What You See in the Toilet Can Give You
Valuable Insights into Your Health
By Dr. Mercola
When it comes to toileting habits, the topic is not exactly a favorite among
Americans – at least for those above the age of four. Mention poop and you can
easily clear a room – or at the least, generate some unusual facial expressions,
nervous laughter, and wisecracks about "too much information."
But your bodily emissions are an important health topic that deserves serious
attention, regardless of the "ick factor." In fact, if you ignore what you
deposit in your toilet, you could be flushing your health down the drain!
Did you know the average person generates about five TONS of stool in his or
her lifetime? Turns out, there is much to be learned from this mountain of poop.
The shape, size, color, and other fecal features can tell you a great deal
about your overall health, how your gastrointestinal tract is functioning, and
even give you clues about serious disease processes that could be occurring,
like infections, digestive problems, and even cancer. Poop comes in just about
all the colors of the rainbow... and please forgive me for using the words
poop and rainbow in the same sentence.
Although there is a certainly a wide variety of stool colors, textures and
forms that are considered "normal," there are definitely things that, if seen or
experienced, warrant immediate medical attention. With this in mind, the
overview that follows covers what you need to know about what's normal and not
normal in the bathroom department.
What is Normal Stool?
Your stool is about 75 percent water. The rest is a fetid combination of
fiber, live and dead bacteria, miscellaneous cells and mucus.1, 2 The characteristics of your stool will tell you a good
deal about how happy and healthy your digestive tract is – the color, odor,
shape, size, and even the sound it makes when it hits the water and whether it's
a "sinker" or a "floater" are all relevant information.
The Bristol Stool Chart is a handy tool that may help you learn what you're
going for. Ideally, your stool should approximate Types 3, 4 and 5, "like a
sausage or a snake, smooth and soft" to "soft blobs that pass easily." Type 4 is
the Holy Grail.3
Fiber tends to bulk up your stool and acts like glue to keep the stool stuck
together, instead of in pieces. If your stool is on the softer side, short of
diarrhea ("soft serve," as some call it), it could be related to lactose
intolerance, artificial sweeteners (sorbitol and Splenda),
or a reaction to fructose
or gluten.
Look, Listen and Smell Before You Flush
What's normal and what's not when you look into the toilet? The following
table will help you narrow down what to look for, so that you aren't needlessly
alarmed. Of course, there are a few signs that ARE cause for concern, and those
are listed too. If you have a change in stools accompanied by abdominal pain,
please report this to your physician.4
Healthy Stool Unhealthy Stool Medium to light brown Stool that is hard to pass, painful, or requires straining
Smooth and soft, formed into one long shape and not a bunch of
piecesHard lumps and pieces, or mushy and watery, or even pasty and
difficult to clean offAbout one to two inches in diameter and up to 18 inches long
Narrow, pencil-like or ribbon-like stools: can
indicate a bowel obstruction or tumor – or worst case, colon cancer; narrow
stools on an infrequent basis are not so concerning, but if they persist,
definitely warrant a call to your physician5S-shaped, which comes from the shape of your lower intestine6 Black, tarry stools or bright red stools may
indicate bleeding in the GI tract; black stools can also come from certain
medications, supplements or consuming black licorice; if you have black, tarry
stools, it's best to be evaluated by your healthcare providerQuiet and gentle dive into the water...it should fall into the bowl
with the slightest little "whoosh" sound – not a loud, wet cannonball splash
that leaves your toosh in need of a showerWhite, pale or gray stools may indicate a lack of
bile, which may suggest a serious problem (hepatitis, cirrhosis,
pancreatic disorders, or possibly a blocked bile duct), so this warrants a call
to your physician; antacids may also produce white stoolNatural smell, not repulsive (I'm not saying it will smell good)
Yellow stools may indicate giardia
infection, a gallbladder problem, or a condition known as Gilbert's syndrome –
if you see this, call your doctorUniform texture Presence of undigested food (more of a concern if accompanied by
diarrhea, weight loss, or other changes in bowel habits)Sinks slowly Floaters or splashers Increased mucus in stool: This can be associated
with inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis, or
even colon cancer, especially if accompanied by blood or abdominal pain
Does Your Stool Have a Really Bad Odor?
