remove toxins from your body for optimum health. Colonics cannot replace healthy pooping, but they can help cleanse and lessen the toxic burden on your body. I guess you could say we’re in the poop business. And the scoop is we’re proud of it and not afraid to talk about it!
~Lucinda
Sources:
Dr. Axe: http://draxe.com/poop/
Living Healthy: https://www.livinghealthy.com/articles/profile-of-the-perfect-poop
Paleo Movement Magazine: http://paleofoundation.com/whats-your-paleo-poop-telling-you/
Conditions & Procedures InBrief: Constipation, Dr. Rosalyn Carson DeWitt.
Mercola.com: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/02/14/normal-stool.aspx