Types of Poop, Color Chart, and More - Healthline
Types of Poop, Color Chart, and More - Healthline
So, what exactly is poop? Although everyone is unique in the size, shape, and smell of their poop, there are a few things that indicate a healthy (or unhealthy) poop.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Zuohui.
Going number two might not be the prettiest topic for a dinner party, but theres much to learn from this mundane yet mysterious process. In the end (no pun intended), its simply a part of our functioning body.
We all do it. For some, its a necessary inconvenience. For others, its a pleasant and satisfying part of the digestive process. It has fascinated toddlers since time immemorial, and theres a reason for that.
Stool comprises digested food, proteins, bacteria, salts, and other substances produced and released by your intestines. What your poop looks like can be important. Unexpected changes could be a sign of an underlying condition.
On average, a person with healthy digestion will poop anywhere between every other day to three times a day. Any less could suggest possible constipation. This means you need some more water to move the boat.
Fun fact: Did you know most people poop around the same time every day?
That said, some people do spend a bit more time on the toilet, so as a general rule, a poop should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes.
A commonly heard joke is that when someone takes too long in the bathroom, it must mean theyre pooping. A healthy poop, however, should be easy to pass and take only a minute or so to push out.
Anywhere between a firm and soft consistency is pretty much normal. If it sways too much one way or another, it could suggest some digestion or fiber issues .
Poops shouldnt come out in small pellets something else well get to later but instead should be a couple of inches in length and comfortable and easy to pass.
When they differentiate from the log shape, thats when your poop is trying to tell you somethings up.
A somewhat log-like shape is how most poop should come out due to its formation within the intestines. However, as well get to later, there are a variety of shapes that poop can have.
The poop emoji has one thing right: the brown coloring. The combination of stomach bile and bilirubin, which is a pigment compound formed from the breakdown of red blood cells in the body, gets the credit for this oh-so-lovely shade of brown.
Healthy poop can be as varied and as unique as the individuals who make it. But there are a few general rules to follow if you want to assess your poo artistry for optimum health.
Indicates: In other words, youve got the runs or diarrhea . This means your stool moved through your bowels very quickly and didnt form into a healthy poop.
Indicates: This too-soft consistency could be a sign of mild diarrhea. Try drinking more water and electrolyte-infused beverages to help improve this.
Indicates: This type of poop means youre lacking fiber and should find ways to add some to your diet through cereal or vegetables .
Appearance: Small, like the first ones, but soft and easy to pass; the blobs also have clear-cut edges.
Indicates: Doctors also consider this a normal poop that should happen every 13 days.
Indicates: This is the gold standard of poop, especially if its somewhat soft and easy to pass.
Indicates: Here we have another sign of constipation that, again, shouldnt happen frequently.
Indicates: These little pellets typically mean youre constipated . It shouldnt happen frequently.
Appearance: Hard and separate little lumps that look like nuts and are hard to pass.
Its broken up into seven categories based on a 2,000-person study published back in , and it makes poop knowledge basic and easy to understand.
The Bristol stool chart is an overarching indicator of how and why different types of poops look or feel a certain way.
As with size and consistency, poops color can be a helpful signal about whats going on within your body. As we previously mentioned, varying shades of brown are considered the norm.
Additional reading:8 Different Types of Wooden Doors for Your Business
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Table Manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Even a hint of green is considered healthy. But if your poop is veering toward other ends of the rainbow, you might want to assess.
Black
If youve had licorice, iron supplements, or bismuth medications (such as Pepto-Bismol), that could be the explanation behind black stool.
If you havent had any of that, black poop could be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
It may seem like red would be a more likely color for this sort of concern, but since its taken a while to travel down, its older and darker.
Green
While hints of green are quite normal, if your poop has gone from brown to full green, it may mean one of two things. Youve added lots of green foods like spinach to your diet, or your stools are passing through you too fast.
When it doesnt pick up as much brown-tinting bilirubin, it has more bile salts that turn it this color.
Pale, white, or clay
If your poop is a chalky light shade, it might mean youre lacking bile. Bile is a digestive fluid that comes from your liver and gallbladder, so if youre producing white stool, it probably means your duct is blocked.
Pale poop could also be a side effect of certain medications like anti-diarrhea medicine. Either way, if it continues, consult with a healthcare professional.
Red
Youre probably not surprised to hear that red poop can mean bleeding, either due to hemorrhoids or bleeding in the lower intestinal tract. If your stool is a little red, however, there may be no need to fret immediately.
There are other, less serious reasons for this change in color. Foods like beets, cranberries, red gelatin, or tomato juice can turn poop red as well.
Yellow
Greasy, stinky, yellow stool is typically a sign of too much fat. This could also be a direct relation to a malabsorption disorder like celiac disease, where your body isnt absorbing enough nutrients.
If your poop looks bright yellow, it could signify a condition called giardiasis, which is caused by an intestinal parasite in North America and the world.
Typically, you can develop giardiasis from contaminated water or exposure to someone with the condition.
Gut health 101: Is your poop normal?
Go ahead, get your laughs out now. But the fact is: everyone poops, and what goes in, must come out. Inspecting the consistency of your stool is a great way to determine how well your bodily systems are working to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste. The Bristol Stool chart is a helpful tool that categorizes stool based on shape and consistency, and illustrates what's normal (or not) when it comes to your poop.
Courtesy National Institute of Health
Based on these illustrations: types 1 and 2 indicate constipation and types 6 and 7 indicate diarrhea. Therefore, normal stool consistency can range from type 3 to 5, with type 4 being the ideal bowel movement. Here are some things to consider if you're struggling with getting the right consistency:
- Eat more fiber. Adults should aim for 25-35 grams daily from fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and whole grains.
- Drink more water. Normal stools depend on adequate water intake, so choose water as your primary beverage.
- Manage stress. Stress can cause constipation and/or diarrhea. Learning your triggers and managing your stress is important for normal stools.
- Exercise. Your intestinal tract is made of muscle tissue, so regular exercise will promote healthy bowels, too.
- Decrease your caffeine.
- Consider a taking a probiotic or eating fermented foods (sauerkraut, kefir, kimchee, pickled foods, tempeh, etc.).
- Watch for diarrhea-promoting food culprits: dairy, artificial sweeteners and fatty foods.
Keeping a daily record of food and fluid intake, along with a description of your bowel movements can help identify problems and potential solutions. Always call your primary care provider if the frequency and consistency of your stools concerns you.
Have you been screened for colon cancer?
FIT testing can save your life! FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) is an easy, reliable method to use for colon cancer screening. No special diet or test preparationjust a stool sample taken at home. Screening is important to help detect blood in your stool which can be associated with cancer. Ask your primary care provider about getting screened with FIT.