Number 2; What is a Normal Bowel Movement?

Talking about body waste is undoubtedly not the most pleasant topic to discuss, but last week, I did just that by sharing what urine can tell one about their health. If we are talking about number one, we must consider number two. With that being said, today’s health focus is bowel movements or, if you will, the scoop on poop.

Like urine, bowel movements are an essential mechanism for removing toxins from the body. The colon serves as a holding tank for waste matter. Scientific and medical research has shown that a proper balance between intestinal bacteria is vital to long-term health.

People can have bowel movements as infrequently as three times a week, but many health practitioners maintain that having them at least twice a day is important. It is worth taking the time to look at the bowel movement results before you flush. The following chart guides what is expected. Consider shape, size, smell, and shade.

The Bowel Movement:

• It has to travel through about 30 feet of intestinal tract/colon
• A healthy bowl should look like a torpedo, be easy to pass, and sink to the bowl’s bottom.
• The average person will produce 9,000 pounds of poop throughout their life.
• Our bodies don’t absorb artificial sweeteners, so they pull water into the intestines…leading to loose stools.

Normal poop can come in a range of colors (influenced by what you eat and what medications you take, among other factors). If your stool has an unhealthy hue, mainly if it’s pale or grayish in tone, you could shave problems somewhere along your gastrointestinal tract (GI). The liver excretes bile to help break down fats in food, adding color to the stool. But if there’s a blockage in the liver or the tubes where the bile travels, the stool might appear too pale. Also, if you are suffering from a pancreatic disorder, the stool might look gray or white because it lacks the color imbued by the digestive enzymes produced in that organ.

Color of Stool:

• Red:  Lower GI bleeding or eating red beets
• Green:  Undigested bile, Crohn’s Disease, taking high doses of antibiotics, leafy greens
• Yellow:  Gallbladder problems and Giardia (parasite)
• White:  Antacids, liver disease, and pancreatic disorder
• Black:  Upper GI bleeding, meat, and iron supplements

According to Healthy Living, those ideal torpedo-like bowel movements should sink when they hit the toilet. But when the body isn’t correctly absorbing fat from your food, it is secreted in your stool. The result is a stool that’s yellowish in color, greasy in consistency, foul-smelling, and floating in the toilet. Certain medical conditions, like celiac disease, can cause malabsorption problems. Since essential nutrients can also be lost along with unabsorbed fat, it’s important to see your doctor if you experience this problem. These fatty, smelly stools are also one of the more unpleasant side effects of eating foods containing Olestra (the faux fat found in chips and other fried snacks) or taking the weight loss drug Xenical or its over-the-counter cousin, Alli.

From my research for this article, I learned that eating high-fiber foods such as fresh fruits, raw green leafy vegetables, whole-grain oatmeal, and brown rice is a daily must. According to a study by the University of Illinois, dietary fiber is good for bowel movement, promotes a shift in the gut toward different types of beneficial bacteria, and protects gastrointestinal health.

Drink more water. This is important when adding fiber to your diet. Drink ten 8-ounce glasses of water daily, whether thirsty or not. As we age, we become less able to detect genuine thirst. You can also try the recipe for Sassy Water, which is mentioned here. I like the following suggestions about the best time to drink water:

Of course, knowing that our diet plays a crucial role in our health, the diagram below gives great food suggestions to help with elimination while cleansing our colon:

Well, I hope this week’s scoop on poop helps to provide some valuable insight into what may offer essential clues to your health. I am done for now being Up Close and Personal.

Thanks for stopping by; I appreciate it.