Poop Matters. How Normal Is Yours?

Is your poop “normal”?

Yes, I’m serious! (And don’t you sometimes wonder anyway?) There use to be a time on our lives that we used to talked about BMWs. Now a days, t seems there has been more talk about BMs (or lack there of them).

Did you know that your poop can reflect your physical, and sometimes even emotional, health?

You may get constipation or have diarrhea when you eat something that “doesn’t agree with you,” or when you’re super-nervous about something.

And what about fiber and water? Believe or not, if you’re not getting enough, it’ll probably show in your poop.

What about the all-important gut microbes? If they’re not happy, it’ll probably show in your poop.

Here’s a trivia question for you:

Did you know there is an “official” standard for poop? I mean a university-created chart! One that is used to help diagnose conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Meet the Bristol Stool Scale

The Bristol Stool Scale was created at the prestigious University of Bristol in the UK back in 1997.

The scale breaks down type of poop into seven different categories ranging from type 1 which is very constipated, to type 7 which is diarrhea:

1 – Separate hard lumps (very constipated).

2 – Lumpy and sausage-like (slightly constipated).

3 – Sausage shaped with cracks in the surface (normal)

4 – Smooth, soft sausage (normal).

5 – Soft blobs with clear-cut edges (lacking fiber).

6 – Mushy consistency with ragged edges (inflammation).

7 – Liquid consistency with no solid pieces (inflammation).

Other “Poop” Factors to Consider

You probably guessed that the shapes described in the Bristol Stool Scale are not the only thing to consider for poop health.

Think about how often you go. At least once per day, up to 3 times per day is pretty good. Less than one, or more than three can mean there is something going on.

What about how hard you have to try to go? You want it to be as effortless as possible.

And the colour? It should be brown from the bile that you need to break down the fats you ingest.

By the way, if it’s green after a day of massive veggies, or red after that large glass of beet juice, you’re just fine.

But if you see an abnormal color, like red or even black, that you can’t explain based on what you ate or drank in the last day or two, you probably want to get that checked out.

Bottom line…your “sh-t” matters! And if you haven’t been paying attention to it, or have been ignoring the problems you’ve been experiencing,  maybe it’s time

Four Things to Do You Do When You Have “Imperfect” Poo?

Well, the first thing to consider is how imperfect it is, and how often it is like that? Once in a while, things aren’t going to be perfect, and that’s A-OK.

!. If you know you need to get more fiber or water, then try increasing that.

2. If you haven’t had enough probiotics or probiotic foods, then try getting more of them.

My TOP probiotic pick from Nutro Sciences Probiotics. Its’ centric coated which means has a time-released acid resistant capsules which guarantee the delivery of live probiotics to your gut. As a result,they are able to travel throughout your entire digestive system, repopulating your gut with healthy bacteria. Click here to order it.

Fermented foods are also great for your gut. I always keep raw sauerkraut, organic kimchi or lactose-free kefir in my fridge and use them every day!

3. If you’re super-stressed, then try deep breathing, meditating, or having a warm bath. Deep breathing and meditation will really help you get your gut to relax so you digestive system can calmly and effectively work

Here’s a link to a Guided Meditation for Beginners. This audio is a super place to start if you are new to mediation or just need some help to get you going. Click her to get your copy.

4. Oh, and don’t forget the two most basic pieces of nutrition advice:

• First, eat a variety of nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, including a lot of fruits & veggies (and their “fibrous” skins, wherever possible). The fiber in these is not only helpful for pushing food through your gut, but they also feed those millions of amazing helpful critters that live there (your friendly gut microbes.)

Green smoothies are the EASIEST way to get your veggies and fruits, plus they are easy digested. Get my “Super Simple and Super Yummy Favorites” Green Smoothie Book for FREE and start making greens smoothies a daily habit. Click here to get your copy.

• The second piece of advice is to eat slowly, and mindfully, chewing thoroughly.

These are two simple and good habits for anyone and everyone, even when you have perfect poop!

 Of course, long-term issues might require a more thorough review with a qualified health care practitioner. Don’t suffer from poop issues for too long before seeking help.

Super-Simple Coconut Milk Yogurt Recipe (dairy-free probiotic):

Don’t spend alot of time and money on yogurt. There are so many brands to chose from but it is important be to aware of all the added sugar  they contain. I like to make my own yogurt so i know exactly what i am getting. Plus this recipe is dairy-free, soy-free and sugar-free. You can eat your homemade yogurt for breakfast with some berries, nuts and seeds or add it to your green smoothie.

Ingredients:

2 cans full-fat coconut milk
2 probiotic capsules,

Directions:

1. Open the probiotic capsules and empty contents into the blender. Blend with coconut milk.

2. Transfer to a sanitized glass jar (make sure it’s not still hot – you don’t want those probiotics to die).

3. Store it in a warm place for 24-48 hours. If it’s not thick enough for you, you can let it ferment for another 24 hours.

4. Add your favorite yogurt toppings, and store the rest for up to a week in the fridge.

5. Serves 2…. enjoy!

 Tip: Fermenting food is not an exact science. If this doesn’t work out as you’d like it to, try different brands of coconut milk and/or probiotics. 

The bottom line is this: your poop is barometer for your gut health. If you’ve been ignoring the problems you’ve been having with the important act of elimination NOW is the time to do something about it. Awkward as it may seem, it’s time to talk about it with your naturopathic doctor or health coach. I have had my share of “poop problems” on my journey to optimal health so I can definitely relate. Schedule a session with me and let’s get down to the “nitty-gritty”. I can help you : )

References:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_stool_scale
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/poop-health