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What Your Poop is Trying to Tell You About Your Health
Your poop is talking to you. Not literally, of course—but every time you make a deposit at the ol’ porcelain bank, your body is trying to tell you something about your health. It might not be pretty, but feasting your eyes on your feces view can offer a wealth of information about the wellness of your digestive system. It can tell us how well you are eating, how much stress you’ve been feeling, and even what your hormone balance is like. Here are a few things you can learn by taking a peek at your poop.What the color of your poo is trying to tell you The color of your poop can give you the scoop on your internal workings. While a chocolatey brown poop indicates a healthy gut, anything different can indicate anything from poor diet to infection. Bright red stool is indicative of hemorrhoids or anal fissures, which can be irritating, but are relatively harmless. Yellow or green stool may signify gallbladder trouble, an intestinal infection, or a liver issue such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. Dark or black coloring may indicate ulcers, polyps, or internal bleeding. These issues could be potentially more serious. White specks could mean you have a parasitic infection…which, yikes. If you look down and see something colorful in your bowl, it could be a sign to contact your doctor. What the size of your poo is trying to tell you A medium, hot dog-shaped bowel movement means your body was able to successfully remove nutrients and water from your food. If your stools lack these characteristics, pay close attention to them and visit your doctor if they persist for long periods of time. If your poops are small or pellet-like, it’s a strong indicator that you’re constipated. If you're taking massive dumps, it could be a sign of excess fat in your intestines from poor diet or illness. And if your poop is wet and watery? You’re likely dehydrated, have a bacterial infection, or your hormones are out of whack. We spent a full post discussing why the shape of your bowel movement matters, so head over there if you want to learn more about what the shape and size of your poop really means. What the smell of your poo is trying to tell you Poop smells. That’s just the nature of discharging bodily waste. But, if the smell of your poop has recently changed for the worse or is excessively foul, it could be a sign of malabsorption of nutrients or bacterial overgrowth. Many different diseases, disorders, and conditions can also lead to distressingly nasty smelling stool. Identifying and treating the underlying cause of the odor early is important to minimize any potential complications or damage to your digestive system.What else can my poop tell me about my health? When you look down into your toilet and see anything but a brown, sausage-like turd at the bottom of the bowl, take note. If your stool is floating it could mean fatty acids are not being absorbed into the gut. Greasy stool could indicate pancreatic insufficiency. Undigested food particles can sometimes be found in healthy stool, but if you’re consistently seeing bits of last night's dinner in the bowl, you could have an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine caused by intolerance to food, a digestive enzyme deficiency, or allergies. Long story short, if you see something abnormal, it’s probably a sign that isn't working quite right in your digestive system.Our bowel movements can provide a wide range of information about our health. So, before you rush to flush, study your stool and see what it has to say.
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How Long Should It Take Me to Poop?
Everybody poops. But does everybody poop in the same amount of time? Hardly. Some people poop in the time it takes to read this sentence. Others can read this post in full...
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Five Simple Tricks to Avoid Constipation
Taking a hearty, healthy poop can be one of life’s great pleasures. No matter the consistency, letting one loose is a solid way to feel like you accomplished something during your day. On the other hand, one of life’s great miseries is not being able to shake one free. You’ve probably been there. You feel the urge. You head to the bathroom. You assume position on your trusty toilet and then—nothing. A daunting realization slowly creeps into your mind. You’re constipated. If you’ve ever suffered from constipation, then you know how uncomfortable and painful it can be. While there isn’t enough clinical data to prove the Squatty Potty can cure constipation, it can ease the strain of pooping by 90%. To help you on the toilet, we’ve compiled a list of simple tips and tricks to get you unstuck when you’re in a jam. 1. Fuel Your Poop Chute Properly The easiest way to avoid constipation is to simply eat more fiber. Not sure what fiber is exactly? It’s the portion of your food that your body cannot digest. Eating fiber creates a healthy, but indigestible mass that passes through your digestive system, helping the body eliminate waste and keeping things moving smoothly along. Eat more high-fiber foods like beans, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains to help restore regularity. 2. The More You Move, The More You Poop Constipation is often caused by our modern lifestyle. We sit in traffic, we sit at our desks, and we sit on the couch playing Wordle. We don't move around enough, which is why so many of us suffer from constipation. Gentle exercise is your best friend when it comes to keeping things moving through your digestive tract. Regular activity keeps your body busy and gives your internal plumbing less time to absorb water, keeping your poop nice and slick on the way out. 3. Let’s Get Regular Finding a stable poop routine keeps the intestines clean. Constipation is defined as having three bowel movements or less per week. Training your body to poop once per day can provide serious constipation relief. Here’s a tried and true poopus-operandi: Start your day by drinking a cup of water and coffee each morning. Ingesting fluids right when you wake up rehydrates your body and helps your digestive system absorb essential vitamins and minerals that keep everything running smoothly. 