YOU might not spend much time pondering your poop.
Our embarrassment around all things number two could mean many of us can’t tell the difference between what’s healthy and what’s not.
Paying attention to your poos can give you a lot of insight into your health
Your poos can take on many different colours and shapes – we detail what each could mean
From the different hues your poos could take on, to its consistency, here’s what your poo is telling you about your health – and when you need to see an expert about it.
Colour changes
A healthy poo should be a medium brown, but that doesn’t mean it won’t sometimes be another colour, Dr Rhianna McClymont, lead GP at Livi previously told The Sun.
She said: “Beetroot, for instance, can cause a red-pink tinge, which might be quite concerning at first glance.”
But certain colours could mean you have reason to worry.
Pale poop
Bile salts in your intestine will give your poos their usual brownish colour.
So if you notice that they’re pale, white, grey or clay-coloured, it might indicate gallstones are blocking your bile ducts or you have a condition affecting your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas, which can cause decreased bile output, according to Very Well Health.
Poo that is paler in colour, oily, floats and is foul smelling indicates that the fat in your food isn’t being digested properly. This is called steatorrhea and could be a sign of pancreatic cancer or celiac disease.
It’s a good idea to see a GP if your remains pale for longer than a few days.
2. Yellow poop
While yellow poos could be a little surprising, they could just be down to eating foods like sweet potatoes, carrots and turmeric.
It can also be common in people who have gastrointestinal reflux disease or those taking medication for it.
But in some cases, you could get yellow poos from steatorrhea.
And sudden yellow poop can also be a sign of an infection affecting the intestines, particularly if you also have diarrhoea, fever, flu-like symptoms, or stomach cramps.
According to Dr Nigma Talib, a naturopathic doctor and gut expert, yellow number two’s could also be an indicator of Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s disease is a bowel condition that can cause inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract.
Over 500,000 people in the UK have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the two main forms of which are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
3. Green poop
You might be alarmed if you look in the toilet bowl and see your poop is greenish – but it’s actually pretty common and foods like kale or spinach can be the cause.
But green poo can sometimes signify you have a bacterial infection.
If you feel unwell and have diarrhoea, it may be a bug in your gut like salmonella, giardia, or norovirus, Carla Oates, CEO of health website The Beauty Chef, explained.
This is because these bugs cause diarrhoea, your poop passes too fast through your intestines for bile to break it down properly, and turn it brown.
4. Bright red poop
Red-tinged number twos can be worrying, especially since one of the warning sings of bowel cancer can be traces of blood in your poo.
But bright red poos aren’t something to worry about if you’ve eaten some beetroot, cranberries or tomato soup.
It’s worth noting that blood in your poop won’t always be bright. It’s tinge will depend on where there’s been in your gastrointestinal tract, according to Very Well Health.
Darker red poop indicates a bleed in the upper part of the tract such as the stomach or oesophagus, while a brighter hue could locate the bleeding in the large intestine or rectum – it’s cause could be anything from haemorrhoids and anal fissures to ulcerative colitis and diverticulosis.
Haemorrhoids are swellings of blood vessels found inside your bottom, according to the NHS.
They normally don’t cause any pain or discomfort but can cause bleeding, itching and swelling.
If the symptoms persist you should speak to a doctor.
5. Black poop
Dark food such as liquorice or blackberries can be behind black tinged-poo, as can iron supplements and certain medicines.
Constipation can also make them darker.
But if your stool is black with a tar-like consistency, it may mean the there is bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, caused by medical conditions such as stomach ulcers, esophageal varices and gastritis.
If you haven’t been eating dark foods or taking supplements and you notice your number twos are black, you should speak to a GP.
Changes in texture
Your poop’s consistency will also vary day to day as a result of your food. But do speak to a GP if the change in consistency lasts for a few bowel movements.
Pebbly poos
According to the Bristol Stool Chart, an ideal poop will be shaped like a sausage or snake, and be smooth and soft to pass.
But if your stool is pebbly and comes out in small pieces, it could mean you’re not eating enough fibre.
2. Loose poos
Meanwhile, a loose poo can mean you’re consuming too much fructose, Very Well Health said. This is a sugar found in honey, fizzy drinks and processed foods.
If diarrhoea only last a couple days or less, it probably isn’t serious.
But a stomach bug could also make your poos looser than usual.
3. Floating stool
If your stool floats every now and then, it’s probably not something to worry about – it probably has more gas in it than usual if you’ve consumed fizzy drinks, beans or sugary foods.
Some common bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome can also cause poops to rise in the toilet bowl more than they should.
But – mentioned above – poops that consistently float may be a sign that your body is not absorbing fat properly.
4. Sinking stool
If your number twos sink quickly, you may not be getting enough fluids or fibre in your diet.
This type of stool often has a darker poop colour because it stays in the intestines longer.
When should I worry?
When it comes to going for a number two, plenty of people aren’t really sure what’s normal.
Depending on your diet, age, and activity, regularity can mean anything from three bowel movements a day to three each week.
Keeping an eye on what’s ‘normal’ for you though is crucial, as is being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.
The NHS says the five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your pooA change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for examplePain or a lump in your tummyExtreme tirednessLosing weight
If you notice any changes to your usual habits, don’t be embarrassed, speak to your GP.
Be sure to see your healthcare provider right away if your poop colour is bright red, black, pale, or accompanied by mucus or pus, or if you have any new or unusual symptoms like pain.
The same goes for if your poos are thin or pencil-like, loose or watery, or accompanied by mucus or pus.
The smell of your poo can also be a good indication of how you’re doing health-wise.