Image by sincerelymedia via Unsplash
Going to the toilet to do your ‘business’ might not be the topic everyone discusses with their friends, but looking at your poop can tell you the state of your health more than you think. If you think that as long as you visit the toilet daily to do your ‘business’ is good enough, that might not really be the case. Find out below if your poop is healthy or unhealthy by looking at its colour and shape!
Colour
Brown
Your poop can come in a total of 6 colours! As long as your poop is brown or even slightly greenish, you’re okay!
Yellow
If your poop is yellow, it means that there is too much fat. Yellow poop is usually greasy and sticky too. This may be due to a disorder such as malabsorption that is causing your body to be unable to absorb enough nutrients.
Red
When your poop is reddish, there are three explanations for it – either you ate things which are red, haemorrhoids, or bleeding in the lower intestine. Continue to monitor your poop for a few days and if it remains red, it’s mostly likely haemorrhoids or bleeding in the lower intestine.
White or pale
Yes, having white or pale stool is possible! The pigment of your poop comes from bile, so if your poop is either white or pale-looking, your bile duct is most probably blocked. If your bile duct is blocked, get a diagnosis and treatment. Blocked bile ducts left untreated can cause serious infection!
Blue
Having blue poop is pretty uncommon, but it can happen! If you have blue poop, do not panic – it’s most likely that you’ve eaten something with blue dye in large quantity! As long as your poop is blue (not blue-green), after a day or two, your poop should return to its usual colour.
Black
Did you know that iron supplements might be the culprit behind why your poop turned black? Eating liquorice or certain medications can turn your poop black as well. However, if you did not have any of these, it could be a sign of bleeding.
– advertisement –
Common ailments
Cholesterol support
Cholesterol support
Brain
Energy Booster
Shape
Little pellets
If you find it hard to pass motion and your poop is small and separate hard lumps, it is definitely a sign of constipation. This also means that your poop has been in your intestine for several weeks!
Lumpy stool
This is also another sign of constipation. This type of poop often will hurt the most as it is large and firm, having stayed in your intestine for more than 3 days. Drink more water and eat fibre to prevent your poop from staying in your intestine for too long!
Smooth and long
Normal poop should feel relatively easy to pass out. Having a smooth and long poop is a sign that your poop is healthy and is typical when one poops every one to three days.
Soft blob
This is commonly seen for people who visit the toilet to do their business two to three times a day! They might also find themselves always looking for a toilet after eating a meal.
Mushy poop
Mushy poop is an early sign of diarrhoea. It means that the poop passes through the colon too fast for water and nutrients to be extracted out.
Liquid poop
Liquid poop is the most serious stage of diarrhoea. If it persists for more than 24 hours, contact your doctor for medication.
– advertisement –
Dietary Supplements
Dietary Supplements
Beauty Radiance+ (New and Improved) *PROMO* Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Dietary Supplements
Bones, Joints & Muscles
Dietary Supplements
Dietary Supplements
Dietary Supplements
Frequency
How often do you poop in a week? Many have the misconception that only pooping every day is healthy, but a person with healthy digestion can poop as many as 3 times a week to only pooping every other day! Any lesser is likely an indication of constipation.
Pooping time
While we often hear jokes about how a person must be pooping if he’s taking quite some time in the toilet, a healthy poop on the contrary does not take long at all! A healthy poop should be relatively easy to pass, taking around a minute. However, some people do take longer in the toilet. If you’re taking more than 15minutes, it’s probably not a healthy poop!
When Should You Visit The Doctor?
Many of us experience constipation at least once in our lives, so when is it serious for us to go visit the doctor?
First, take note of the colour and the consistency of your poop for the next few days. Usually, you’ll be able to resolve it by drinking plenty of water, introducing more fibre to your diet or relief constipation with natural laxatives. If there are still irregularities after a few days, talk to your doctor.
Chronic diarrhea or chronic constipation can affect your nutrient absorption and obstruct your bowels. It can even be a sign of more serious underlying health conditions.
Now that you’ve learned the art of looking at poop, start observing yours! It might reveal some secrets you never knew about your health!
Now that you’ve learned the art of looking at poop, start observing yours! It might reveal some secrets you never knew about your health!