4. Listen to Your Fart When you feel the urge to purge, it is probably best to heed it. When you put off pooping for a more convenient time, you’re sending signals to your colon to stop pushing and start storing. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to get those digestive juices flowing and those internal muscles pumping. To avoid constipation, listen to your body as soon as it says it’s time to go. 5. Don’t Let Stress Get You Down in the Dumps The more mental stress you feel, the higher the physical toll on your body. Anxiety and stress not only drive some of the bad habits that cause constipation (poor diet, lack of exercise, etc.), but they can also literally affect the function of your sphincter. Finding solace in this day and age is easier said than done, but activities like meditation, yoga, or even taking a short walk have been proven to help put the mind at ease. The smoother your internal thoughts, the smoother your external poos. If you’ve experienced constipation, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated one in five Americans suffers from chronic constipation. Next time you’re feeling stuck, avoid becoming one of them by using these simple tips to relieve your constipation symptoms.
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Choosing The Best Squatty Potty For You
The science is in—toilet stools are proven to help you enjoy more satisfying poops and alleviate downstairs bathroom issues. Propping your legs up on a bathroom stool allows your colon to straighten, providing extra space for your poop to exit smoother and more pleasurably. Deciding you want to have healthier and happier bowel movements is easy, but deciding which stool design works best for you can be more difficult. No butts or bathrooms are built the same. Different stools are going to work for different people. To help you find a stool that fits your lifestyle, we’ve created a guide to make you compare features and make your choice easier. Let’s find the best Squatty Potty for you. 7” or 9” in height. Which size is right for you? The 7-inch toilet stool is considered standard and recommended for all new squatters, tall people, and users with conventionally sized toilets (14”-16”). The 9-inch stool is recommended for shorter people or those who consider themselves more limber or experienced squatters. People with Comfort Height toilets should also consider choosing a taller 9-inch stool. Not sure about the size of your toilet? Break out the measuring tape, lift the seat, and measure from the top of the bowl to the floor. If you get anything above 16.5” in height, you might be a 9-inch stool candidate. Still not sure which size is right for you? Squatty Potty has your indecisive ass covered. The Adjustable Stool and Bamboo Flip models have versatile two-height designs to ensure you find the most comfortable squatting position every time. Are you self conscious about your stool? All Squatty Potty stools are designed to fit conveniently at the base of your toilet. If you’re a self-conscious squatter or bathroom neat freak, you may want to choose a stool that folds into compact form. Versatile models like the Fold-N-Stow, Oslo Bamboo Folding, Stockholm Bamboo Folding, or Travel Porta Squatty, let you easily stow and hide your stool when guests arrive. These stools offer all the sturdiness of a standard stool but with the added flexibility of folding for travel or storage. If you’re exhausted thinking about folding and storing but still uneasy about the thought of someone seeing your stool, Squatty Potty has models that quietly blend into the background. The Slim Ghost and Slim Frosted Ghost stools are so minimal, sleek, and understated, people might not even notice them beneath your toilet. Is your bathroom functional or luxurious? Squatters with regular, no-frills bathrooms may opt for more practical and affordable options such as the Original Squatty Potty. If you’re worried about your stool taking up space, you may also consider the sleek and minimal Curve design (available in pink, gray, or black). If you have an upgraded bathroom, Squatty Potty offers sophisticated stool designs to match modern bathroom interiors. These luxury sculpted options can provide a more seamless and aesthetically pleasing bathroom experience. Stools like Carrara Marble, Slim Teak Contempo, Slim Frosted Ghost can instantly elevate any bathroom. Do you have children? If you have a family, Squatty Potty has special stools to help your child poop healthier and create better toilet habits. Potty Pets can help make potty training easier, while stools like the Spongebob SquarePants Squatty Potty ensure they’re comfortable and having fun while relieving their “bikini bottoms.” Are you afraid of the dark? If you’re spooked by darkness or tired of stubbing your toe in your bathroom at night, a stool with a motion-activated night light can help you to find your way around the bathroom. The Eclipse stool can help you poop better and get you back to bed safely. Choose your stool Choosing the best toilet stool for you depends on several factors including style, budget, and more. Asking yourself these questions while browsing Squatty Potty’s collection of designs can help you find the best stool for you and put the days of uncomfortable eliminations behind you. Want to see the full list of stools? Click here!
