Posted by Katherine Maslen – Naturopath
What should your poo look like?
Whether you understand the concept or not, I’m sure that this headline has grabbed you. There’s a perfect poo? What could be perfect about a bowel movement? Well a lot actually! If you’ve seen a naturopath you would have had a lovely discussion about all things poo and why it’s an important marker of your health. For those less educated on the topic – let me enlighten you! The colour, shape, smell, frequency, lack of frequency, ease of passage and even if it floats or sinks gives us clues about your digestive function, food intolerances and more.
As a naturopath, assessing your bowel habits is one of the most important things we can do. It gives us vital information not just about your gut health but also your ability to absorb nutrients too.
So what makes a perfect poo? Without much variation – this is how your bowels should be moving if they are healthy…
Frequency – You should be passing 1-3 bowel movements each day – 2 to 3 is optimum.
Shape – Your bowel movements should be formed, firm but not hard and shaped like a log.
Colour – Colour can change depending on what is eaten (is that blood or beetroot?) however generally most of your bowel movements should be a dark brown colour. This is due to the presence of bile which breaks down the fats in your food.
Smell – Believe it or not – your poo should not be noticeably smelly – so if you’re reaching for the air freshener you best make an appointment with a naturopath.
Passing – You should be able to pass your bowel movements quickly and easily – without pain, discomfort or straining. If you need to read a book while you’re on there it’s taking too long!
Floating or Sinking? – The perfect poo will most likely land on the water then slowly sink to the bottom. A diet high in fat or fibre however can cause it to float, but sometimes a floating bowel movement means that you’re not digesting your fats properly (due to liver insufficiency). A heavy poo (splashing anyone?) can mean that it’s too dense (caused by maldigestion or an imbalanced diet).
Other things – You shouldn’t notice any undigested food, blood or mucous in your bowel movements either.
So there you have it. How do you measure up? If you’re feeling ‘not so perfect’ you may want to make an appointment with a brisbane naturopath – who can quickly sort things out.
Anyone brave enough to comment? Which poo are you?
