A LOT of us can feel shy talking about number twos.
But did you know your poo can tell you a lot about your overall health?
Your poos can tell you a lot about your diet and health, a gut health expert has said
WikipediaTypes three and four show an ‘optimal form of health’, according to Michelle Geraghty-Corns[/caption]
Michelle Geraghty-Corns, founder of eternalbeing, lifted the lid on what your poo says your diet, digestive system and daily habits.
She said: “Your bowel movements can indicate if you are drinking enough water, eating enough fibre, or if your digestive system is processing food too quickly or slowly.
“Changes in your bowel habits can also give us hints of medical conditions which may require treatment,” Michelle added.
Your poop is usually considered healthy if it’s “a soft and formed bowel movement, typically brown in colour”, the gut health expert explained.
Michelle said your poo is 75 per cent water and 25 per cent solid matter, consisting of food waste and toxins from the liver.
It also contains dead blood cells which have been processed by the spleen and liver and passed in to the large intestine – this is what gives your poop its characteristic brown colour.
Food taking an average of 12 to 18 hours to pass through your system.
“If food passes through your system too quickly or slowly, it can impact the size, colour, and texture of your stool,” Michelle explained.
Your number twos will fit into seven categories, according to The Bristol Stool Scale.
These are as follows:
Type one: Separate hard lumps, hard to passType two: Sausage-shaped but lumpyType three: Sausage-shaped but with cracks on its surfaceType four: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and softType five: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges (passed easily)Type six: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stoolType seven: Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid
According to Michelle, types one and two will be hard and lumpy, and painful to pass.
“They have typically been sitting in the large intestine and colon for a long time, and are an indication that you may be constipated.
“If it looks like rabbit droppings or deer poop that is bad, drink water and increase your fibre,” she continued.
Types three and four are the Goldilocks of poos and show an ‘optimal form of health’.
This is when your stool is is sausage-shaped and snake-like, feels easy to pass and remains intact when flushed, Michelle said.
“If you are experiencing watery and mushy stools, you most likely have stool types five through seven,” she continued.
“These stools are present in the large intestine and colon for the least amount of time, and may be present in the form of diarrhoea.”
“Diarrhoea can be caused by diet, illness, stress or a medical condition. If you have recurrent diarrhoea, this could indicate a bigger problem making it worth reaching out to a doctor.”
What can I do to poo more regularly?
The gut health expert shared shared some everyday habits you can implement to make your toilet trips easier.
1. Eat more fibre
Foods containing fibre are typically thought of as “rough” as they can help to move food through your digestive system, Michelle said.
So if you are constipated, you should introduce 20-35 grams of fibre into your diet every day.
But she warned that insoluble fibre could make constipation worse.
Switch out your instant porridge for overnight oats – these are a soluble fibre and ‘vastly better’ for your gut health, Michelle advised.
For food containing fibre, she gave the examples of whole wheat bread, brown rice, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
Stay hydrated
Michelle said: “At a minimum, you should be drinking at least eight glasses of water every day.
“Drinking more water can help with your bowel movements,” she explained.
Herbal tea and healthy juice will also keep you hydrated.
But she noted: “Remember tea, coffee and alcohol do not count in the eight glasses total.”
Exercise
Struggling to relax while you poop?
Michelle said getting up and moving your body can help.
“Yoga, in particular, can help to alleviate constipation as it relaxes your pelvic floor muscles which can help you to relax during bowel movements,” she added.
Examples of poses to try are child’s pose, happy baby pose, and the deep squat.
Slow Down & Relax
“Sit down, switch off the tv and put your phone down,” Michelle said.
“Being mindful of eating is a great way to help your body digest your food and in turn make healthy poops.”
Ex-Love Island star and influencer Molly-Mae Hague recently shared that she was severely constipated for nine days after giving birth to her daughter Bambi.
Meanwhile, physiotherapists have shared some tips on how to find the ideal pooing position.
And BBC Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts issued a plea for people to see their GP about potential bowel cancer symptoms ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April.
NORMAL FOR YOU
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.