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Why the Shape of Your Bowel Movement Matters
Ed Sheeran might be ‘in love with the shape of you,’ but over here, we’re ‘in love with the shape of poo.’
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Perfecting Your Morning Ritual Can Save Your Gut
We can all relate to that moment when you’re halfway out the door and the morning coffee hits. The cramping builds and you find yourself asking where this sensation was while you were sitting on the toilet and aimlessly scrolling through your phone. Before I owned a Squatty Potty, I knew this predicament all too well and was always wishing I had a few extra minutes to evacuate my bowels. Fast forward five years and now the most rewarding part of my job is helping people find their perfect morning squatting ritual to start their day. The GI tract is estimated to be 30 feet in length and while there are countless avenues to promote digestive wellness, I want to focus on the last 6 inches: the rectum. We often forget about this organ and I am frequently reminded how much power it holds over our gut health. The rectum is best described as a storage container that is in constant communication with your colon and signals the brain when you are ready to initiate a bowel movement. When you sit down on the toilet you increase intra-abdominal pressure and engage your pelvic floor muscles to unknowingly straighten your rectum to help pass stool. In fact, the word “rectal” originates from rectus meaning straight in Latin. Okay I digress – I have bored you with enough technical jargon! Perfecting Function So what happens when we don’t straighten out our rectum? Unfortunately, this is all too common and can lead to several issues including increased straining, incomplete emptying, upstream bloating/abdominal cramping, and even nausea. You may get diagnosed with constipation, hemorrhoids, or dyssynergia because your rectum is working overtime and understaffed. Even if you swear you have no problems with your bowel movements, I am here to tell you we can help your rectum too! Prior studies have demonstrated that squatting improves straightening your rectum. Squatty Potty has proven to replicate this alignment, while providing significant benefit in western populations like the United States. In 2019, I published a study with 52 healthy participants who recorded over 1100 bowel movements and found that individuals had increased bowel emptiness, reduced straining, and decreased time on the toilet while using the stool. I have seen this confirmed time and time again in my own practice. I recently had a follow up visit with a patient who had been struggling with debilitating symptoms of incomplete rectal emptying and the constant sensation of needing to pass stool for the past two years. He had already had lab work, stool studies, hydrogen breath test, colonoscopy, and cross sectional imaging without any answers. The simple suggestion of using a Squatty Potty resulted in significant symptom improvement within 4 weeks. Who would have thought that by straightening out the rectum we could improve quality of life at a fraction of the cost? I will be the first to admit that I didn’t appreciate the power of Squatty Potty until I made it part of my every day routine. Regardless of how “normal” you believe your bowel movements are, I implore you as well as every single one of my patients to go out and get one of these stools. You may find benefits similar to countless others while simultaneously improving your rectal function. Cheers to a bottom up approach to promote digestive health. Rohan Modi, MD Medical Advisory Council for Squatty Potty, LLC Gastroenterologist in Columbus, Ohio
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It’s Time to Take Control of Your Sh*t
Here are my tips for taking control of your body and bringing your input and output into a place of balance, so that you can have healthier and more regular bowel movements. The basics required for healthy bowel movements (and a healthy digestive system) are fiber, fluids, exercise, and stress management. If your stool doesn’t fit the profile of a healthy bowel movement, the following are a few steps that can make it better.In my new book, THE GOOD SH*T, you’ll learn how to identify which foods create good poop versus bad poop and how to craft a nutrition plan that works for you, and the way your body functions. So how can you take control of your sh*t? Eat substantial meals. Each time you eat a substantial mean, you stimulate stretch receptors in your stomach that are responsible for triggering normal and mass peristaltic waves throughout your small and large intestines. These promote regular movement of waste material throughout your colon and rectum. Ensure adequate intake of water or water-rich foods. Water helps to move waste materials along and is absorbed throughout the entire length of your colon. Insufficient water intake can cause stool to form far before waste materials reach your rectal pouch, which can cause constipation. Eat fiber-rich food regularly. Regularly eat foods that stimulate the flow of digestive enzymes like