If your stool has an extraordinarily bad odor, it should not be ignored. I am
referring to an odor above and beyond the normally objectionable stool
odor. Stinky stool can be associated with a number of health problems, such
as:7
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease caused by a defective gene that causes your
- A malabsorptive disorder
- Celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Cystic fibrosis
body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus, which builds up and causes
life-threatening lung infections and serious digestive problems. Most cases of
CF are diagnosed before the age of 2, so this is more of a concern with infants
and toddlers.
Speaking of malodorous things, what about gas? Passing gas (flatulence)
is normal. Not only is it normal, it's a good sign that trillions of hard
working gut
bacteria are doing their jobs. People pass gas an average 14 times per day –
anywhere from one to four pints of it!8 Ninety nine percent of gas is odorless, so you may
even be unaware you're passing it. Think about it – were it not for an exit,
we'd all blow up like balloons!
How Often Should You Move Your Bowels?
Normal bowel habits vary. When we talk about regularity, what we're really
talking about is what's regular for you. Three bowel movements
per day to three per week is considered the normal range.
What's more important than frequency is the ease with which you move your
bowels. If you need to push or strain, something is off – moving your bowels
should take no more effort than urinating or passing gas. The thing to watch for
is a sudden change in your bowel habits. Many factors can affect regularity,
such as diet, travel, medications, hormonal fluctuations, sleep patterns,
exercise, illness, surgery, childbirth, stress and a whole host of other
things.9
Constipation and Diarrhea
The average body takes between 18 and 72 hours to convert food into poop and
pass it on out. When this time is significantly shortened, the result is
diarrhea because your intestine doesn't have time to absorb all of the water.
Conversely, when transit time is lengthened, you may end up constipated because
too much water has been absorbed, resulting in hard, dry stools.
Constipation
is defined as passing hard, dry stools that you have to strain to move, and it's
typically accompanied by decreased frequency of defecation. Straining is not
normal, nor are experiencing feelings of incomplete elimination, bloating,
crampiness, or sluggishness after going number two. If you're over the age of
65, your risk of becoming constipated increases significantly.
Chronic, untreated constipation can lead to fecal impaction,10 which can be a serious medical condition. Laxatives
should be avoided at all cost and used only as a last resort. If you absolutely
must use a laxative, make sure it is used for only a very short period of
time.
Common Causes of INCREASED Bowel Frequency/Diarrhea11
Lifestyle
Diseases and Conditions Eating more fruits and vegetables (increased fiber) Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) Increased exercise Crohn's disease Drinking more water Ulcerative colitis Emotional stress Celiac disease Food allergies Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Medication side effects
Gastrointestinal infection
Common Causes of DECREASED Bowel Frequency/Constipation12, 13 Change in diet, less fiber, less fruits and vegetables Pregnancy, childbirth, or hormonal disturbances Emotional stress Problems with the muscles or nerve in the intestine, rectum or anus
Ignoring the urge to "go," travel and scheduling factors that cause
you to hold itIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Insufficient exercise Diabetes Inadequate hydration Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) Calcium or iron supplements Local pain or discomfort around the anus, such as from fissures or
hemorrhoidsDrugs such as narcotic painkillers (codeine, for example), diuretics,
antacids, antidepressants, and excess or overused laxativesLess often: diverticulitis, intestinal obstruction, colorectal
cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injury
Food allergies
How to Score a Home Run with Your Bowel Movements
Most gastrointestinal problems can be prevented or resolved by making simple
changes to your diet and lifestyle. If you aren't achieving poo perfection, or
if you don't feel right, then look at the following factors and consider making
a few changes. These strategies will help reverse constipation or diarrhea, in
addition to helping prevent recurrences.
