It’s a topic that most of us are afraid to ask questions about – what does your poop mean about your health? Indicators such as color and texture can signal concerns that you might want to talk to a doctor about, or they might tell you that your diet is just fine. In this article, we’ll tell you what’s normal and what’s not. A word to the squeamish: things are about to get graphic.
Color
There are plenty of natural variations in the color of your stool that are totally fine – just about any shade of brown indicates that you have nothing to worry about. And there are some foods that can tint your toilet offerings questionable colors, like beets, berries, and an excess of leafy green vegetables.
However, if you’re seeing persistent non-brown colors, especially if you’re not eating those foods, it might be time to worry. Black or red stool can indicate internal bleeding; grey-ish and extremely pale colors can signal gallstones; and yellow means that you’re either eating too much fat, or aren’t digesting it properly.
Color
There are plenty of natural variations in the color of your stool that are totally fine – just about any shade of brown indicates that you have nothing to worry about. And there are some foods that can tint your toilet offerings questionable colors, like beets, berries, and an excess of leafy green vegetables.
However, if you’re seeing persistent non-brown colors, especially if you’re not eating those foods, it might be time to worry. Black or red stool can indicate internal bleeding; grey-ish and extremely pale colors can signal gallstones; and yellow means that you’re either eating too much fat, or aren’t digesting it properly.
Texture
In the case of texture and consistency, soft is generally a good thing (at least until you get into the zone of diarrhea). A soft stool indicates that your digestive system is in healthy working order, and everything is moving along at a good pace. Hard stools, on the other hand, can usually mean that you’re slightly dehydrated, or aren’t consuming enough fiber.
You may also want to listen for multiple plops – small, distinct pieces of poo can indicate the beginnings of constipation, and can be harder for your colon to process. One large one is better.
In the case of texture and consistency, soft is generally a good thing (at least until you get into the zone of diarrhea). A soft stool indicates that your digestive system is in healthy working order, and everything is moving along at a good pace. Hard stools, on the other hand, can usually mean that you’re slightly dehydrated, or aren’t consuming enough fiber.
You may also want to listen for multiple plops – small, distinct pieces of poo can indicate the beginnings of constipation, and can be harder for your colon to process. One large one is better.
Frequency and Time
It turns out that there’s really no “normal” when it comes to frequency. WebMD reports that it’s more important to watch out for changes in frequency. If you normally go with the regularity of Mussolini’s trains, and suddenly go two days sans number two, you may be having some issues with constipation. But otherwise, as long as you’re comfortable, the frequency of your bathroom trips shouldn’t worry you.
Time spent on the toilet, however, can be illuminating in terms of your health. Doing your business should be a fairly swift affair. If you find yourself straining and spending more than a few minutes on the john, it probably means that you should up your water and fiber intake.
Other Assorted Facts
In terms of smell, it’s completely normal to have to use a bit of air freshener after you’re done in the bathroom. Even if it’s a little embarrassing, a strong odor simply means that the bacteria in your gut are doing their jobs to digest your food. Again, changes in this area are more important than anything else.
Many people are understandably concerned about the floating versus sinking poop debate. Floating stool can indicate one of two things: you’ve been eating a lot of fiber that has caused air to become trapped in your digestive system, or you’ve eaten a lot of fat at once that your body wasn’t able to completely process.
And, finally, it turns out that shape has little to do with your health – skinny or thick stool doesn’t really have anything to do with how smoothly your digestive system is running.
The Bottom Line
Excuse the pun. In the end, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on what you leave behind once you’ve used the toilet. What’s most important is to keep track of any changes, and understand what’s normal for you. Talk to your doctor if you experience any sudden differences.
In terms of smell, it’s completely normal to have to use a bit of air freshener after you’re done in the bathroom. Even if it’s a little embarrassing, a strong odor simply means that the bacteria in your gut are doing their jobs to digest your food. Again, changes in this area are more important than anything else.
Many people are understandably concerned about the floating versus sinking poop debate. Floating stool can indicate one of two things: you’ve been eating a lot of fiber that has caused air to become trapped in your digestive system, or you’ve eaten a lot of fat at once that your body wasn’t able to completely process.
And, finally, it turns out that shape has little to do with your health – skinny or thick stool doesn’t really have anything to do with how smoothly your digestive system is running.
The Bottom Line
Excuse the pun. In the end, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on what you leave behind once you’ve used the toilet. What’s most important is to keep track of any changes, and understand what’s normal for you. Talk to your doctor if you experience any sudden differences.