brown rice, daikon radish, and pungent foods such as garlic, ginger, and onions. Ensure adequate intake of healthy fats. Intake of healthy fats is necessary for optimal absorption of fat-soluble vitamin A, which is critical to building and maintaining the mucosal lining of your colon. Foods that are rich in healthy fats include: avocados, eggs, oil, raw nuts, coconut oil Squat! As a practicing Chiropractor, the proper alignment of the spine is very important to me for the optimal functioning of a body. Proper alignment must happen in the colon for optimal pooping. “Squatting straightens the recto-anal angle and opens in more fully so elimination is much easier, says yoga practitioner Richard Ravizza, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Pennsylvania State University in Scranton. “You could think of it as straightening a partially kinked garden hose.” The Squatty Potty is a simple design has helped many people achieve a better pooping position and proper alignment for all ages. De-stress. Find something: listening to music, laughing, yoga, getting some fresh air, that allows you to free your mind for a few minutes. This can also help free your body of tightness and agitation. This, in turn, helps your muscles relax and gets your insides going again. It may take time, but finding the time do to something for your stress, even for a few minutes, will help to regulate your body and balance your stress. Reduce Antacids. Doctors should not prescribe antacids without a test checking for stomach acid production. However, one in fourteen Americans takes antacids on a regular basis. So, how does this affect your shit? Not only do antacids not really fix the problem of esophageal burning in the long run, but they also create diarrhea because they contain magnesium. Some, on the flip side, have aluminum and leave people complaining of Constipation. One way or another, people who take antacids complain of stomach cramps and changes in bowel movements. Using these simple steps to identify things you are doing or not doing properly can help you have your “aha” moment about why you are having bad poops and can put you on the path to taking control of your shit! It's time to listen to what your sh*t is telling you and improve your body, from head to butt! For more details about Dr. Sinett visit www.drsinett.com Click here to learn more about THE GOOD SH*T, now available onAmazon
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5 Tips for Pooping after Birth
If you have ever given birth (vaginal or c-section), you know how scary that first poop is. And we didn’t mean from the baby either! Some women say it was even more scary than delivery. Besides taking a bunch of stool softeners, there are other tips to help! We sat down with a certified pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise specialist to talk about the five best ways to help you poop better after birth. Katrina Oakley helps moms around the world to regain a functional core after giving birth. Being a posture specialist (NPI - National Posture Institute) she emphasizes how important our posture is. “Poor posture can actually cause your belly to protrude and look bigger than it really is! It can cause your upper body to round forward and eventually over time lose height. And most importantly of all, poor posture can cause a wide variety of physical aches and pains. It is the number one cause of back, neck and joint pain.” So how does posture, specifically their poop-going posture, affect how women heal and regain a functional core? “Constipation can be a very common postpartum (and at other times), which can in turn worsen diastasis recti and pelvic floor issues. This is because if you strain or bear down whilst pooping, it creates a bulging pressure in both the pelvic floor and the abdominal wall, forcing your abs further apart, and more pressure down on your pelvic floor.” Katrina outlines the five adjustments women can make to their bathroom habits to help them poop better: 1. Poop at prime pooping times. Prime time is within 15 minutes of waking and within 15 minutes of eating. 2. Don’t sit on the loo for too long. 5-8 mins at most (in prime pooping times if you are having issues going). You don’t want to place too much strain on the pelvic floor by relaxing too long.NOTE If you have hemorrhoids or significant prolapse, sitting with a relaxed pelvic floor may do harm – so see a pelvic floor PT for an assessment. 3. Raise your feet! This improves your poop-going angle, so it is straight versus a twisty ride. Raising your feet helps your body approximate a deep squat, which naturally opens the pelvic outlet.I suggest a squatty potty to my clients, as it is a great height, hides away perfectly so you aren’t tripping up on it, and it is great for little ones to get up on the loo too! 4. Lean forward. By leaning forward with the feet elevated, you further mimic a squat allowing the body to use gravity to ease the process.NOTE if you have significant prolapse you may find this opening of the pelvic outlet causes some downward pressure - if this is the case, lower the feet, and see a pelvic floor PT for an assessment. 