- Remove all sources
of gluten from your diet (the most common sources are wheat, barley, rye,
spelt and other grains)
- Eat a diet that includes whole
foods, rich in fresh, organic vegetables and fruits that provide good
nutrients and fiber; most of your fiber should come from vegetables, not from
grains
- Avoid artificial sweeteners, excess sugar (especially fructose), chemical
additives, MSG, excessive amounts of caffeine, and processed foods as they are
all detrimental to your gastrointestinal (and immune) function
- Boost your intestinal flora by adding naturally fermented
foods into your diet, such as sauerkraut, pickles, and kefir (if you
tolerate dairy); add a probiotic supplement if you suspect you're not getting
enough beneficial bacteria from your diet alone
- Try increasing your fiber intake; good options include psyllium and freshly
ground organic flax seed (shoot for 35 grams of fiber per day)
- Make sure you stay well hydrated with fresh, pure water
- Get plenty of exercise daily
- Avoid pharmaceutical drugs, such as pain killers like codeine or hydrocodone
which will slow your bowel function, Antidepressants, and antibiotics
can cause a variety of GI disruptions
- Address emotional challenges with tools like EFT
- Consider squatting
instead of sitting to move your bowels; squatting straightens your rectum,
relaxes your puborectalis muscle and encourages the complete emptying of your
bowel without straining, and has been scientifically shown to relieve
constipation and hemorrhoids
Consider a Bidet
As a practical and affordable alternative to toilet paper, you might want to
try a bidet. Bidets are the norm in Europe—no bathroom is found without one.
Once you experience a bidet, you'll probably never go back to toilet paper! A
bidet is refreshing in a way toilet paper will never be, is gentler and less
irritating than wiping with paper, and reduces hand contamination. Whenever I
travel it is one of the items that I miss most from my home. Nearly everyone
that I know has received one just loves them.
The bidets pay for themselves in no time with the money saved on toilet
paper, as well as helping save valuable environmental resources. You still need
a sheet or two of toilet paper to dry yourself, but that is a tiny fraction of
what you would need to clean yourself. But more importantly they clean your
bottom far more effectively than simply using dry toilet paper. They are easy to
install, as no plumber is required. I've made my favorite bidet
available in the Mercola store.
source -- http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/02/14/normal-stool.aspx
†♫♪'☮♥
★ Brought to you today by Mark Weaver
http://detoxwithDE.com = Affordable health
protection from our T☢xic enviroment! ====✈
http://heavenandearthpowder.info
http://healthyadvantage.blogspot.com
http://mwweaver.com
http://blastyoururl.com
Diatomaceous Earth
for Your Health(DE) aka Fossil Shell Flour ... Some of the 1500 everyday uses
for DE -->> L•¿•K at these Keywords -->> Adult Health, More Energy,
Bone Health, Bursitis, Arthritis, Lower Cholesterol, Brain/ Mood, Candida,
Cardiovascular, Detoxification, Regular Bowel Movements, Lowering Of Blood
Pressure, Complexion, Sinus, Cough, Eliminate Parasites, Diabetes, Hemorrhoids,
Digestive Health, Hair/ Nails, Skin Care, Hay Fever, Immune Health, Joint
Health, Muscle Growth/Regeneration, Skin, Sleep/ Relaxation, Stress, Weight
Loss, Parasites, Colon Cleanse, Colon, Women's Health, Men's Health, Bug
Control, Fleas, Bed Bugs, Ants, Spiders, Roaches, Flies, Lice, According to a
top cancer researcher, it is also the best natural chelating product
available(and affordable) - for pulling heavy metals and toxins (like lead,
arsenic, bromide, perchlorate, barium, aluminum, mercury, and fluoride)from the
bloodstream. Many believe that the increase in the number of cases of Heavy
metal poisoning has occurred in part due to mercury in vaccines, fluoridated
water, deodorants with aluminum, some seafood, foil wrap, cooking in aluminum
cookware, and a number of other ways. .... and now even found to help with
effects from... YES "chemtrail/geo-engineering and radiation fallout,also in
recent studies may remove food additive toxins too along with fluoride"
No comments:
Post a Comment