5. Breathe! Inhale through your nose, filling air into ribs, back and belly, exhale letting the air out through your mouth. DO NOT hold your breath and strain. Your pelvic floor should relax and open on the inhale and then contract on the exhale - this will help you gently bring the poop down. “Above all else…please remember not to strain or push. This can increase postpartum complications like diastasis, prolapse and hemorrhoids, AND pushing actually causes your pelvic floor to tighten.” We hope this can ease your mind regarding your postpartum poo and overall pelvic floor health. Website: Katrinaoakley.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CoreFitnessforMoms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corefitnessformoms/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreFitnessForMoms/ Katrina’s Free beginners program link http://drbeginnersprogram.katrinaoakley.net
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CBD: Your Bowels' New Buddy
Whether you have an iron gut or not, a night of tequila shots and tacos will send you running to the nearest porcelain convenience, it’s essential to have a special tool to help you comfortably pass stool. We’re not talking about a laxative, nor are we talking about filling your bowels full of heavy fiber. What we are talking about is CBD. Yep, you read that right. Chances are that you’re already familiar with CBD, and you may already be aware of its well-earned reputation for things like promoting a healthy mood, a sense of calm and ability to support muscle and joint comfort. But CBD can do a lot more for you, including being a buddy to your bowels by promoting positive digestive health. How does CBD work? CBD is one of the 120 cannabinoid compounds found within the cannabis plant. Not to be confused with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD is not psychoactive and will not get you high. What it does do, however, is interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a complex system of cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoid molecules, and metabolic enzymes that work together to create homeostasis throughout the body. The ECS features CB1 receptors located in the brain and nervous system and CB2 receptors located in the peripheral nervous system and the immune system. Net, ECS receptors are all over the body and fostering the these receptors can greatly affect overall wellness. How does CBD benefit the gut?The gut benefits from CBD in a number of exciting, if not slightly gross ways. For example, CBD can support the digestive tract against inflammation, infections, abdominal pain, upset stomach, and more. And yes, it also can help with gastric secretion and GI motility[i], which is the movement of muscles and nerves within the digestive tract to move any items within it: items like digested food and yes, you guessed it, stool. To unlock the mystery of why CBD helps gut health, one needs to consider the fact that the endocannabinoid system is widely distributed throughout the gut.[ii] Studies indicate that CBD works with CB1 receptors for regulating stomach acid production, easing nausea and vomiting, and protecting the stomach. Meanwhile, CBD interacts with CB2 receptors within the endocannabinoid system of the gut to promote the modulation of inflammation and inhibition of visceral sensitivity and pain.[iii] While we may just be beginning to digest CBD’s full potential, studies are ongoing to see what role CBD might play in easing some of the symptoms associated with conditions like Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, ulcerative colitis, constipation, gastritis, and leaky gut with promising early results. What’s the Best Way to Use CBD for Digestive Health? There are many ways to introduce CBD into your system. Smoking, vaping, and topical creams are popular choices. However, ingesting CBD in food or drink form is, arguably, your best option for boosting gut health. The logic behind this theory is twofold: First, this is the easiest way to regulate how much CBD you’re introducing into your system. Second: Ingesting CBD in food or drink form ensures that it will make it into the digestive tract itself where it can get to work. Conclusion Whether you’re looking to settle the stomach, promote gut comfort, or poop like a champion, CBD might be just what you need. While science is still working to uncover all the mysteries of just how many ways CBD can promote gut health, people worldwide are already reaping its benefits. Maybe it’s time to find out for yourself. [i] Izzo, Angelo, and Keith A Sharkey. “Cannabinoids and the Gut: New Developments and Emerging Concepts.” ResearchGate, Apr. 2010, Article Link[ii] Izzo, A A, and A A Coutts. “Cannabinoids and the Digestive Tract.” Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2005, Article Link [iii] Wright, K L, et al. “Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors in the Gastrointestinal Tract: a Regulatory System in States of Inflammation.” British Journal of Pharmacology, Nature Publishing Group, Jan. 2008, Article Link
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